The idea of home extends beyond the walls of the house. It also considers the spaces and environments people share—the larger setting that supports everyday life. At Yume at Riverpark, these considerations begin with individual homes and lots, extend to the shared landscape of an 18-hectare residential development in General Trias, Cavite, and ultimately connect […]
PIID Celebrates 60th Anniversary, Shares Milestones, Insights, and Future Plans
The Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID) celebrated its 60th Anniversary last October 5 at Centro de Turismo in IntramurosIntramurosIntramuros is Manila's historic walled city, built during the Spanish colonial period and containing the country's densest concentration of colonial-era architecture and heritage structures. Though heavily damaged during World WarGo to Intramuros Glossary, Manila. Interior designers, architects, suppliers, and various industry partners attended the event held at the old San Ignacio Church, which PIID rehabilitated and transformed into the country’s tourism center.
“In Chinese tradition, 60 years is considered one life cycle. So, we are celebrating one cycle of the history of PIID—all the achievements from the people who started it, the brilliant designers of the Philippines, who thought of creating an organization that will bring life to Filipino interior designInterior DesignThe discipline of planning and shaping interior spaces for function, comfort, safety, and beauty. It covers layout, lighting, materials, finishes, furniture, and color, and in the Philippines is a licensedGo to Interior Design Glossary,” Paolo Castro, PIID National President, said in his opening speech.
He adds that now, the organization is entering a new chapter. “We are celebrating today the past, the present, and the future of our organization.”
Achievements and Highlights
For Castro, PIID’s biggest milestone to date was having interior design as a licensed profession in the country, as mandated in the Philippine Interior Design Act of 2012 (R.A. 10350).
Cyndi Fernandez-Beltran, PIID National Vice President, agreed. “This is something that has already been worked on by our founders for the past 60 years, [and it reinforced] our role in society.”
Fernandez-Beltran added that in the past, interior design was seen as a hobby. But now, it is “something that contributes to society, very similar to how architects do or how engineers do.”
Carla Leonor, PIID Executive Director for Public Relations, also shared that the PIID founders influenced policy. They prompted the Professional Regulatory Commission to recognize the profession and developed programs with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
“So all of those combined was really a huge milestone. Because right now, the rest of Asia is looking at us, how we’re taking care of the industry,” Leonor shared.
PIID is now also a member of the Asia Pacific Space Designers Association (APSDA), an organization of national-level design organizations in Asia and Oceania. “These things allow us to present Filipino designers or Philippine design on a global landscape as a competitive player,” Leonor said.
Enhancing Spaces Through Design
Fernandez-Beltran shared that one of PIID’s advocacies is creating awareness of the licensure exam for interior designers. “In the past, people would always just refer to interior designer and stylist and decorator all in one profession. But it really is quite different.”
She added that PIID is collaborating with the government for various projects. “We want to make sure that our role is really not just superficial. It’s really something that will help [in] nation-building. Help protect the way people live, the way people use public spaces even,” Fernandez-Beltran emphasized.
One such project is Centro de Turismo, which PIID worked on with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. “This is the very first project that the institution has partnered with the government, and we’re very happy to do so. It’s been a whirlwind,” Fernandez-Beltran, who headed the project, said.
PIID fast tracked the timeline for Centro de Turismo. From 60 days, the organization only worked on it for 30 days and launched it last June 9. It features a museum with exhibits and artifacts highlighting the history of IntramurosIntramurosIntramuros is Manila's historic walled city, built during the Spanish colonial period and containing the country's densest concentration of colonial-era architecture and heritage structures. Though heavily damaged during World WarGo to Intramuros Glossary and a rentable events space.
“It’s really an interplay of space planning, of lighting design, of sound design, and interaction design that people don’t really get to see as often,” Leonor said of the tourist hub.
Castro shared that the Centro de Turismo project is “close to our heart. It’s good because we’re able to share our expertise [with] our country. So this project is for the love of the country. And it was a good experience for us to showcase what interior design really is.”
Interior Design in the Era of AI
With various technological advancements like artificial intelligence (AI) used in various fields nowadays, many feel that AI will replace creatives. But for Castro and Fernandez-Beltran, AI is merely a tool.
“It’s going to make the process easier for us,” Castro shared. “But if you think about it, there’s something that AI doesn’t have that people have. It’s emotion. A design without emotion is a dead design.”
Fernandez-Beltran added that AI can help in conceptualization of designs, but it doesn’t have the technical knowledge that humans have to bring concepts to life. “I think designers have to be educated well. In my opinion, what will separate designers who will thrive in the future and designers who will not thrive is their ability to use AI to their advantage.”
Fostering Engagement, More Partnerships
Strengthening PIID’s relationship with its various chapters such as Panay, Cebu, Eastern Visayas, Negros, and Mindanao is also one of the organization’s advocacies. “We want to make sure that we’re able to reach them and they have access as well to education [for professional growth],” Fernandez-Beltran said.
Leonor also shared that PIID’s future plans include more collaborations with the government institutions and organizing more events like the Manila Interior Design Summit “because it allows us to advance and also showcase what we can do.”
Recommitment to Essential Design Processes
“The interior design landscape that I want to pass on is interior design based on concepts, based on stories, based on research,” Castro said, adding that nowadays, young designers get too much inspiration from the internet. “It’s time to bring back the process of conceptualization, storytelling, research, and putting meaning in every design,” he declared.
Fernandez-Beltran echoed this sentiment. She shared that she wants future designers to go beyond what they see on the screen. “I want them to be able to start going back to the roots and start again with research-based designs where inspirations are drawn from nature, from any object, from any inspiration, and events, previous photos, not necessarily just something that we can copy and paste,” she said.
PSID presents “What the Pop!,” an exhibition opened on the third floor of V-Mall in Greenhills, San Juan City, that examined how popular culture shaped Filipino homes and lifestyles. Through spaces representing four generations—Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z—the exhibit explored how each era’s experiences inform its approach to interior designInterior DesignThe discipline […]
The CCP Main Theater as an Icon of Philippine Modernism The CCP main theater by National Artist for ArchitectureArchitectureThe art and science of designing and constructing buildings, structures, and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses the planning, design, materials, and techniques used to createGo to Architecture Glossary Leandro V. Locsin is […]
As co-founder of Dubai- and Tokyo-based studio waiwai, Al Awar brings over 22 years of experience to questions surrounding how cities are designed and how architectureArchitectureThe art and science of designing and constructing buildings, structures, and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses the planning, design, materials, and techniques used to createGo […]
The seventh edition of the Anthology ASEAN ArchitectureArchitectureThe art and science of designing and constructing buildings, structures, and spaces that are functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing. It encompasses the planning, design, materials, and techniques used to createGo to Architecture Glossary Festival brought together over 4,000 delegates from across the Philippines and Southeast Asia for three […]
Bigkis is the act of binding. In Tagalog, the word can refer to something used to bind or encircle, as well as a bundle formed by tying several separate elements together. Figuratively, it can also mean a bond, union, or unity. The meanings move from the physical act of joining things together to the connection […]
Read the issues.
Collect the volumes.
Recommended Video
Tap to Unmute
Unmute
0:00
0:00