Letter from a Reader: Designer in Delusion

Image courtesy of www.progarchives.com

Dear Fashion PULIS,

Hello FP! I am a follower of your blog. Apart from the regular blind items, I am also glad that you have this avenue wherein readers can send in and air their gripes about various concerns. I am now writing to you about the malpractices of this particular designer.

In this day and age when the power of technology like the internet gives everyone access to all information imaginable, there are still people who have the guts to make false claims including professionals who represent and/or misrepresent themselves for the purpose of scheming and manipulating people.

Case in point is Questionable Designer QD. On google search and wikipedia, here are some of QD's claims:

"Filipino-American QD is New York-based designer and consultant for global organizations."

1) Filipino American? New York-based? When he only studied for a year in New York. When I attended one of his events, he gave me a business card. I called his New York office, everything was a FAKE, as in no such number. And that 'Designers ----- ' written on his card, I went to the website, found out he just created it -- for "praise release" that is.

"After years of entrepreneurial work in Fashion and Style, QD trained with the Language and Communications ----"

2) He did not train, he was a mere volunteer associate intern. He worked for, NOT trained.

"QD is currently an International Consultant for Branding and Design at the -----"

3) ---- does not need a consultant for branding and design. It gives out money and funds they don't need to promote themselves. We verified this and this position and post title is non-existent. This is not true. HE IS NOT AN INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT FOR BRANDING AND DESIGN.

"He also heads the Designers for ----- New York, a group of designers from around the world designing for worldwide organizations and development agencies."

4) Again, this is non-existent, just a product of his imagination.

All this while heading **, his design agency in Manila.

5) I checked this out with the BIR - Bureau of Internal Revenue and SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission - this is not a registered entity.

6) Try to inquire about a pair of shoes, he will not be able to show you anything because what he has posted on his website is just that -- samples. Some of them are just in 3d rendering only.

7) His caskets and urns are also non-existent. There maybe be less than four caskets ever made. He had some tv interviews inside a casket factory but he just used these sub-contractors for his own publicity. Not one funeral house ever got interested in his designs.

8) Presently since he is looking for money, he is selling the shoes that are left-overs from his previous "samples." That's why if you ask, he will say "walang size," then he will sell it for Php30,000. Gross!

9) Now he has a tv show on design. He is posting cheap AD DEALS on facebook for his show. OFWs can make "pa-bati" for as low as 40 USD! Lol

10) He initiated this top Filipino exhibit supposedly featuring Lea Salonga, Manny Pacquiao, Charice Pempengco. Then all of a sudden, names like some nobodies surfaced. He included some nobodies so that they will be in his network, since some were also designers. At the event itself, only those nobodies showed up. Lea Salonga and company were clueless.

11) If he is so successful in his design career, why would he always post status on facebook looking for a free ride? "I need a ride from Makati to Katipunan 4pm-ish, anyone?" And does he have friends at all? "Going for a jogging in Ateneo, any companion available?"

On a tour ride somewhere north, he would borrow money to buy small "pasalubongs" but would never pay. Cheap!

Also, when he returned from New York, he said he would only stay here for six months, yet he never left Manila since.

FP, I am sending this as we were a victim of QD's unprofessionalism: a major project that got delayed and eventually scrapped due to his negligence and incompetence.

We hope that this will also help remind people not to be too naive and trusting towards other people they hardly know (something which I was guilty of). Do background check, internet is big help. If in doubt, don't do it. Thank you very much, FP for publishing my letter.

Sincerely,
Angie