EL JERO
"HEH-roh" or Hero
2025
This personal concept project explores character and figurine design as a medium for storytelling, cultural expression, and form-driven identity. The work centers around El Jero, a character inspired by family history and interpreted as a broader symbol rather than a literal portrait.
PERIMETER
Project Type: Personal / Concept
Focus Areas:
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Character storytelling through simplified form.
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Cultural symbolism with low-detail geometry to encourage interpretation.
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Translation of expressive sketches into manufacturable CAD.
Constraints: Self-directed project. No external brief, brand, or production limitations. Creative freedom used to explore figurines as a design discipline rather than illustration alone
The character draws inspiration from stories shared by my grandfather about his younger brother, Jerónimo, who passed away as a child in early-1900s Mexico. Rather than attempting a direct likeness, El Jero represents the many lives and identities that could have been lived, using simplified, low-detail assets. El Jero can be anyone and anyone can be El Jero.
Developed from early sketch narratives through full 3D CAD, the project balances disciplined form language, focusing on silhouette, proportion, and expressive restraint. The result is a figurine that communicates warmth and culture.
KEY TAKAWAYS
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Explore El Jero through additional identities inspired by common cultural figures and archetypes.
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Develop a small character series to expand the narrative universe and visual language.
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Investigate material finishes, scale variations, and surface treatments appropriate for collectible or toy contexts.
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Prototype select figures via 3D printing to evaluate form, balance, and shelf presence.
