Designing Futures: How the DTI-Design Center Champions Creative Industries for Global MSMEs

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.”

Design Week Philippines 2025: 14 Years of Creativity, now a National Movement

Marking its 14th year, Design Week Philippines 2025 reaffirms its role not just as a festival, but as a national movement that champions Filipino creativity, democratizes design, and nurtures ginhawa: a deeply Filipino concept of holistic well-being, prosperity, and purpose. Organized by the Design Center of the Philippines under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), this year’s theme, “Towards Ginhawa,” signals a shift from design as a centralized craft to a collective force for inclusive growth, cultural expression, and sustainable innovation.

Beyond the blueprint: International Design Conference 2025 tackles role of design for collective flourishing

The International Design Conference (IDC), the Philippines’ premier platform for design innovation since 2017, has returned this year with a bold ambition: to elevate design from a problem-solving tool to a catalyst for transformative change. Organized by the DTI-Design Center of the Philippines, IDC 2025 convened designers, business owners, and decision-makers from across sectors, each bringing diverse perspectives to a shared vision of collective flourishing.

Holding the Whole: Transforming design into a tool that heals

It was a day full of insightful ideas from some of the worlds’ brightest minds in design, technology, and business at the International Design Conference (IDC), held at SM Aura Premier on September 26. With the theme “Holding the Whole: Designing for Collective Flourishing,” the Philippines’ premier platform for design innovation gathered some of the most influential figures in the field, including acclaimed author and speaker Joseph Pine II, co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP; Japanese design strategist Prof. Eisuke Tachikawa, founder and CEO of NoSigner Japan; researcher and artist Jen Horn of Ugnayan Cards for Connection; Carl Lorenz Cervantes, professor of Sikolohiyang Pilipino at UP Diliman; artist and Green Releaf Initiative founder Sarah Queblatin; Isabella Tanjutco, co-founder of TAYO House of Culture and Creativity; Dr. Nikki Carsi Cruz, professor and research coordinator at the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Ateneo de Manila University; Erwan Heusaff, founder of The Fat Kid Inside, Inc. and Featr; Maisie Littaua, Country Lead of Canva Philippines; Margarita Valdes-Trinidad, Chief Executive Officer of Valdes Designs; and Raf Dionisio, The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee.

Design Week Philippines 2025: Designing the Good Life, Towards Ginhawa

The Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), announces the return of Design Week Philippines, the country’s national festival for design and creativity, happening 11–18 October 2025 with 136 partner organizations, creative hubs, and MSMEs across 29 cities and municipalities in 15 regions. With the theme “Towards Ginhawa,” this year’s edition positions design as a strategic lever for transformation, moving beyond aesthetics and utility to shape systems that enable multidimensional well-being, inclusive growth, and shared prosperity. The festival opens on 11 October at the Power Mac Center Spotlight Blackbox Theater, Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati City, with a full day of talks and folio reviews featuring designers, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.

DTI-Design Center Powers IDC 2025: A Global Platform for Design-Led Transformation

The Design Center of the Philippines, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, proudly announces the 9th edition of the International Design Conference (IDC), taking place on 26 September 2025 at Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City. As the flagship event of Design Consciousness Week and a co-branded highlight of Philippine Creative Industries Month, IDC 2025 reasserts its role as the region’s premier thought leadership platform for design-driven innovation and strategic foresight.

IDx Conversations: We > Me champions transformative design rooted in Kapwa

In celebration of World Industrial Design Day, the DTI-Design Center of the Philippines solidified its bold commitment to inclusive innovation and nation-building through design with the successful staging of IDx Conversations 2025: We > Me, a high-level roundtable and public platform that marked a historic shift in national policy thinking

Tradition Reimagined: The Philippines makes historic debut at Révélations Paris 2025

PARIS, France – Under the majestically restored Nave of the Grand Palais in Paris, France, the Philippines made its much-anticipated debut at the Révélations 2025, the international biennial for fine craft and contemporary creation, taking place from 21 May to 25 May. As the Grand Palais reopens its doors to the global creative community with approximately 37,000 visitors expected, the Philippines is honored to unveil its collection of contemporary fine crafts and designs at the prestigious event.

Le Banquet des Philippines: A Feast of Filipino Craftsmanship at Paris’s Révélations Biennale

The Grand Palais in Paris sets the stage for “Le Banquet des Philippines,” a remarkable exhibition of Filipino artistry, from May 21-25, 2025. This showcase takes place during the prestigious Révélations – Biennale Internationale Métiers d’Art et Création. Curated by Milo Naval and presented by the Design Center of the Philippines, the event promises a profound exploration of tradition, dedication, ambition, and the exceptional talent embedded in Filipino craftsmanship.

Tradition, Reimagined: The Philippines Debuts at Révélations Paris 2025

Six contemporary pieces from renowned Filipino designers such as Milo Naval, Christina Gaston, and Leeroy New form the Banquet of the Philippines at Révélations Paris 2025. Filipino designers have landed in Paris! Eight renowned creators are participating in Révélations 2025, the international biennial for fine craft and contemporary creation. The event opened on May 21 at the recently restored Nave of the Grand Palais, expecting a total of approximately 37,000 visitors until its closing on May 25.

Inside the historic debut of Philippine design at Révélations Paris 2025

The Philippines makes its historic debut at Révélations 2025 at the Grand Palais in Paris. Explore the sculptural works that masterfully blend craftsmanship and vision. The Philippines steps into the spotlight at Révélations 2025, as the majestic Grand Palais in Paris opens its doors to the world’s finest craftspeople this May. Among over 500 exceptional artisans from across the globe, Filipino designers will unveil their creative vision at this prestigious biennial celebration of contemporary craft.

PH debuts at Révélations Paris 2025 with 6 standout pieces

For the first time, the Philippines will participate on the global stage at Révélations 2025, a prestigious international biennial for fine craft and contemporary creation held until Sunday at the Grand Palais in Paris. This year's Révélations is the 7th edition of the international design event, where 37,000 visitors are expected to attend. It is organized by Ateliers d'Art de France.

Uniting the Archipelago through Design with Design Week Philippines

17 cities, 4 municipalities, and 10 regions. The latest celebration of Design Week Philippines last October 2024 by @dti.designcenterph was an ode to our country’s islandness. Through a week-long celebration, it highlighted what it means to design with and for the islands through 112 events throughout the country.

What is pinyapel? How Filipino designers are turning pineapple leaves into sustainable home décor items

In today’s landscape, the concept of ‘sustainability’ is often thrown around by businesses trying to entice consumers into purchasing more. But beyond the buzzword, the true work of creating ‘sustainable’ products involves ingenuity, resilience, and community efforts. Such is the case for pinyapel®, a paper product developed by the DTI-Design Center of the Philippines’ materials research and development programme.

Empowered by Design: Design Center of the Philippines Reflects on a Milestone Year

It was a soundbite that eloquently summed up the endless possibilities that could arise when design is utilized for good and empowering the populace. This was precisely the message the DTI-Design Center of the Philippines sought to share at their yearly Media Salo-Salo last December 5. The event served as a report card to the Filipino public, reflecting on the achievements of their 50th year and reaffirming their commitment to strengthening partnerships and design initiatives to support Filipino designers and MSMEs in a rapidly changing global economy.

Filipino by design: DTI-Design Center celebrates a year of empowering MSMEs through design

The DTI-Design Center of the Philippines marked 2024 as a transformative year, advancing its mission to strengthen the Philippine Design in innovation ecosystem, elevate Filipino design, support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and foster community growth sustainable initiatives. At a Media Salo-salo on Thursday in the First United Building, the Design Center celebrated the year that was as 2024 saw the agency strengthening partnerships and creating opportunities for Filipino designers and businesses to thrive in a fast-evolving global economy.