Jan Calleja
Graduated with a Degree in Visual Communication at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.
1994-2001 Practiced manual production techniques such as merchandising design for Gift Gate Philippines; set design and production that include scenography and miniature model – making, for clients like ABS-CBN to various Play productions which were shown in both the UP and Meralco Theatres.
Went into digital graphic design from 2002 until landing a position as an art director for Ogilvy & Mather’s Redworks Philippines in 2007. There he honed his skills in the creative discipline of below the line campaign material-making, and more importantly, the process of Ideation and how to effectively execute them.
But *Tinkering was what he loved most doing as a child. He’d build airplanes from illustration boards, folders and other objects lying around. At the UP College of Fine Arts, tinkering gave him a bit of pin money. People, some of them representatives of companies, would approach him and other students to do creative work-designs, adaptation of designs, prototypes, murals.
For several years, even as he rose up to art director for Redwork/Ogilvy Manila, Jan would always look forward to going home to his alternate life as a toy-customizer. Soon he discovered others like him. “They are the graffiti and urban artists engaged in street art.” He found them at Secret Fresh and Vinyl on Vinyl galleries. They were generous in helping newcomers like him.
Among these like-minded guys, he got acquainted with Spencer and Stephen Ong who designed the Celsius vinyl toy. “They held a contest and asked me to join. I placed second.” The competition was followed by an exhibit participated in by 15 toy-makers. It was very successful, with the support from the guys at Vinyl on Vinyl.
His winning entry was brought to Toy Art Gallery in the US. The owner liked his work and sent him blank figures to work on for the owner’s own collection and for selling at the gallery.Since then, he has been recognized both here and abroad, including two successive years’ nomination as Best Toy Customizer by Clutter Magazine of New York.
His dream is to show that toy art is not necessarily low-brow but can level up to mainstream art. Another is to share his craft to young people — those with patience, creative flair, eye for detail. “Those who, on seeing a prospective material, know its possibilities. Is it going to be an eye, a wing, an arm, a head?”
As of 2018, Jan has participated in 21 group shows, and 3 Solo shows.
Best Toy Designer nominee Designer Toy Awards. 2011 CLutter Magazine. New York. U.S.A
Best Toy Designer Finalist Designer Toy Awards. 2013 Clutter Magazine. New York, U.S.A
‘Excerpts from “Tinkerer turns customized toymaker” By Myrna Rodriguez Co Philippine Daily Inquirer — Sunday Biz, September 15, 2013
1994-2001 Practiced manual production techniques such as merchandising design for Gift Gate Philippines; set design and production that include scenography and miniature model – making, for clients like ABS-CBN to various Play productions which were shown in both the UP and Meralco Theatres.
Went into digital graphic design from 2002 until landing a position as an art director for Ogilvy & Mather’s Redworks Philippines in 2007. There he honed his skills in the creative discipline of below the line campaign material-making, and more importantly, the process of Ideation and how to effectively execute them.
But *Tinkering was what he loved most doing as a child. He’d build airplanes from illustration boards, folders and other objects lying around. At the UP College of Fine Arts, tinkering gave him a bit of pin money. People, some of them representatives of companies, would approach him and other students to do creative work-designs, adaptation of designs, prototypes, murals.
For several years, even as he rose up to art director for Redwork/Ogilvy Manila, Jan would always look forward to going home to his alternate life as a toy-customizer. Soon he discovered others like him. “They are the graffiti and urban artists engaged in street art.” He found them at Secret Fresh and Vinyl on Vinyl galleries. They were generous in helping newcomers like him.
Among these like-minded guys, he got acquainted with Spencer and Stephen Ong who designed the Celsius vinyl toy. “They held a contest and asked me to join. I placed second.” The competition was followed by an exhibit participated in by 15 toy-makers. It was very successful, with the support from the guys at Vinyl on Vinyl.
His winning entry was brought to Toy Art Gallery in the US. The owner liked his work and sent him blank figures to work on for the owner’s own collection and for selling at the gallery.Since then, he has been recognized both here and abroad, including two successive years’ nomination as Best Toy Customizer by Clutter Magazine of New York.
His dream is to show that toy art is not necessarily low-brow but can level up to mainstream art. Another is to share his craft to young people — those with patience, creative flair, eye for detail. “Those who, on seeing a prospective material, know its possibilities. Is it going to be an eye, a wing, an arm, a head?”
As of 2018, Jan has participated in 21 group shows, and 3 Solo shows.
Best Toy Designer nominee Designer Toy Awards. 2011 CLutter Magazine. New York. U.S.A
Best Toy Designer Finalist Designer Toy Awards. 2013 Clutter Magazine. New York, U.S.A
‘Excerpts from “Tinkerer turns customized toymaker” By Myrna Rodriguez Co Philippine Daily Inquirer — Sunday Biz, September 15, 2013
Jan Calleja
Graduated with a Degree in Visual Communication at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.
1994-2001 Practiced manual production techniques such as merchandising design for Gift Gate Philippines; set design and production that include scenography and miniature model – making, for clients like ABS-CBN to various Play productions which were shown in both the UP and Meralco Theatres.
Went into digital graphic design from 2002 until landing a position as an art director for Ogilvy & Mather’s Redworks Philippines in 2007. There he honed his skills in the creative discipline of below the line campaign material-making, and more importantly, the process of Ideation and how to effectively execute them.
But *Tinkering was what he loved most doing as a child. He’d build airplanes from illustration boards, folders and other objects lying around. At the UP College of Fine Arts, tinkering gave him a bit of pin money. People, some of them representatives of companies, would approach him and other students to do creative work-designs, adaptation of designs, prototypes, murals.
For several years, even as he rose up to art director for Redwork/Ogilvy Manila, Jan would always look forward to going home to his alternate life as a toy-customizer. Soon he discovered others like him. “They are the graffiti and urban artists engaged in street art.” He found them at Secret Fresh and Vinyl on Vinyl galleries. They were generous in helping newcomers like him.
Among these like-minded guys, he got acquainted with Spencer and Stephen Ong who designed the Celsius vinyl toy. “They held a contest and asked me to join. I placed second.” The competition was followed by an exhibit participated in by 15 toy-makers. It was very successful, with the support from the guys at Vinyl on Vinyl.
His winning entry was brought to Toy Art Gallery in the US. The owner liked his work and sent him blank figures to work on for the owner’s own collection and for selling at the gallery.Since then, he has been recognized both here and abroad, including two successive years’ nomination as Best Toy Customizer by Clutter Magazine of New York.
His dream is to show that toy art is not necessarily low-brow but can level up to mainstream art. Another is to share his craft to young people — those with patience, creative flair, eye for detail. “Those who, on seeing a prospective material, know its possibilities. Is it going to be an eye, a wing, an arm, a head?”
As of 2018, Jan has participated in 21 group shows, and 3 Solo shows.
Best Toy Designer nominee Designer Toy Awards. 2011 CLutter Magazine. New York. U.S.A
Best Toy Designer Finalist Designer Toy Awards. 2013 Clutter Magazine. New York, U.S.A
‘Excerpts from “Tinkerer turns customized toymaker” By Myrna Rodriguez Co Philippine Daily Inquirer — Sunday Biz, September 15, 2013
1994-2001 Practiced manual production techniques such as merchandising design for Gift Gate Philippines; set design and production that include scenography and miniature model – making, for clients like ABS-CBN to various Play productions which were shown in both the UP and Meralco Theatres.
Went into digital graphic design from 2002 until landing a position as an art director for Ogilvy & Mather’s Redworks Philippines in 2007. There he honed his skills in the creative discipline of below the line campaign material-making, and more importantly, the process of Ideation and how to effectively execute them.
But *Tinkering was what he loved most doing as a child. He’d build airplanes from illustration boards, folders and other objects lying around. At the UP College of Fine Arts, tinkering gave him a bit of pin money. People, some of them representatives of companies, would approach him and other students to do creative work-designs, adaptation of designs, prototypes, murals.
For several years, even as he rose up to art director for Redwork/Ogilvy Manila, Jan would always look forward to going home to his alternate life as a toy-customizer. Soon he discovered others like him. “They are the graffiti and urban artists engaged in street art.” He found them at Secret Fresh and Vinyl on Vinyl galleries. They were generous in helping newcomers like him.
Among these like-minded guys, he got acquainted with Spencer and Stephen Ong who designed the Celsius vinyl toy. “They held a contest and asked me to join. I placed second.” The competition was followed by an exhibit participated in by 15 toy-makers. It was very successful, with the support from the guys at Vinyl on Vinyl.
His winning entry was brought to Toy Art Gallery in the US. The owner liked his work and sent him blank figures to work on for the owner’s own collection and for selling at the gallery.Since then, he has been recognized both here and abroad, including two successive years’ nomination as Best Toy Customizer by Clutter Magazine of New York.
His dream is to show that toy art is not necessarily low-brow but can level up to mainstream art. Another is to share his craft to young people — those with patience, creative flair, eye for detail. “Those who, on seeing a prospective material, know its possibilities. Is it going to be an eye, a wing, an arm, a head?”
As of 2018, Jan has participated in 21 group shows, and 3 Solo shows.
Best Toy Designer nominee Designer Toy Awards. 2011 CLutter Magazine. New York. U.S.A
Best Toy Designer Finalist Designer Toy Awards. 2013 Clutter Magazine. New York, U.S.A
‘Excerpts from “Tinkerer turns customized toymaker” By Myrna Rodriguez Co Philippine Daily Inquirer — Sunday Biz, September 15, 2013
Please send us a message, call or text us if you wish to schedule a viewing of the artworks.
Contact: +65 9641 3235
Contact: +65 9641 3235