Cover Industrial designer Selena Placino (Photo: Sessions; courtesy of Selena Placino)
Industrial designer Selena Placino (Photo: Sessions; courtesy of Selena Placino)
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Filipino industrial designer Selena Placino finds inspiration in daily rituals and overlooked routines, creating furniture shaped by function, curiosity and the quiet logic of everyday life
Selena Placino knew early on that she wasn’t interested in drawing people—only objects. “I was the type that would draw and copy furniture around me,” she says. Her fascination deepened after reading a book her father owned, which featured Kenneth Cobonpue. Learning that Cobonpue had studied industrial design, she followed the same path.
She enrolled at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde and later apprenticed under Cobonpue in Cebu. “CSB had a partnership with his studio. I sent over my portfolio, and that’s how it began.”
Curiosity drives her approach. She draws from everyday surroundings, aiming for function over aesthetics. “Beauty isn’t the goal—I aim for relatability,” she says. “Function guides the form.”
For Placino, thoughtful design is rooted in use, context and quiet discovery—objects that invite not just admiration, but understanding. Learn more about her below.
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What inspired you to start designing?
I started young. I was the type of kid who loved drawing—not people, but objects and furniture around me. I remember seeing a book at home about Filipino fathers, and one of them was Kenneth Cobonpue. That was the first time I learnted that furniture design could be a career. The book mentioned he studied industrial design, so I followed the same path and enrolled at De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde. Eventually, I did an apprenticeship at Kenneth’s studio in Cebu. That experience confirmed it for me: this is what I want to do.
What materials do you find most exciting to work with, and why?
Any material I haven’t worked with yet excites me. I find joy in learning—so discovering the properties, strengths and possibilities of something new is a big part of the thrill. Lately, I’ve been exploring different stainless steel finishes, which has been a refreshing shift from the usual.
Above The Taho! Bench (Photo: Sessions; courtesy of Selena Placino)
The Taho! Bench (Photo: Sessions; courtesy of Selena Placino)
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Where do you find inspiration for your furniture designs?
I’m an observant and curious person by nature, so inspiration comes from what’s around me—everyday sights, familiar objects, even street scenes. I also find ideas in the people I meet and their experiences. Curiosity drives me to ask questions, and those questions often lead to new design possibilities.
What’s your design process like, from the initial sketch to the finished piece?
Interestingly, I don’t start with a sketch. My process begins with a question or a prompt. If I’m not given one, I create it myself. For example, when I designed the Taho! Bench, I asked: What if there was a way for the taho vendor to rest during the day using the same pole he carries? That kind of thinking comes from my industrial design training, where we were taught to identify problems first and build solutions around them.
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How do you see furniture design evolving in the coming years?
I see it evolving to become more sustainable. There is a growing shift toward experimenting with eco-conscious materials, such as natural or recycled components. Sustainability isn’t just a trend—it should be an essential part of every design process. At the same time, in a fast-paced world, technology plays a key role. With 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC machines, we can test ideas more quickly, and prototype and produce more efficiently. I believe that the combination of sustainability and technology will help the future of design.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
