Michael Villa Sison of KUYA on celebrating his roots and building a studio that mirrors his values

Hop onto KUYA’s website and you’re in for a treat – vibrant colours, unique typography, and a friendly panda await you! These elements perfectly capture the energy and spirit of KUYA, as envisioned by its founders, Michael and Janine Villa Sison, and represent a fresh era for this multidisciplinary creative studio, which entered the California design scene earlier this year. Reflecting on his cultural heritage, Villa Sison shares the story behind the studio’s rebrand, which has allowed him to reconnect with his Filipino roots and celebrate his identity. In this in-depth interview, he also traces his creative journey, from his early days as a marketing designer to his experiences in the mighty world of advertising, and how they have shaped his approach to running his own practice. PT: Hey Michael! How are you? MS: I’m doing well! I say this often, but my day-to-day generally revolves around the constant struggle of balancing time to run a fledgling creative studio, all while raising a rambunctious (and adorable) toddler. A friend of ours recently suggested that we start teaching him how to use design software, so maybe he’ll start contributing to the family business sooner rather than later. So if anyone out there has any suggestions on how to teach a two-and-a-half-year-old how to use Photoshop, I’m all ears.