For Cilmar Bolilawa Bacus, becoming a designer was never part of a carefully planned career path. The Filipino creative professional originally studied Computer Programming in the Philippines, but over time discovered a growing interest in visual communication, creativity and graphic design.
Without a formal design education, Cilmar taught himself through YouTube, online tutorials and continuous practice. He spent hours learning design software, experimenting with techniques and studying how visual elements could communicate ideas. What began as curiosity gradually developed into a professional career.
Today, Cilmar works in a creative leadership role at a marketing consultancy in Business Bay, Dubai, with experience across graphic design, branding, production, packaging, digital experiences, UI/UX, campaigns, motion, 3D and creative direction.
Starting Over in Dubai
Cilmar moved to Dubai in 2017, hoping to build a better future and establish himself professionally. Starting in a new country was challenging, especially because he did not yet have the strong portfolio or professional experience needed to compete in Dubai’s international creative industry.
Rejection became part of his early journey.
Rather than allowing it to stop him, he used those experiences to understand what he needed to improve. He continued learning, practised late into the night and worked on personal projects to strengthen his portfolio.
His first professional opportunity in Dubai came as a Graphic Designer at a corporate gifts company in Dubai CommerCity.
For his first two years, he focused mainly on graphic design. He later moved into the production department, taking on responsibilities as a Graphic Designer, Digital Printer and Production In-Charge.
Learning Beyond the Screen
The production experience became an important part of Cilmar’s development.
He learned about printing, materials, measurements, colour output, file preparation, finishing, quality control and production deadlines. More importantly, he learned that design does not end when a file is completed on a computer.
A creative professional also needs to understand how an idea will be produced and experienced in the real world.
After around four years with the company, Cilmar moved into hospitality, joining a café and restaurant company in Dubai Design District as a Graphic Designer.
His responsibilities expanded to branding, menus, promotional materials, campaigns, social media and customer-facing visuals. Working in hospitality helped him understand the importance of presentation, atmosphere and customer experience.
When the company later developed an agency division, Cilmar moved into it as a Creative Graphic Designer, opening the door to broader creative work.
From Designer to Creative Leader
Agency life exposed Cilmar to different industries, brands and creative requirements. He became more involved in concepts, branding systems, presentations and campaign thinking, while working closely with clients, marketers, account managers, photographers, content creators and production teams.
Over the years, his skill set expanded beyond traditional graphic design to include branding, visual identity, packaging, websites, UI/UX, digital campaigns, motion and video-related work, 3D and product visualisation, and creative direction.
His professional experience has included work connected to brands and organisations such as Emirates, Ajman Bank, RMS Rotana, Amwaj and the UAE Tour.
Today, he works in a Head of Creative / senior creative capacity at a marketing consultancy in Business Bay, bringing together his design, production and agency experience.
One particularly meaningful milestone came when Cilmar searched Google for “top Filipino graphic designer in Dubai” and saw his own name appearing in the results.
For someone who once struggled to secure opportunities because his portfolio was not strong enough, the moment represented years of learning, rejection, sacrifice and persistence.
Staying Ahead of Change
Cilmar believes the creative industry is constantly changing, which makes continuous learning essential.
He continues exploring AI tools, automation, UI/UX, emerging platforms and new creative technologies, seeing technological change as an opportunity to develop rather than something to resist.
His understanding of design has also evolved. While visual quality remains important, he now focuses equally on the problem behind a project — what a brand needs to communicate, who it needs to reach and how creative work can support that objective.
Family Behind the Ambition
Beyond professional recognition, his wife and son remain a major source of motivation.
For Cilmar, building a career in Dubai is not simply about achieving a title. It is about creating stability and a comfortable future for his family.
His experience as an overseas Filipino has also taught him the importance of managing expenses, investing in skills and remaining prepared for change.
He hopes to continue developing his personal brand, grow as a creative leader, eventually build his own creative ventures and mentor younger designers.
A Message to Aspiring Creatives
Cilmar’s advice to aspiring designers is straightforward: don’t stop learning.
He encourages creatives to build personal projects, strengthen their portfolios, learn new software, understand branding and business, explore AI and digital tools, improve communication, accept criticism and build genuine professional relationships.
He also believes there is value in starting small. A role that may initially seem unrelated to a long-term ambition can provide skills that become valuable later.
His own career reflects that journey. Computer Programming led him toward design, self-learning helped him build his skills, rejection pushed him to improve, production taught him technical discipline, hospitality expanded his understanding of audiences, and agency work prepared him for creative leadership.
From arriving in Dubai in 2017 without a strong professional portfolio to building a career across design, production and creative direction, Cilmar Bolilawa Bacus has built his journey one lesson at a time.
His story is ultimately a reminder that a career does not always begin with the perfect qualification or opportunity.
Sometimes, it begins with curiosity, persistence and the decision to keep learning. And for Cilmar, that learning continues.
