Design Week Philippines celebrates its 10th anniversary this year

By CREATE Philippines
October 20, 2021

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Between October 18 and 24, Design Week Philippines marks its tenth year of celebrating and democratizing the Filipino design and creative community. 

This year’s theme is “Design Connections” with each day dedicated to a component of the design innovation ecosystem, highlighting the networks and relationships between designers and stakeholders of the Filipino design sector. 

The festival kicked off on Monday with a session unveiling “Design Counts” – a pioneering design economy mapping study of the Philippines, presented by the Design Center of the Philippines and in collaboration with the British Council. In an effort to explore the interactions between Filipino design firms and designers, the study is a comprehensive overview of the state of design in the Philippines, as well as its value to the economy. 

The Design Counts session presented recommendations for the country’s first-ever National Design Policy, hoping to use design to support the Philippines’ social and economic development ambitions.  The talk will be led by Stephen Hignell (Nordicity), Dr. Anna Whicher (PDR International Centre for Design & Research), Reichelle Carlos (Bayan Academy), and Design Center’s very own Rhea Matute. 

On Tuesday, October 20, a talk titled “Investing in Design” examines the power of the entrepreneur in providing avenues for innovation, competition, and enterprise for creative ventures.

Other talks in the roster include a masterclass held with graphic designer and creative entrepreneur AJ Dimarucot on how online Filipino design workers can build sustainable careers from home or anywhere in the world.  “Design for Everyday” discusses how design can provide a platform for advocacy and change. “KidsDesign Playground: Design Education for Kids” illustrates how design knowledge can help educate children on the importance of creativity. 

Design Week Philippines is presented by The Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, and co-curated by Fringe Manila and Pineapple Lab. In 2013, the Design Center was mandated under the Philippine Design Competitiveness Act to expand the DTI’s mandate in promoting competitiveness for Filipino design products to the global market. 

To register for any of these events and to learn more about Design Week Philippines, visit the Design Center of the Philippines Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DTI.DesignCenterPH/

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