Born during the Martial Law period under the Marcos Regime, Gerald “Gem” was one of a generation of “martial law babies” conceived under a countrywide curfew in the 70s. Throughout the 80s all parts of society were controlled by military rule, including newspapers and television. Gem spent most of his early years doodling robots and superheroes on the walls of his family home in Manila.
Gem followed his passion for design and animation and took on Fine Arts in the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, one of the oldest universities in Asia. He went on to work as an art director and freelancer with advertising agencies and clients in the UK, Greece, Philippines and Cambodia.
Gem has led multi-disciplinary design teams responsible for crafting effective communication strategies, brand identities and campaigns for industry-leading brands in the beverage, telecommunications and banking sectors such as Coca-Cola, Guinness, San Miguel, Angkor, ABA Bank and Cellcard. Gem thrives on the importance of creating powerful storytelling and stimulating visual communications to support businesses’ mandates by ensuring strong design aesthetics across the whole creative process from concept to print/digital ready artwork.
In recent years Gem has widened his perceptive and challenged his creative abilities by taking on humanitarian-focused clients in the UK, Europe and Asia to raise awareness of human rights challenges facing marginalised individuals and communities such as refugees, land mine survivors, human rights defenders and legal activists. He has conceptualised and delivered award-winning campaigns and used his design skills and creative flair to produce creative print, web and digital campaigns to help raise the profile of international and local charities, NGOs and academic institutes.
Away from the screen, Gem works as an artist and musician. Growing up in the heydays of the 80s, his art is influenced by the surge of Japanese animation, graphic novels, punk and new wave music. Remnants of his early 80’s influences are visible in his paintings and artwork, combined with newfound techniques working with mixed media approaches to print, illustrating and painting. Gem especially revels in mixing his passion for design and music by creating print & online band posters and music merchandise.
In 2017 Gem was invited to present the artwork he created during his time volunteering in a refugee camp on the Greek islands as part of an exhibition called “Afloat”. Afloat was a collaborative exhibition in Cambodia featuring national and international artists working to bring awareness to the impact our actions or inactions have on our political, natural and social environment.
Work history
I
I
Design ConsultantIWI - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S INITIATIVE
London, United KingdomFreelance
International NGO registered in the UK working to raise awareness of human rights abuses against women globally, and to promote gender equality. Responsible for designing graphics for IWI’s digital programs and social media materials, including podcast program (Audio Roar!) and 10-4-10, a YouTube series promoting women’s rights issues.
Skills
- Graphic Design
- Art Direction
- Illustration
- Social Media Advertising
- Book Illustration
- Digital Design
- Advertising
- Creative Direction
- Digital Illustration
- Print Advertising