WHO?

I’m a creative who never wants to stop learning.

Since I was 19, I’ve been working in different creative fields trying to acquire as many skills as I can because of my endless curiosity, my need to make cool stuff, and the harsh reality of trying to make enough money to survive.

  • I’ve worked in web design, publishing, media production, music, advertising, education, clothing, events, and esports industries.

  • Participated in several exhibits and art events

  • Spoken in several workshops and seminars as a key speaker/guest/panelist.

  • Been recognized as one of the people who makes really good gig posters by the local independent music scene.

  • Developed branding, logos, identities and characters for different businesses and intellectual properties.

  • Worked on storyboards, production, and concept work for television, advertising, and film

  • Won awards for my personal comics work, pitched and developed different stories for comics, patricipated in several conventions around South East Asia, and sold a good number of books/zines.

  • Been approached to be a Key Opinion Leader aka An Influencer by different brands trying to sell stuff

  • Been published for my art and writing in places like CNN Philippines Life and The Philippine Star,

  • Done volunteer work for several charities

I am not entirely sure how I got here, but am happy to still be around.

Hi, I’m Rob Cham.

Personal History:

  • I was born in the 90s and raised in Baguio before moving to Metro Manila for college where I studied in Ateneo De Manila University for 4 years.

  • I graduated with a degree in Management, and pursued a career in art afterwards.

  • I love Spider-man, Doraemon, Chicken Nuggets, Yakuza games, Conan O’Brian, Indie Comics, Tatsuku Fujimoto’s work, running, and David Bowie.

Currently:

  • Creative Director at Brand New Company (2022 - now)

  • An Award-Winning Comic Creator.

  • A guy who makes too many puns on Twitter.

Awards:

  • Light, 2015, Anino Comics(PH) Buno Books (INT) National Book Award, 2016, Best Graphic Fiction

  • Lost, 2016, Anino Comics
    National Childrens Book Awards, 2017, Reader’s Choice

  • Loyola Schools Art Awards for Art 2011

Would you like to know more?

If you do, here are some handy dandy links.

Kwentong Creatives 11: Comics w/ Rob Cham

Sep 2021

Kwentong Creatives is my friend Gio’s podcast. Met Gio in college through our shared interest in films. Interview goes towards asking about my personal history, how I try and solve things creatively, and how I feel about comics, my personal favorite medium.

Good Art//Bad Artist 03 | Rob Cham

Nov 2021

Electromilk is a prolific comics and zine maker, and I had the honor to guest on his podcast Good Art/ Bad Artist. In their own words:

”In this episode, Shin/electromilk asks Rob if he chose the komiks life or the komiks life chose him, why he keeps shifting from one subject matter and art style to another, which comparisons he approves and disapproves of, and most importantly: the Mano Po film franchise.

I think if we all have even half the respect for komiks-ing Rob has, the world would be a better place like, immediately!”

  • The Head of Art at Linya-Linya (2019 - 2022)

    • handled the creative direction for the visual side of the company for all their campaigns, advertising, and social media content.

    • directed and lead a team of artists to produce designs for our products: shirts, caps, mugs, stickers, and all sorts of wacky shenanigans.

    • provided art direction and assets for partnerships and client work.

    • A little copywriting here and there for content.helped elevate and define the company for years to come and all sorts of cool things.

  • Art Lead at Puddy Rock (2021 - 2022)

    • storyboarded, animated and helped co-produce animated shorts, content and world building for the Kids Music Youtube Channel

    • designed and manufactured products for the brand.

    • provided art direction and assets for partnerships and client work.

Previously I worked as:

  • Freelance Creative (2009 - present)

    • Illustrator (Scout Magazine, Philippine Star, CNN Philippines Life, various independent magazines)

    • Advertising Agency Service Provider (illustration work, storyboards, art direction, endorsements)

    • Influencer / KOL

    • Storyboard Artist (commercials, Rocketsheep Studios)

    • Graphic Designer

    • Lay-out Artist (books, magazines, publications)

    • Muralist

    • Event Organizer

    • Gig poster maker

    • Workshop Instructor (various universities, organizations, magazines & NGOs)

    • Editorial Cartoonist

    • Occasional Columnist/writer (CNN, SMILE MAGAZINE, Scout Magazine)

    • Pokemon Master

    • Editor (Abangan, The Best Philippine Komiks)

    • Story Team (Heneral Tuna)

  • Teacher/Instructor (2013 - 2015)

    • Ateneo De Manila University, taught Illustration as part of the Fine Arts Department.

  • Art Director (2015-2016)

    • The Diff (no longer operational)

    • A phone case company

  • Web Designer (2011 - 2013)

    • Create.PH (also no longer a thing)

    • a web design company with clients like Dwayne Wade, the Kobe Bryant Foundation, Usain Bolt, and more.

Interested in working with me?

For business inquiries, speaking engagements, inquisitions and more.

Brands I’ve worked with

Press

TEDxADMU

I was asked to do a TED talk. The topic they had me speak on was my affinity for silent comics in my graphic novel work, or well, comics that didn’t have words, and told the story with images alone.

I shared the talk I made during the Comic Art Festival in Kuala Lumpur, you can watch it below.

Graphika Manila 2022

I was once the youngest speaker in Graphika Manila back in 2012 when I was part of CreatePH. 10 years later, after many years of hard work doing my own thing, Graphika Manila invited me as the show ender for 2022’s conference, and I saw it as a full circle kind of moment. where I was recognized as one of the creatives worth getting for Graphika Manila which is this huge badge of honor for the Filipino Creatives scene.

I spoke about the 10 things I learned in the 10 years I’ve been working and got to impart hopefully some wisdom about how what you do isn’t entirely supposed to be the only thing you focus on. The moral of the Disney Pixar film Soul, basically.

They also let me design that year’s shirt. I decided on this messaging, given that this is something every creative feels.

Chinese by Blood, Filipino By Heart

I once tweeted asking when Chinoy TV would ever notice me, or well I had a thought of how as an artist, I felt that I wouldn’t really be recognized by the Chinese-Filipino community.

And then, everything changed when Chinoy TV emailed me. Chinoy TV is a niche thing where it’s just our local community’s network that talks about lifestyles of the Chinese-Filipino community here.

I was invited to talk about my story and to give my thoughts on various topics as a ‘Key Opinion Leader’ they identified.