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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Luminaries and Life devider World Design Organization to bring its Interdesign programme to Siargao

World Design Organization to bring its Interdesign programme to Siargao

International designers and local practitioners collaborate on innovative, community-driven solutions for climate, culture, and resilience

Published Mar 17, 2026 12:47 pm
Since 1957, the World Design Organization (WDO), then known as the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID), has been on a mission to improve the quality of life through design by supporting innovation, sustainability, and design education. One way it does this is through the Interdesign programme, which brings together designers and other creative professionals from around the world to collaborate on real‑world, locally identified problems with global significance.
This year, the WDO is set to bring its Interdesign programme to the Philippines, specifically to the beloved island of Siargao. With the theme “Design Innovation and Resiliency for the Tropics,” the international design workshop series will convene designers, researchers, and interdisciplinary practitioners to engage with the island’s unique social, environmental, and cultural landscape.
“Long before Siargao Island gained global recognition as a surf destination, the island’s communities developed ways of living deeply attuned to a tropical environment shaped by monsoons, shifting coastlines, and rich marine ecosystems,” the WDO stated. “In recent decades, rapid tourism growth and the impacts of Typhoon Rai (Odette) in 2021 have intensified pressures on infrastructure, housing, and fragile ecosystems, while also revealing strong local capacities for recovery, mutual aid, and innovation.”
In partnership with the Design Center of the Philippines and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, the Interdesign programme is scheduled to take place from July 13 to 24, 2026, with participants working alongside local stakeholders to examine design responses in four key areas: circular economy transformation; climate resilience and disaster preparedness; ecosystem restoration and protection; and sustainable and resilient micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and communities.

The goal is to demonstrate how humanity-centered design can translate complex environmental, economic, and social challenges into inclusive, context-responsive solutions.
The WDO and Design Center of the Philippines are now accepting participants for the Interdesign programme to engage in hands-on, impact-driven design at the intersection of climate, culture, and place. " You do not have to be a designer to take part. Whether you are a community leader, a business owner, a student, or an aspiring changemaker," the Design Center of the Philippines announced. "If you are passionate about sustainability, innovation, community development, or simply want to contribute to meaningful change, your voice belongs in the room."
The submission deadline is March 31, 2026. For more information, visit wdo.org/programmes/interdesign/siargaoisland2026
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