Meet The Artist Behind These Design Masterpieces

Have you seen the sophisticated Chivas Regal x Lisa I Rise We Rise campaign in BGC? How about the youthful visuals of Kidzoona or the eye-catching vehicle wraps on the roads? Whenever our eyes meet these head-turning designs, we are genuinely stunned by their beauty. But have you ever wondered who created these arts?

Meet Ace Pontecilla, the creative genius behind these stunning artworks. He works as a Creative Supervisor in Sign Depot, a designing company responsible for bringing ideas to life. In an exclusive interview with Village Pipol Magazine, he shares his journey to his passion, debunking stereotypes, and the importance of arts in human life.

Love and Dedication for Graphic Design

After college, Ace wanted to explore the world of creatives, which has been his dream since childhood. He was eager to share his drawing skills and make a living out of it. Moreover, he wanted to know what the advertising industry has to offer for an artist like him.

Back in 2014, he started his career as a Graphics Artist/Machine Operator in which he earns P15,000 a month plus overtime pay. He described it as tough, stressful, and needs loads of perseverance. Although overlooked and underappreciated, he was determined to walk this road.

Nearly 10 years from now, he got to collaborate with huge brands he never thought he would have business with. The best part? He gets to travel around the country. The world is basically his canvas—flipping blank spaces into visual masterpieces.

Stereotypes and Meeting Client Expectations

“Madali lang yan, click click lang yan” is one of the misconceptions about graphics designing he wants to debunk. Ace explains that no one can execute a beautiful design in just a matter of a few clicks. It requires time and mental exhaustion just to satisfy the clients’ demands—which for him is the most challenging part of his work.

“I just ignore those kinds of words, but I make sure no discounts will be given,” he jokes.

His love for his passion grew bigger when it helped him and his family stay afloat during the recent pandemic. With the rise of home set-up and food business during those times, these made a way for him to continue to do design services.

Moreover, when asked about his favorite design piece he produced, he said that every one of them has a place in his heart. But if he had to choose one, it would be the Chivas Regal x Lisa I Rise We Rise campaign where he customized a waiting shed with that theme.

Human and Art Connection

For Ace, the interconnectedness of arts and humans lies in the message and purpose conveyed. He mentions that arts exist everywhere. In his line of work, brands utilize arts to market their product to persuade consumer belief. May it be in the form of billboards, murals, social media, etc. And so, each of the material he creates aims to send a specific message.

“Art is very important because without it, people would never understand and appreciate the beauty of anything and everything.”

Tackling more on the serious topics, he still aims to reach more success in his field. He wants to strive for more collaborations with brands and help them materialize their vision. Most importantly, he wants to keep learning and expand the horizons of his knowledge.

Art is truly making our world a vibrant and happier place; always captivating and never boring. For Ace, knowing what you really want in life and exerting courage and perseverance to it, is the key to arrive where you want to be in life.

“No matter what, always believe in yourself because no one will do it for you. Always be hungry for learning, practice what you discovered, and apply it. When you look back on where you started, you’d be proud of how different your life is now from then. Keep the faith always [because] God never fails.”

Ace Pontecilla