Rogsh Emmanuel H. Garcia ’24 on his work at Ars Electronica 2024

VCUarts Qatar students and alumni often get to participate in reputed exhibitions and events. Rogsh Emmanuel H. Garcia, a Class of 2024 Graphic Design graduate, was one of the designers who exhibited their work at the Ars Electronica Festival 2024, in Linz, Austria.

Garcia is no stranger to success. An accomplished designer, artist and musician, he was a familiar face in Doha’s art, design and music scene even before he joined VCUarts Qatar in 2020. 

In this interview, he shared his thoughts on how studying at this art and design school opened doors to platforms such as a world-renowned festival, and what such experiences mean to him.

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What does participation in a festival that, on average, draws over 80,000 visitors, mean to you?

“Learning from other designers is an experience all creatives yearn for. Hence, being part of the Ars Electronica Festival with VCUarts Qatar was a milestone and an unforgettable experience for me, as I got to exhibit my work to other designers who shared similar passions. It is a Festival that attracts some of the top names in design, new media and technology, and there was so much to observe, absorb and be inspired by.

Additionally, the opportunity to represent Filipino designers and the Filipino community in general and share their stories on a global stage was a privilege and responsibility. It was a way for visitors from other parts of the world to appreciate and relate to the history and heritage of the Philippines.”

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How has studying at VCUarts Qatar opened such opportunities for you?

“Studying at VCUarts Qatar has been instrumental in nurturing my potential as a creative designer. Despite my inclination towards unconventional and boundary-pushing work, my professors and peers here encouraged me to pursue my ideas without limits, guiding me to create designs that resonated both creatively and functionally.

The multiple events and activities the University offers open numerous opportunities for students to learn and collaborate. For instance, workshops and events such as Tasmeem Doha helped me create concepts and projects that then led to bigger opportunities in the form of exhibitions such as Ars Electronica, not to mention collaborations with other designers and industry experts.

Clearly, VCUarts Qatar offers more than teaching and workshops; it offers life-changing experiences that open every student’s and creative’s perspective and opportunities in life.”

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You were an accomplished creative even before you joined VCUarts Qatar. And now you have a BFA degree and you’ve participated in the Ars Electronica Festival. How do you intend to expand on those experiences in the future?

“The experiences gained from those four years at VCUarts Qatar and from my participation in the Ars Electronica festival add up to a solid foundation for me. As a designer, such experiences foster deeper understanding and connections with the world we live and work in. The experience at Ars Electronica made me even more determined to create more impactful projects and initiatives for our community.

Looking forward, I hope to inspire others and guide future generations to embrace their passion for design. I want to show, by example, that education is not merely learning for learning’s sake but learning to challenge critical concepts and narratives in a way that can make a significant global impact.”