Designing Futures: How the DTI-Design Center Champions Creative Industries for Global MSMEs
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 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 highlights was Design Center’s “The Renaissance of the Real” special setting, which, 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.
Claudine San Diego, Co-Founder of Tiffany Stained Glass and Aluminum Co. Inc, one of the MSMEs who contributed to Design Center’s The Renaissance of the Real 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 that reclaims 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 design provocateur Tony Gonzales, and co-created by the Design Center’s emerging designers alongside 18 MSMEs renowned for their expertise in bamboo, abaca, nito, pottery, metal, glass, and wood, each object told a story of generational know-how, care, 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.”
For the Design Center and its collaborators, design reclaims the future - not with speed, but with soul.
“What makes collaborations like this truly special is how they bring all that support to life,” said Rowen De Jesus, Founder of That One Piece Enterprise. “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.”
Artisans Village: Regional Craft, Reimagined
The Design Center joined forces 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. This year’s collections were developed in close collaboration with global trend ambassador of Maison&Objet and award-winning designer Patti Carpenter, whose mentorship helped participants bridge heritage techniques with contemporary market sensibilities.
The result is a celebration of co-creation, where local ingenuity, cultural memory, and global design insight converge to elevate Philippine craft.
Philippine Design as Economic Strategy
Through The Renaissance of the Real and the Artisans Village, the Design Center affirms that Filipino craftsmanship is not static. It is dynamic, adaptive, and globally relevant.
In 2024, the Philippine Creative Economy grew by 8.7%, generating Php 1.94 trillion and contributing significantly to the country’s gross domestic product. This growth highlights design’s role in economic development and nation-building, and aligns with the Philippines’ upcoming ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, where creative industries will be promoted as a major regional priority.
This momentum echoes the global shift toward creativity-led development. This vision is further strengthened through the first-ever National Design Policy, a strategic roadmap that positions design as a catalyst for inclusive growth, social innovation, and national progress. Grounded in distinctly Filipino values—Kapwa, Malasakit, May Puso, Malikhain, Madiskarte, Mabusisi, and Mahusay—the National Design Policy affirms Design Center’s commitment to design-driven development and a more competitive creative economy.
In this spirit, the Design Center continues to champion design as a domain of transformation—where heritage meets innovation, and where Filipino ingenuity shapes a future of dignity, distinction, and global relevance.
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