MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) comprise 99.63% of businesses in the Philippines, yet they continue to face persistent barriers to growth: limited access to financing, constrained production capacity, and difficulty reaching new markets. In response, the Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is advancing a bold strategy, positioning design not merely as aesthetic enhancement, but as a catalyst for economic transformation.
“Design is our soft power,” said Rhea Matute, Executive Director of the Design Center. “It draws from our cultural depth, our resourcefulness, and our capacity to imagine. When we embed design into enterprise, we don’t just improve products, we unlock new forms of value, dignity, and global relevance for Filipino creators.”
This vision was brought to life at Manila FAME 2025, held 17–19 October at the World Trade Center, where the Design Center collaborated and co-created with MSMEs for two major showcases: The Renaissance of the Real and Artisans Village.
The Renaissance of the Real: Craft as Creative Industry
One of Manila FAME 2025’s highlights was Design Center’s The Renaissance of the Real, a special setting that, in the age of artificial intelligence and manufactured perfection, invited audiences to reconnect with in-real-life (IRL) experiences—the warmth of handmade forms, the texture of raw materials, and the imprint of human genius.
The installation featured remarkable works, including a hand-carved mahogany mirror by JB Woodcraft and a sculptural woven wire-mesh 2-seater chair by MCCA Industrial Corporation.
Claudine San Diego, Co-Founder of Tiffany Stained Glass and Aluminum Co. Inc., shared, “The booth’s concept of colorful, tactile lines felt like a modern day of revival and reinterpretation of craftmanship. It reminded us that innovation is always rooted in honoring what is real, local, and handmade.”
Inspired by a global movement reclaiming slowness, tactility, and cultural depth as essential to design, the installation celebrated Philippine craft not as nostalgia but as a powerful tool for transformation.
Guided by the creative direction of Tony Gonzales and co-created with emerging designers and 18 MSMEs specializing in bamboo, abaca, nito, pottery, metal, glass, and wood, each object expressed generational know-how and future vision. “We’re bringing traditional shapes and putting fun into it,” said Joan Wang, President of Catalina Embroideries, Inc. “It’s a statement that the Philippines is not just the traditional kind of craft, but we’re going forward to something much higher.”
Rowen De Jesus, Founder of That One Piece Enterprise, emphasized, “It’s not just about improving products—it’s about honoring our culture and making sure our traditions continue in a way that feels relevant and market-ready.”
Among the standout works were stained-glass-inspired lamps by Tiffany Stained Glass & Aluminum Co. Inc., lamps adorned with strips of fossilized leaves by LIJA by That One Piece Enterprise, and a handcrafted coconut-bead chandelier by Catalina Embroideries, Inc.
Artisans Village: Regional Craft, Reimagined
The Design Center also partnered with 30 MSMEs from Ilocos Sur, Quirino, and Bohol to co-create the Artisans Village collections—an evolving showcase of regional craftsmanship and community-based enterprise.
Developed under the mentorship of Maison&Objet global trend ambassador Patti Carpenter, the collections bridged heritage techniques with modern, market-savvy interpretations.
- Ilocos Sur reimagined Inabel textiles for contemporary fashion and home décor.
- Quirino presented fossilized flowers, woodworks, and modern handcrafted accessories.
- Bohol showcased refined homeware shaped from abaca, bamboo, buri fiber, and nito grass.
The result: a vibrant expression of local ingenuity, cultural continuity, and global design sensibility.
Philippine Design as Economic Strategy
Through its Manila FAME 2025 showcases, the Design Center affirms that Filipino craftsmanship is dynamic, adaptive, and globally competitive. In 2024, the Philippine Creative Economy grew by 8.7%, generating ₱1.94 trillion and significantly contributing to national GDP—underscoring design’s role in economic development.
This aligns with the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairmanship, which will spotlight creative industries as a major regional priority. The movement is further supported by the first-ever National Design Policy, a roadmap elevating design as a driver of inclusive growth and innovation, rooted in Filipino values such as Kapwa, Malasakit, and Malikhain.
In this spirit, the Design Center continues to champion design as a transformative force—where heritage and innovation converge, and where Filipino creativity takes its rightful place on the global stage.
About the Design Center of the Philippines
The Design Center of the Philippines is an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry, mandated to promote the use of design as a tool in strengthening the national competitiveness of Philippine products and services, and in empowering MSMEs and designers for local and global markets.
