Introducing 'Flowers' Designer, Carl Santos

Meet Carl, the talented designer behind the 'Flowers' Hot Cup design. These cups have been flying out the door and we can see why! The playful design serves your coffee in a cup with a smile. It's the perfect accompaniment for the sunny days (or to brighten the rainy days of a British summer...)

We have the pleasure of working with Carl and like their design work, they bring a bright, joyful personality to our team. We're lucky to have Carl with us.

Hey Carl, can you please tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Mabuhay! My name’s Carl, a graphic designer based in the Philippines. I am a queer young adult who is mostly interested in film and popular culture. I have been in the creative industry for more than five years now, starting as a freelancer for local brands and now working with a company that genuinely cares about and promotes sustainability—decent packaging.

How did you get into design?

As a kid, I developed a fondness for scrapbooking. I used to and still cut magazines and glitter or stone a handcrafted book to paste personal photos. I must say that I have an eye for good design. I just know what works, and so, when I got introduced to Photoshop at a young age, everything felt so easy from the get-go.

If you could describe your design style in three words what would it be?

• Thematic - I always try to follow a certain theme.
• Explore - I explore different art styles; limitless.
• Noticeable - a head-turning, full-of-life moment.

What was the inspiration behind the Flower design?

As a self-proclaimed main character, I created this hopeless romantic personality that stops by to smell the flowers. And so, I’ve incorporated this feeling into a groovy, retro-style, almost cartoonish design. It is the trend nowadays, plus using flowers is just fitting as I want it to exude pure and genuine happiness.

What is your favourite thing to do on your days off?

On my days off, I like to go to coffee shops, and the cinema, or stay at home binge-watching coming-of-age films on Netflix. I also like to spend time with my family and friends. I always look forward to having weekends for fun and relaxation.