Design Week Philippines 2024, organized by the DTI-Design Center of the Philippines, is a nationwide celebration of Filipino design and creativity. Running from October 12 to 19, 2024, it features talks, workshops, and tours across 15 cities and 10 regions, making it the country’s largest design festival.
Now in its 14th year, Design Week highlights design as a tool for cultural expression, positive change, and sustainable growth. The theme, "Unearthing Islandness," encourages deeper exploration of how indigenous philosophies and generational knowledge can shape sustainability and innovation in Philippine design.
During the opening panel discussion titled “The State of Philippine Design,” it brought together leading creative figures to explore how design thinking is increasingly used to address societal challenges in the Philippines.
Panelists included DTI-Design Center Executive Director Rhea Matute, community livelihood consultant Rambie Lim, TAYO Design Studio co-founder Tasha Tanjutco, Ogilvy Consulting Asia President Paolo Mercado, Museo ng Kaalamang Katutubo Director Corazon Alvina, Dapat Studio Strategy Director Karina Abola, and DTI-Design Center Deputy Executive Lucky Lopez.
“Design can open doors for citizens to deepen their appreciation for our heritage and our culture; it’s becoming a foundational tool and catalyst for social change, community development, and economic growth,” Matute said.
As the creative industry embraces comprehensive sustainability, Filipino designers are drawing on archipelagic values to create solutions with both local and global impact. In 2023, the creative economy contributed P1.72 trillion to the country’s GDP, accounting for 7.1 percent of the national economy.
“The strength of Filipino design lies in its ability to marry tradition with innovation, crafting solutions that are not just relevant to our communities but also influential on the global stage. After all, design is what links creativity and innovation,” Matute added. “Through platforms like Design Week, we aim to empower our design community across the country to envision and create products, places, and policies that echo far beyond our shores.”
The festival will close on October 19 with a panel featuring designers Álvaro Catalán de Ocón and Leeroy New. Catalán de Ocón, known for his PET Lamp project, and New, celebrated for his large-scale eco-art installations, will discuss the fusion of sustainability and cultural preservation in their work. The day will also include workshops, a heritage tour at the CCP Complex, and performances by Johnoy Danao and Autotelic.
The Design Center’s Design X initiative, which promotes green entrepreneurship and sustainability in the Philippine home and furniture industry, will also take center stage. Products from this program will debut at Manila FAME 2024, a global trade show known for showcasing high-quality, design-forward Philippine-made products. In partnership with CITEM, the Design Center will present innovative, sustainable designs and materials.