Let’s Jam
Bembo 2025
Welcome!
one and all to our pantry. This is our personal love letter to two years of growth, stress and caffeine. We’re a small group of 16 students all with our own stories and cultural backgrounds that came together and made delicious progress.
Come and enjoy the fruits of our labour together, and taste the sweet success.
by Elliott
Graphics
THAT’S OUR JAM!
2 years ago we all took a journey of discovery. We planted ourselves into our education. Working tirelessly to grow, connecting to both our work and each other. We mixed together creating unexpected flavours to make each dish more vibrant. Bringing creative visions to life and building a vibrant spread of projects for everyone to enjoy.
Bringing each of our own flavours to our class. Our jam contains a blend of Branding, Illustration, UX/UI, Packaging, Photography, Motion Graphics, Editorial, Print Production, Social Media Management, Web Development, Video Production, Copywriting, Brand Identity, and Marketing.
We all brought dishes from our culture, history and hobbies, threw them in a pot and created a flavour not like anything else. With a pool of inspiration and a shine for breaking the mold. VCC’s “Bembo” class is proud to present our graduation jam! Please dig in and have a taste.
Better together
16 flavours all brought together by their passion for design. Here we learned, grew and discovered our jam! perfect blend
Our ideas and passion come together to create an exciting mix of endless resilience and in-depth skills.
COMMITtEEs
Social Media
Grad Book
Photography
Print Prod.
Graphics designed by Emily
We are voted as most “_”
Best in forgetting what sleep is during finals
Most likely to turn a presentation into a TED Talk
best in class participation
Most likely to submit at 11:59 with a 1GB PDF
Kyle
Best in last-minute submissions
Best in using Figma like it’s The Sims
Best in hiding stress behind color palettes
Best in rebranding their life every semester best in attendance
Most likely to take a “5-minute nap” and wake up in 2097
Best in outfit coordination under pressure
Most likely to call in sick from another time zone
Best in using Illustrator like a sketchbook
Best in chill leadershipstyle
Most Supportive Classmate
Best in Clean Layouts, Clean Mind
Ayule Lim
“What you need: a quiet space, soft light, iced coffee, and a cat.”
My blend
I’m a graphic designer and illustrator drawn to quiet visuals and thoughtful structure. I work with soft colours, clean layouts, and subtle detail, focusing on clarity, space, and a calm tone through a steady and intentional design process.
My JAM
Gardening, knitting, stand-up paddle-boarding, and lounging with my cat.
packaging
Cynthia Nguyen
“Precision is the difference between a butcher, and a surgeon.”
My blend
Hi I’m Cynthia! I’m a designer born and raised in Vancouver, BC. My design language is bold, striking, and illustrative. People would describe me as self-motivated and dedicated. I also love meticulous work and organization, colour coding is my favourite organizational method.
My JAM
Building keyboards, drawing, reading, eSports, playing video games
Elliott Simms
“What makes you different makes you strong.”
My blend
I’m Elliott Simms, a non-binary graphic designer specializing in illustration, brand identity and advertising. My style is grungy and edgy, utilizing negative space and bold copy to pull attention to the design. In my free time, you can catch me gaming or snuggling with my cats.
My JAM
Video games, drawing, writing, character analysis, cat
EMily Chek
“It’s worth it if it makes you happy.”
My blend
I am a girl from Hong Kong that came all the way here with my sister and two shibas. I am an INFJ that loves observing people and understanding them. When I design, I love doing research, with a good knowledge, I can design everything with intention.
My JAM Pottery, my dogs, plants, cooking, reading
Wordpress
Jisu Choi
“I believe the smallest details often create the strongest emotional impact.”
My blend
I’m passionate about creating clean, thoughtful visuals that communicate clearly and leave a lasting impression. I believe that good design is not just about aesthetics—it’s about solving problems, communicating clearly, and making an impact. I’m always curious, open to learning, and excited to collaborate on projects that make a difference.
My JAM
Video games, drawing, walking with my dog
José Rubén Hernandez
“Keep moving, keep learning, keep growing”
My blend
I’m a graphic designer and filmmaker who believes in the power of storytelling. Design and film aren’t just creative outlets — they’re visual languages that complement each other, making every project emotionally rich. With over 30 short films and some feature film credits, I love blending design and film-making to craft bold, meaningful stories.
My JAM
Watch movies, listening to jazz, post punk and alternative music, hiking, keep learning and spend time with my family.
MY BEST WORK
Kyla Marrie Zano
My blend
“Now taking bookings, tattoos and existential crises.”
I’m a filipino graphic designer who makes cool abstract tattoos but deep inside I’m just a shy silly swagapino girl.
My JAM
Tattoos, illustrations, biking, cooking, video games, filming
Lauren Mari Maloles
“The universe will never give you peace in something you were never meant to settle in.”
My blend
Born and raised from Manila, she specializes in both print and digital design. The Vancouver-based graphic designer is known for her versatility and adaptability. With a background in animation, Lauren brings a dynamic and flexible approach to every project she takes on.
My JAM
Binge-watching shows, gaming, cafe hopping, working out, reading
Packaging
Marc Ducusin
My blend
I’m a Filipino creative based in Vancouver, a graphic designer and a photographer. I create visuals that reflect culture, community, and energy—mostly through concert photography, branding, and design that speaks without needing to shout.
My JAM
Graphic design, photography, videography, working out, sports
“I create because I love it. The chaos just comes with it.”
Makenzie Gladstone
“If you just do it, things will turn out okay!”
My blend
I’m a Graphic Designer with a background in 2D animation. I specialize in illustration, motion graphics, accessibility design and editorial work. My creative approach is fuelled by nostalgic animations, the independent art scene and the individuality of the people around me. I’m thrilled to begin a new journey and create compelling stories for my client’s and audience.
My JAM
Journalling, indie music, video games, stamp carving, creative writing, character design
Merchandise
Melody Chek
My blend
“You never fail unless you stop trying.”
I moved to Vancouver from Hong Kong in 2023 to study graphic design and pursue my passion as a creator. As a creative and a people-person, I thrive in environments where I can synergize with other creatives. I am passionate about creating human–centric designs that delights and inspires.
My JAM
Singing, drawing, reading, chilling with my dogs
Mert Yorulmaz
“There’s no CTRL+Z in real life, which is tragic.”
My blend
I’m a creative and active person who enjoys design, exploring new ideas, and staying fit. I like working on visual projects, learning new skills, and spending time outdoors. I’m always looking for ways to grow and express ideas in meaningful, visual ways.
My JAM
Weight training, cycling, collecting, camping, fishing
Michaela Fae Tan
“Happy mind, happy life.”
My blend
I’m a graphic and interior designer originally from Davao City, Philippines, now based in Vancouver, Canada. Creativity is my passion, and I love bringing ideas to life through design.
My JAM
Watching tv shows and movies, tennis, my poodlebears, exploring restaurants and cafés.
packaging
branding
Natalia Roa Moreno
“Life is full of colours and shapes waiting to be explored and expressed”
My blend
I’m Natalia Roa, a Colombian graphic designer skilled in illustration, branding, editorial, and UX. Passionate about visual storytelling and fluent in Adobe Creative Suite, I’m excited to grow, explore new styles and colour, and create impactful design.
My JAM
Video games, drawing, reading books, photography (especially of animals), diy projects, board games, listening to music, walking
PJ Carreon
“I bring peace, laughter, and the occasional dance move.”
My blend
A visual story teller, caffeine enthusiast, and adobo connoisseur. I love talking to people, making new friends, and cracking jokes to lighten the mood. A full-time pixel wrangler who mixes bold ideas with clean design. Outside work, you’ll find me doing parkour or chasing the perfect photo.
My JAM
Parkour, bouldering, street photography, filming, nature walk, always on Spotify.
MY BEST WORK
Viviane Carvalho Lima
“Don’t think much, everything it’s gonna be fine!”
My blend
I am the kind of person who loves learning new things, visiting new places, loving every minute of my life, and most importantly spoiling my dogs! I am also a graphic designer with a strong eye for detail and a love for colour, my work brings energy and joy. It’s made to catch eyes, spark smiles, and leave a lasting impression.
My JAM
watercolour painting, colouring books, drawing, reading
Instructors
Jason LaChance
Ashlea Spitz
Sigrid Albert
Janet McDonald
Jon Bantados
Elaine Smith
Anne Emberline
Yin Maung
Dave Savard
Thank you
To all our, wild, wonderful classmates for inspiring, collaborating and jamming with us for 2 years. We grew, learned and energized ourselves together to create a concoction with no expiration date. We’ve become adaptable, able to flow naturally and shape ourselves around our clients and creative projects. We all bring the texture of our unique character and unbreakable spirits to the next step of our journey. Together we all have found our jam.
by Natalia
Illustration
A MESSage from sigriD
Digital media Design Department Head
Dear Bembo Bold,
From orientation day in January 2024 to the final touches on your grad displays in July 2025, you’ve grown from Bembo to Bembo Bold. Along the way, you adjusted your kerning, pushed your boundaries, and learned that creativity sometimes comes with 87 open browser tabs.
“Let’s Jam” is a perfect theme for your cohort. You each bring something distinct to the table: smooth, crunchy, sweet, spicy, edgy, even some flavours we didn’t know existed. Yes, design is messy, and growth usually comes with a few rough drafts. But you refined your eye, sharpened your tools, and maybe cried onto your keyboard. In the end you persevered, and created a truly collaborative spread.
As you head out into the real world, remember that clients won’t always know what they want. Deadlines will blur. Edits will have to be done yesterday. But your ability to think, to iterate, to communicate with empathy and clarity is your superpower. Not to mention your passion for creating meaningful, eye-catching design.
Sigrid Albert Department Head, VCC Digital Media Design
On behalf of all your instructors, we are honoured to have been part of your progress as creatives. You have also shown us what we can do better, so you made your mark on this program. We can’t wait to see how you’ll leave your mark on the world.
Stay curious, kind and generous. And keep jamming. With pride on behalf of all of us in Digital Media Design.
Studio Nuvo is VCC’s premier student-run creative agency, where final-year Graphic Design Diploma students infuse every project with fresh energy and innovative ideas under the guidance of experienced faculty. Building on classroom learning with practical industry experience, our team crafts memorable print collateral, cohesive brand identities, and engaging web experiences tailored to your goals.
With a streamlined consultation and project management process, we ensure clear communication, on-time delivery, and exceptional results. By partnering with Studio Nuvo, you gain access to emerging talent backed by professional insight, creative solutions that meet your brief and exceed your expectations. Contact us today to see how we can bring your vision to life.
www.connectedbydesign.ca
We respectfully acknowledge that Vancouver Community College is located on the traditional and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Graphics designed by Elliott
nutritional facts
16 serving per class
Graduation Book
Cynthia
Mica
Branding Melody, Emily
Copy Writing Makenzie, Melody
Website Cynthia, Melody, Emily
Illustration Melody, Natalia
Graphics Elliott, PJ, Jisu, Emily
Contains:
Endless creativity, Caffeine, Rapid sketching, Broken HTML, Stubborn determination, Cheeky puns, Program crashes, Odd solutions, Email typo’s, Sticky note corrections, Cute stickers, Embarrassing google searches
