Cover Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc (TWHI) redesigned by interior design school students from DLS-CSB (Photo: DLS-CSB Website)
Tahanang Walang Hagdanan, Inc (TWHI) redesigned by interior design school students from DLS-CSB (Photo: DLS-CSB Website)
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Filipino interior design schools focus on improving people’s lives through beautiful, functional spaces. Get a glimpse of their programmes and projects here
Sitting at the unique intersection of Western and Eastern influences has impacted Filipino design styles. Modern designs creatively blend elements inspired by our colourful past. This lays the foundation for the rich learning environment in interior design schools today.
The programmes are grounded in a deep aesthetic appreciation. But more than that, these schools also invite students to create spaces that uplift the lives of their community. The result is a space infused with creative and compassionate energy.
By integrating global design principles with heartwarming local values, these Filipino interior design schools are spaces to watch out for.
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De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB)
Bu-Ko Swing Chair on display at DLS-CSB's Value+Able exhibit (Photo via DLS-CSB Website)
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Over 11 trimesters, students learn how to transform blank canvases into “create beautiful and functional spaces that enhance the lifestyle of its users.” The Interior Design course of DLS-CSB takes a uniquely Filipino approach. Students experiment with the materials and aesthetics that set Filipino craftsmanship apart. All the while, they push the boundaries of their creativity, fostering connections with others within different spaces. The collaborative atmosphere of DLS-CSB equips students with the tools they need to reach international standards.
DLS-CSB’s interior design course also opens doors to careers in heritage conservation, event styling, and set design. Whatever job they choose, students with a Benildean background will stay intentional and creative as they move through the world.
Visit benilde.edu.ph to learn more about the course
Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID)
Over the past 50 years, the PSID has laid the foundation for world-class leaders in arts and design. They immerse students in a wide range of theoretical and technical explorations of interior design. At the PSID-Ahlen Institute, the faculty members can “bridge the academe and the industry, infusing their teachings with best practices and the latest trends in the industry.” They prepare students to be licensed interior designers, challenging them to push the limits of their passions in an engaging environment.
Visit psidahlen.edu.ph to learn more about the course
Read more: Take a look inside the Philippine School of Interior Design
University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD)
Above The ECPAT Philippines shelter before Interior Design students from UP redesigned the space (Photo via UP Website)
Above Photo of the ECPAT Shelter after the UP Interior Design students' redesign (Photo via UPD Website)
The ECPAT Philippines shelter before Interior Design students from UP redesigned the space (Photo via UP Website)
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UPD’s Interior Design course aims to prove that Interior Design is a basic need, alongside food and water. For Professor Adelaida Mayo, “Architecture deals with shelter, but where is its soul? It’s in the space people use. It’s inside. The shelter will just be the shell of it.” Through this course, students learn how interior design can make low-cost living into a safer place that reflects the inhabitants’ dreams and personalities. They even create cottages for organizations like the DSWD and Gawad Kalinga, turning them into havens that make people feel welcomed and supported.
Visit che.upd.edu.ph to learn more about the course
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SoFA Design Institute
The SoFA Design Institute challenges its designers to “reimagine the world we live in.” A core value of their interior design program is critical thinking. This ensures that students create spaces that suit the demands of the fast-paced world. The program also encourages students to infuse personality and function into each space creatively. This hones their ability to sit at the intersection of artistic sensibilities and scientific precision.
Visit sofa.edu.ph to learn more about the course
Read more: SoFA Design Institute’s graduation showcase goes above and beyond the known dimension
University of Santo Tomas (UST)
UST Fine Arts students' redesigned therapy room for Tahanan ng Pagmamahal, an orphanage and partner community of CFAD (Photo: Facebook / UST Interior Design Innovators)
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UST’s interior design students will balance academic research with studio time, ensuring that they become well-rounded interior designers in the future. In line with Thomasian values, the interior design course produces students who excel at creating designs that place the human being at the centre. The course immerses students in arts and interior design history, preparing them to evaluate and address interior design issues locally and abroad.
As a result of studying at UST, students may also consider careers in furniture design, floral or landscape design, and copywriting, among others.
Visit ust.edu.ph to learn more about the course
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About
Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
Work
Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
For story leads or inquiries, you may reach out to her via celine.dabao@tatlerasia.com.
