"I am not one & simple
but complex & many."
-VIRGINIA WOOLF
CULTURED CREATIVE • AESTHETIC ALCHEMIST
DESIGNER • DIRECTOR • CURATOR • STORYTELLER
WABI SABI WARRIOR • SISTER • ADVOCATE • ALLY
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WHAT'S GOOD-- MY NAME IS CELÏNE
My mother couldn't decide between Celine, Celeste, or Cielo— All 3 names have to do with the sky to some degree, which is pretty on brand, given that I've always had my head in the clouds & find myself constantly searching for deeper meaning in just about everything. After about a week without a name, she ended up naming me after Céline Vipiana, the designer, not Celine Dion, the singer.
“I'm free. I just do what I want, say what I want, say how I feel, and I don't try to hurt nobody. I just try to make sure that I don't compromise my art in any kind of way, and I think people respect that.”
― ERYKAH BADU
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about me
celine díjon | so fresh & celine | gasceline
Born & raised in the pretty city of San Francisco, I'm fortunate to have been brought up around so much delicious culture & an array of beautiful people. I've been creative for as long as I could remember, but being the eldest daughter of Filipino immigrants, nurturing my creativity as a career was never a top priority, as it's considered a "high-risk" career path in many brown families.
For whatever reason, I stood out as a kid– when all I wanted at that age, was to fit in. However, through my countless phases of aesthetic evolution & years of constant soul-searching, I grew to realize that standing out was, in fact, my biggest super power. Upon this realization, I began to see myself & the world with a different lens. It's my wish for everyone to find themselves & discover their own super powers.
After 5 years of going through the motions in community college with no real direction, my grandmother chose to invest in my creativity by putting me through Art School. At Academy of Art University, I majored in Advertising, with a focus in Art Direction; but it wasn't until I took my first Branding class that everything clicked & I had found my true calling– one of them at least.
INSPIRATION
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COMMUNITY
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One of my earliest memories as a designer, unbeknownst to me at the time, was when I designed my own Men In Black themed party invitations for my 8th birthday at a local roller rink. My mom decorated my cake with plastic bugs & made sure the DJ sprinkled in the MIB theme song throughout his set while the strobe lights illuminated the space. Bringing people together under a common cause or celebration has been an ever-present value in my life & can be seen in all I do.
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CULTURE
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Open-minded curiosity & self awareness were interwoven into my upbringing, contributing to the well-rounded individual I am today. I've always been fascinated with the nuanced differences & similarities between cultures-- whether it be food, music, customs, beliefs, etc. I love to learn new things & am often excited to share my findings with others, hoping to spread cultural knowledge & essentially, understanding, whenever & wherever I possibly can.
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CONVERSATION
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When I was young, I was one of those kids that couldn't wait to grow up– Mostly because I wanted to be taken seriously & for my voice to hold some type of weight to it. Finding one's voice is a very pivotal point in a person's life, but even more so when conversation can be used as a vehicle to enlighten or learn from others. I wish to evoke conversation & curiosity in all of my works to create a safe space for people to exchange perspective.
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EXPERIENCE
BOMBILLA CREATIVE // OAKLAND, CA • 2023-PRESENT
Freelance Designer // Thought Partner
@ME DESIGN // ALAMEDA, CA • 2022-PRESENT
Freelance Creative Director // Project Manager
HAVAS SAN FRANCISCO // SF, CA • 2021-2022
Art Director // Social Media Team Designer
LUNCHBOX MOMENTS ZINE // BAY AREA, CA • 2021
Written Publication + Artwork Contribution
YMCA OF SAN FRANCISCO // SF, CA • 2018-2021
Lead Graphic Designer // MarCom Specialist
AQUEMINI FUNKTIONZ // SF, CA • 2017-2019
Art Director // Event Curator // Co-Founder
WHOLE FOODS MARKET // SF, CA • 2017-2018
Creative Lead // Graphic Artist
Y&H CREATIVE CO-OP // SF, CA • 2016-2017
Art Director // Graphic Designer - NXT Up Fest
FREE RANGE PUPPIES // SF, CA • 2016-2017
Art Director Intern – Stories Behind the Fog
8TH BIRTHDAY PARTY // SAN MATEO, CA • 1997
Invitation Designer // Vibe Checker – MIB-themed Party
WHAT BRINGS ME JOY