Que Rica: Packaging, Photography and Branding
HOME web design, PACKAGING, PHOTOGRAPHY & BRANDING Que Rica Premium Pili Nuts THE BRIEF Que Rica’s foray into the food scene was ushered in by its famous Laing Longganisa. Stuffed with the usual longganisa ingredients, what made it a hit was incorporating Bicolano flavors into something that’s already familiar in Filipino breakfast tables. Several products (e.g. the Bicol Express Longganisa, Laing Paella, Pineapple-Cured Chicken Tocino, etc) later, the brand is now revisiting its identity and visuals to enter the export markets. Its golden ticket? The luxurious tasting, masterfully crafted Pili Nuts! Some of Que Rica’s digital ad creatives featuring its stellar hits. Que Rica Premium Pili Nuts are hand-harvested, crafted in small batches, masterfully flavored and packed at the source. https://youtu.be/mi0JjFgjVCw THE OUTPUT: WEBSITE DESIGN Moving away from its bright, colorful, commercial website design packed with promo call-to-actions several products, its new website design is a toned-down take to showcase its brand story. It is sleek, simple and puts at front and center the story of the Pili Nut. The website design continues the new branding direction that’s masterful, luxurious, and decadent. Check out the website here. Preview the website via www.querica.ph ASK ABOUT OUR TOP SERVICES THE OUTPUT: PACKAGING & BRAND BOOK Transitioning from a collection of frozen meats to dry goods is no easy feat in terms of packaging design. The brand team took months reviewing paper and tube samples before commencing production. All these executions are carefully guided by the brand book that notes the spirit, look, and feel of Que Rica Premium Pili Nuts. DESIGN: HANNAH ALCONABA & SITTIE BRIMA FOR STUDIO HIBANG | WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT: CHESTER OBLIGADO | COPYWRITING : ADEE DE LEON, PAUL SUMAYAO | PHOTOGRAPHY: SANTY CALALAY, GELOY BERNAL | DIRECTION: PAUL SUMAYAO BOOK A CALL RELATED PROJECTS: How To Drive Sales Through Brand Awe Read More Barbierro Barbershop: Brand Identity and Brand Marketing Read More Grupo Avari: Corporate Branding and Visual Identity Read More On Instagram, check out Que Rica Premium Pili Nuts
Firechill: Website Design & Social Media
HOME WEBSITE DESIGN & SOCIAL MEDIA Ehrlich “Firechill” Ocampo THE BRIEF Ehrlich “Firechill” Ocampo’s need for a brand revisit came right after his auditions at the Emmy-winning reality show America’s Got Talent. After years of performing in global stages, putting together a website and social media presence on his own, he wanted to revisit his brand identity alongside his brand values. Studio Hibang was tasked to refresh the look of his brand not only through website design and social media, but also with some copywriting and with the help of young illustrator Jolo Arante. EHRLICH “FIRECHILL” OCAMPO at the America’s Got Talent Auditions, photo from @AGT Ehrlich “Firechill” Ocampo, America’s Got Talent finalist and Cirque du Soleil alum, brings undeniable heart, energy and stage presence of a Filipino performer. http://studiohibang.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/hibang-reel-no-audio-1080-x-1350.mp4 THE OUTPUT: WEBSITE DESIGN & SOCIAL MEDIA Making use of the key color ways and elements from the illustration, we took components from his brand values and developed a library of content to communicate the Firechill brand. We’ve identified reels, testimonials, and organic content to be his strongest suits, and banked on those throughout the content plan. The website design continues the aesthetic and spirit of the brand: compelling, inspiring, fun and dynamic. For more, check out his Instagram and website. DIRECTION: PAUL SUMAYAO | GRAPHIC DESIGN: JOLO ARANTE FOR STUDIO HIBANG | WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT: CHESTER OBLIGADO | SOCIAL MEDIA: ANDREA GUEVARRA | COPYWRITING: ADEE DE LEON BOOK A CALL RELATED PROJECTS: How To Drive Sales Through Brand Awe Read More Barbierro Barbershop: Brand Identity and Brand Marketing Read More Grupo Avari: Corporate Branding and Visual Identity Read More Load More End of Content. On Instagram, check out LERIO Chocolates and LERIO Chocolate Factory Cafe.
Branding Bading: On Branding, Queer Representation and Creativity
INTERVIEW Branding Badings: On Branding, Queer Representation and Creativity Why this LGBTQ+ creatives and marketing agency isn’t out to rival the country’s giants but is OUT to make a difference, one results-driven “baklaan” at a time. We’ve interviewed Studio Hibang’s Managing Director Paul Sumayao and his thoughts on the power the creatives hold today, queer representation, and brand life in the digital age. Studio Hibang (SH): What are key learnings you’ve had (and will have) during this pandemic? Paul Sumayao (PS): A lot! Besides surfacing how inept our government really is, in itself, the global pandemic has surfaced polarizing discussions as to the directions of our new lives as individuals and as a community. While we all figured out a new way to live, brands rushed to their drawing boards to pivot AND figure out ways to not just survive, but thrive. This need for reflection, I think, have always been around the corner, lurking in the shadows like an unpaid billing statement. We were trying to delay this ‘change’ for a while until it finally caught us in a corner and forced us to adapt. SH: Does this mean that the pandemic has caused more good than harm? PS: Not at all. Like I said it has surfaced the evils and the best among us in equal portions. Now it’s up to us how to move forward. SH: You’ve worked with several fashion and food brands before over the course of your career. Will you call yourself a brand expert? PS: Never. I wouldn’t call myself that. Not in a million years. No one really is a brand or branding expert. No one has ever perfected a brand: even Google, Apple and Nike are ‘imperfect’ brands to someone who’s into Yahoo, Samsung, or Adidas in that order. So no one should call himself/herself/themselves a brand(ing) expert. Photo by Balazs Ketyi SH: Okay, but why is branding important? PS: Products die, but brands live forever. Well, not all brands, but a Brand tends to have a life outside just a simple logo, packaging or website. Most entrepreneurs make the mistake of saying “Hey you, I’m a brand: I am this, I am that” in the beginning. True branding lies in what your customers eventually say or feel about you. Great visual branding will make you memorable, but what makes it effective is your customer being part of your brand narrative like actors in a play instead of being simply an audience member. A customer’s participation in the brand should go beyond just buying. “Fast forward to the pandemic and I’ve seen, first-hand, opportunities in assisting brands through creatives or marketing, and in turn assisting LGBTQ+ Creatives through representation.” BKL/Bikol Bakla: Anthology of Bikolnon Gay Trans Queer Writing at the 2019 Metro Manila Pride SH: Was it this realization about brand(ing) that lead you to open Studio Hibang? PS: Not exactly. A few years ago during one of the strategic planning sessions I’ve attended as an employee, we were asked by the facilitator about three ‘dream statements.’ I was asked the same question again in graduate school in 2019 and when my mentors Rica and Carlo Buenaflor asked the same question, I knew the Universe was trying to say something. My dream statement was to be able to give back to my community (in this case, the LGBTQ+ community) through a project or an enterprise which I own. When the BKL/Bikol Bakla anthology was put out in 2019 I knew it won’t be the last and that there is more. Fast forward to the pandemic and I’ve seen, first-hand, great opportunities in assisting brands through creatives or marketing, and in turn assisting LGBTQ+ creatives through representation. Hence Studio Hibang was born. SH: And why call it Studio Hibang? PS: My partner Jedi actually coined it while we were discussing potential names for the agency. I was in my last few days of employment. I wanted something very Filipino, cheeky, and memorable. In Filipino it translated to madly or crazy in love and it just made so much sense. It’s a value proposition (for our clients and their customers) and at the same time a feeling. He uttered it over breakfast and before lunch I already paid for the business name registration online. Haha. I also liked the wordplay around “Hibang” and “Ibang” (difference, variation) and how we’ve always wanted to offer something different. SH: You’ve recently called out folks who think that in these times, creative positions in organizations are “non-essential.” PS: That’s right. I’ve seen stories from Facebook groups where executives have collapsed their Marketing teams to beef up other departments such as Operations or Logistics in light of the pandemic. Totally understandable from the bottom line end, but I’ve always felt it’s counterproductive. Photo: Tim Mossholder SH: And why so? PS: You see, the pandemic has posed challenges to keep businesses afloat, but it has surfaced new territories for brands to conquer. In the Philippines, the growth among small businesses has been massive. We’ve seen global trend reports on the growth of hyperlocal markets and I think our country is poised for this. In these new territories, visuals, creative strategy, and brand communications are all important. Who will create content to ensure your brand gets across? Who will be there come up with creative strategies to acquire new customer base? In the simplest terms, who will create the social media visual advising your customers that your deliveries will be delayed? SH: ‘New territories’ seem like an exciting idea. Tell us more. PS: Well, these ‘new territories’ aren’t entirely new. Of course there’s e-commerce. And then there’s logistics such as delivery. And then there are other services like digital marketing and new means of communications. There are newer formats in hyperlocal retail. What makes these novel territories are usually the manner by which a company or a brand pivots itself into. So the question really is within these new territories the company is trying to win over, who will