Interview Judith Torres
Images Chinny Basinang and Maya
In the glorious spirit of national pride and women’s empowerment, Maya and Visa present the distinctive Maya Visa FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Card. The card is a visual anthem to women. Filipino artist Chinny Basinang’s design beams with the might of Team Philippines’ star, Inna Palacios and her powerful kick, showcased in rich textures and vibrant hues signature to Basinang’s style, echoing the dynamic energy and determination inherent in the sport and the athlete.
The graphic forms an immersive experience for the viewer. It’s set against an energetic backdrop, an explosive emanata of shock lines and briffits as Palacios’ foot smashes into the ball while a crowd cheers, enhancing the anticipation for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World CupTM. The bold colors and sweeping lines give the card and its central figure a sense of prominence and heroism. Text elements are neatly incorporated with typography that is clear, modern, and balanced, not overpowering the central artwork. Maya’s m logo peers above the poofy briffits, a nod to the brand’s unconventional, un-stodgy identity.
Opening up about her creative journey, Basinang shares: “I want my art to reflect strong, vibrant, funky, and empowered women. I believe empowered women can revolutionize the world. We need to be seen and portrayed like that in all ways possible.”
Her design for the Philippine women’s football team echoes their mission—promoting gender equality and championing women in sports. Basinang’s illustration captures the team’s strength, grit, passion, and the wider community of women athletes. She shares: “This year is historic for Philippine sports, as we make our first appearance in the FIFA Women’s World CupTM. I’m proud and honored to create a piece marking this moment.”
She hopes her design will serve as a reminder of the immense potential of women in sports and the importance of backing their efforts to flourish. “I want my design to inspire and empower not just the Philippine Women’s Football Team, but women athletes around the globe. I want it to encourage them to chase their dreams and unlock their fullest potential.”
The suspense, the drama, the exhilaration of the upcoming FIFA Women’s World CupTM—it’s all encapsulated in the image, a stirring representation of design and sportsmanship intersecting on the field of empowerment.
Chinny Basinang’s design process
Judith Torres: Who briefed you, and what was the brief?
Chinny Basinang: The Visa team briefed me. The task was to craft an awe-inspiring illustration for Maya’s exclusive limited edition Visa card. Visa and Maya wanted to commemorate the ground-breaking qualification of the Philippine women’s national football team for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023TM, featuring the team’s rock-solid goalkeeper, Inna Palacios, as the fierce protagonist. A HERstory indeed!
Did they say why they chose you?
They wanted me to bring my design flair to the card with my vibrant, psychedelic art style, which they believed was a perfect match for Maya’s branding.
Because they liked your work in Maya’s music video, right?
Yes, Acid House connected me with the music video project. Maya liked it, so they roped me in again. Visa wanted to feature Inna Palacios, their brand ambassador, on the card, and I guess it made sense to get a female artist.
How much time did you have?
I was fortunate to have around three weeks to truly explore concepts. Initially, we planned for three distinct card illustrations, but as the project unfolded, we realized the power of consolidating them into a single design.
Three cards! So you had three different briefs?
Yes. The first card, dubbed “Dynamic and Bold,” features Inna Palacios, Visa’s brand ambassador. Card 1 Study 1 showcases Inna’s power kick. Inna is a goalkeeper, so Card 1, Study 2’s got the goalkeeper vibe with similar elements—the people cheering in the background and the same feeling of fierceness. Study 3 has Inna Palacios in the center, with shock lines and elements in a V shape focusing attention on her.
Card 2, called “CommUNITY Power,” was meant to encapsulate the spirit and support of the Filipino people. In Sketch 1, you see a typical neighborhood street scene with a sari-sari store; a community of Filipino football fans supporting and cheering Inna on. Sketch 2 is kinda abstract, with people jumping up and cheering, a football in the center. The third idea focuses on raised fists, symbolizing the strong support of the Filipino people. The fists won the vote for Card 2.
The third card, “Girl Power,” was envisioned to embody empowerment through an anonymous female football player, who I drew in different power moves.
What’s the prelude to sketching?
Research. I looked up Inna Palacios, her look, her moves. I spent a lot of time thinking about the elements I wanted to include in the design and what they would represent. After exploration, I then started to discard the less thrilling ideas.
Did you know straight off which elements were a must?
Nailing down the elements was quite a journey. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure which to include but I did have a vision, a feel I was after. It took me multiple brain farts and different sketches to land the composition I was satisfied with. It’s a process of trial and error, but still believing in my vision. Trusting the process is crucial because, in the end, everything falls into place.
And what ideas did you discard?
Stuff that was overly abstract. But I still presented a couple of those. Studies are integral to the process. It’s all about exploration and, if an idea isn’t cutting it, you brainstorm ways to make it work. That’s why it’s important to make several studies and collaborate with the brand people because you feed each other ideas when you give them your recos and they give you theirs.
How far did you develop the three designs?
They all had color studies. Maya and Visa needed to visualize what the sketches would evolve into, as full-blown illustrations. Because initially, when they saw the sketches for Card 1, they thought that’s how Inna Palacios would look. I said, no, no, that’s just a sketch. Far from final. The composition isn’t done yet, more details would come in. So, in my presentation, I shared samples of previous works, to establish the style, colors, and textures I’d employ.
Color studies. “I was very lucky to work with Maya and the Visa team because of their full support for my creative freedom. They were very collaborative throughout the process.”
Which one did you like best?
My personal bet was Study 1 of Card 1. And that’s what was approved.
Nice! So. Three weeks to research, conceptualize, sketch, and develop ideas for three card designs. Once client decided to go with just one, how long did that take to finalize?
Four days. Maybe five.
Is that a typical turnaround?
It varies. Those were four days not doing anything else. Not that I lost sleep, but it was intense focus on this project.
How did the ‘m’ logo in the lower-left corner come about?
That’s mandatory. Maya cards have to have the iconic “m” on them.
But that was your drawing, not the actual logo superimposed on your illustration.
Yes, I wove the logo into the art.
Logos are supposed to be sacred and unchangeable, though, right?
That’s what’s cool about Maya, their marketing crew is so cool. They let artists add their own spin. I didn’t feel boxed in. It felt like my project, my initiative.
Is your illo based on a photo? Is there a shot of Inna kicking a ball like that? Or did you reference pictures of other athletes?
Inna’s face, of course, is based on photos. The rest is all imagination and research. It’s no good to rely purely on reference, and oftentimes, you don’t have that reference. I wanted to capture the moment Inna kicks a ball with speed, agility, strength, fierceness, determination, and confidence. From this angle. You see how her leg is foreshortened? I wanted to present her from this “shot.” This is something you have to be able to compose on your own.
Once this was chosen, what came next?
A color study and a mockup of the card. There were minor tweaks. Like, I love using pinks and blues; I needed to add Maya’s brand colors, teal, violet, and black for the background.
And it was approved! So, kinasa na siya, masaya na kami. Done in four days. Visa was happy because it really looked like Inna Palacios. Maya asked for an extended version, and we were good to go.
Final art: Card 1, Study 1. “The vibrant color palette includes shades of blue and red, symbolizing both the team’s competitive spirit and the national colors of the Philippines. Stylized stars and sun rays can also be seen in the artwork. The people cheering behind to convey Filipinos’ overwhelming support.”
Words of wisdom for budding graphic designers?
Creativity is a muscle. The more you work it, the stronger it gets. Avoid the trap of comparison. Put your all into your mind and your art. Comparisons don’t make you more productive, they only plant doubt and make you want to quit.
I believe in manifesting. Believe in yourself, practice, and always give your best. Continue to create and share the art you’re passionate about. Recognition will come, clients and brand deals will follow. Having worked in advertising, I’ve learned the value of listening and collaboration, a skill that others can master too. Listen, collaborate, learn from others, share! •
The Maya Visa FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ limited-edition card is available for P250 via the Maya App. The card opens up a world of payment transactions, boosts your Maya savings interest, and brings exclusive perks. And guess what? You could win a trip for 2 to New Zealand to cheer Team Philippines live at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™. Getting the Maya Visa card puts you in the running for the raffle. Each P200 you spend using the card gets you an additional entry, and there’s no limit to the entries credited to you.
Follow Maya at @mayaiseverything on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and @mayaofficialph on Twitter. Maya is leading the charge toward a digital economy that’s inclusive, transparent, and empowering in the Philippines. For more info, swing by maya.ph and mayabank.ph.
