TONICHI ACENAS

is a Manila-based designer, art director, and photographer with an insatiable creative energy. Nice to meet you! ☺

Looking for ➝ New work opportunities ✦ Creative teams both big and small ✦

Looking for ➝ New work opportunities ✦ Creative teams both big and small ✦ Looking for ➝ New work opportunities ✦ Creative teams both big and small ✦

➀ ABOUT

Over the past decade, I’ve helped build meaningful and memorable brand experiences through art direction, brand design, and production.

An amazing brand experience is the sum of several thoughtfully-designed moving parts. And as a big-picture thinker with a passion for the crafting the finer details, I’m multidisciplinary by design. This approach allows me to make sure every piece of a brand is working together seamlessly, creating a holistic brand experience.

I’m never not excited to explore all the ways in which a brand can connect on a human level. I love working with teams both big and small, taking on creative challenges, and approaching every new project with a mindset of learning & curiosity. ◍

When I’m not working, I’m passionate about all things culture, taking photos of ordinary days, and cool furniture.

SKILLS

Brand Strategy
Concept Dev't
Brand Identity
Art Direction
Graphic Design
Packaging
Typography
Photography
Video Editing
Web Design

TOOLS

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Lightroom
Canva
Squarespace
Shopify

➁ EXPERIENCE

I’m currently a Senior Art Director at Elevation, where I’m lucky to lead visuals on everything I love — from brand campaigns and identities to social media and beyond — all while working closely with our in-house production team, Mission 2, to bring concepts to life.

Previously, I worked as the in-house Creative Lead at a local start-up, where I built physical & digital brand experiences, led and managed a team, and helped a retail brand 4x their revenue (and become the #1 gemstone jewelry website in the Philippines!)

I got my start as an Art Director at Ace Saatchi & Saatchi, where I handled large scale campaigns for major brands like Toyota, SM, Olay, and Safeguard. Notably, I worked directly on the winning pitches for clients like TNT, Tim Hortons, Virlix, and Rebisco, securing new business for the agency.

In between, I’ve also worked independently on freelance projects, working together with small business owners to bring their dream brand to life. ✦

I’m always on the lookout for fun creative endeavors, and love building meaningful things with like-minded creatives.

2025 - PRESENT