About | GDLOFT | United States

Who we are

We are fine artists who understand commercial art.

And we are designers who understand the fine art world. We are academics who “get” the market and commercial artists with roots in academia and fine art.

Allan Espiritu

Principal, Creative Director

Allan Espiritu, founder of GDLOFT PHL, is a Philadelphia-based, award-winning graphic designer and educator. Espiritu received his BA in graphic design from Rutgers University-Camden and his MFA in graphic design from the Yale University School of Art. Espiritu’s work has been published and acknowledged by AIGA, GDUSA, UCDA, Graphis, Communication Arts, Print Magazine, HOW, STEP, Applied Arts, and Art Directors Club. GDLOFT’s work has also appeared in Gestalten Princeton Architectural Press, PIE Press, and Rockport publications. Espiritu heads the Graphic Design concentration program at Rutgers University-Camden. He served as President of the AIGA Philadelphia Chapter from 2011 to 2013.

Kevin Kernan

Principal, Managing Director

Kevin Kernan is a principal at GDLOFT, overseeing project management and business development. Kevin has an extensive background in print production, social media, and web design, having worked with Current Medicine/Current Science, Philadelphia City Paper, and Drexel University. He received his BA in graphic design from Rutgers University-Camden and holds a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University, where he specialized in working with nonprofit organizations and universities. Kernan’s work has been published and acknowledged by AIGA, GDUSA, UCDA, Telly Awards, Creative Quarterly, Print Magazine, and TED.

Matthew Higgins

Graphic Designer

Matt received with a degree in graphic design from Rutgers University and has been with GDLOFT since the summer of 2015. While he designs for all of GDLOFT’s clients, Matt currently designs and manages projects for University of the Arts, Rutgers University, Philadelphia Photo Arts Center, and IMPACT Services. He has received awards for his designs from Applied Arts, GDUSA and the National Students Design Conference.

Andrew Zaeh

Director of Imaging

Andrew Zaeh is an accomplished visual storyteller who has an extensive history of delivering still and moving imagery that harmonizes aesthetic vision with commercial objectives. With a career that began as a creative for major record labels, Andrew helmed the branding for artists including Jay-Z, Bruno Mars, Janelle Monáe, Shawn Mendes and Nick Jonas. When an opportunity to photograph the SXSW festival presented itself, Andrew's skillset expanded to include photography and direction. Since then, Andrew has had the pleasure of lensing still campaigns for AT&T, Revlon, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and has directed music videos featuring Fall Out Boy, 2 Chainz, Elton John & Courtney Love. Based in Brooklyn, Andrew represents the New York arm of GDLOFT.

What we do

We do more than design. We analyze your content.

We integrate your ideas and text into the process too. We transform your content for your audience of fine artists – we know how they think and process information because they are us. We understand

you’re on a budget.

And we love print!

See our work

Who we work with

We understand the fine art world, the process, the audience and the system. We understand what curators are looking for and what they’re trying to do. We can facilitate projects more quickly. We are insiders and outsiders simultaneously, and we draw on both perspectives to create meaningful experiences.