Bianca Aguilar

Bianca Aguilar

Designer and Educator in Manila, Philippines, She/her

About

I'm a critical creator who cultivates potential in products and people. When I'm not bringing the ideas of tech startups to life, I'm dedicated to nurturing emerging creatives and technologists.

Work Experience

2021 — Now

Firesite Studio is a website design & development studio specializing in no-code. We work with tech startups, VC funds, and other innovators to ignite their presence online. Our bespoke websites are where ideas not only live but also thrive.

Select clients: BOOQED, Gentree Fund, Metaportal, Nick Ducoff

2021 — 2022

A Learning DAO building the Liberal Arts for Crypto.

I designed materials for our Semester II, where we provided exclusive + intellectually rich workshops, electives, and discussions for our students (e.g. course posters, NFT collectibles). I'm also currently designing the Lexicon, an open-source public good that aims to curate all the best information in the Web3 space.

2022 — 2022
Ateneo de Manila University

Researching on interorganizational networks, advised by Sir. Eos Trinidad

2021 — 2021

Spearheaded Webflow development and facilitated IA workshop for the UX+ Resource. Oversaw student initiatives: customizable name cards and educational career content. Created flows and templates for 100+ partnership emails.

2020 — 2021
Intern → Associate Designer at Fluid Stack Solutions

Generalist at a venture builder. Led end-to-end design for insurtech startup. Oversaw user research and co-developed site for e-commerce startup.

2018 — 2019

Redesigned and developed website of premiere career blog for Filipino Gen Z. Realigned with updated brand and improved usability & accessibility.

Volunteering

2021 — Now

Reboot is a publication and community reclaiming techno-optimism for a better collective future.

I joined the community as a Student Fellow in 2021, where I was able to spend weeks reading and writing about tech x labor. Since then, I've contributed various critical essays on education, tech, and power.

2018 — Now

Developh is a community for intersectional technologists creating better futures for the Philippines. For the past few years, I've worked as a generalist: I've led user research on community, and taught design, ethics, & career development through creating learning experiences for members (i.e. facilitation, workshops, mentorship). TL;DR just helping this tender community thrive.

2021 — 2021

Surge is a female-led community focused on educating and securing women’s place in Web3. I created Surge's brand identity and also helped design its NFT collection's website.

2020 — 2021

Spearheading design education for student-led design organization and consultancy. Designed and held workshops to over 100+ attendees. Oversaw curriculum of case competition for 50+ participants.

Education

2019 — Now
Quezon City, Philippines

with tracks in Information Design and Computer Science: Programming + minor in Education

2022 — 2022

A community of mission-driven technologists. 5% annual acceptance rate.

2021 — 2021

A peer-to-peer learning community for exploring + creating in Web3.

Speaking

2022

I was invited to be one of the youth leaders reacting to the agenda's launch, representing my community Developh.

Awards

2021

1 of 10 in Adobe's inaugural scholarship for undergraduates in design, chosen from 1000+ worldwide.

2021

Speculative designathon. Bested 30+ worldwide.

2020

UX case competition. Bested 30+ schoolwide.

Writing

2022

Envisioning a radical new future for education and the internet where student agency takes charge

2021

A deep dive into edtech programs like MOOCs and bootcamps, and how their empowerment of students can often be masqueraded exploitation

2021

How creative industries exploit maintenance work in the Global South

Side Projects

2022

A free Notion template that acts as a structured goals → tasks setting system

2021

Occassionally, I write for my personal newsletter: a creative's take on humanity's relationship with technology. My writing has been published with the newsletter and (soon) print magazine of Reboot, a publication and community for young technologists reclaiming techno-optimism for a better collective future.

Features

2022

The Circum Podcast aims to cover the people & projects using the tools of web3 to make the world a better place.

Episode 01 is all about The Philippines. Podcast host Guy talks to Rachel Chak & Bianca Mikaila about their projects and interests, participating in web3 from a Filipino perspective, the Filipino presidential election, extreme weather in the Western Pacific, etc.

2021

The empowering stories of Nikki Datlangin, Bianca Aguilar, Dona Marabe, and Tricia Cabais prove that you can do anything as long as you set your mind to it.

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