International conference tackles role of design for 'collective flourishing'
MANILA, Philippines — The International Design Conference (IDC), which is the Philippines’ premier platform for design innovation since 2017, returned this year with the bold ambition of elevating design from a problem-solving tool to a catalyst for transformative change.
Organized by the Design Center of the Philippines, an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) mandated to promote the use of design as a tool in strengthening the national competitiveness of Philippine products and services, the event was held at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura Premier, last September.
IDC 2025 carried the theme “Holding the Whole: Design for Collective Flourishing” and brought together designers, business owners, and decision-makers from across sectors. They brought diverse perspectives to their shared vision of collective flourishing.
This means that beyond serving as a platform for showcasing design excellence, the IDC should become a pivotal thought leadership platform that aims to provoke new thinking, challenge norms, and explore uncharted territories across design, policy, and social transformation.
By bringing together leading global and local voices, IDC empowers the industry to see their work not merely as a profession, but as a systemic force capable of influencing change on a national scale. It encourages participants to look beyond and consider the long-term impact of their creations on society, the environment, and the nation’s collective future.
This year’s conference, divided into “Make,” “Break,” and “Become,” was a call to move from designing solutions to guiding transformation. It urged the brightest minds in the industry to explore how design could shape a future rooted in human dignity, ecological harmony, and shared purpose.
Transformation toward collective flourishing
Featured in the conference was Prof. Eisuke Tachikawa, chief executive officer and founder of the design firm Nosigner. In his talk on “Creativity as Evolution: Awakening to Life’s 3.8 Billion Year Design Process,” he focused on rewilding the creative practice, urging the audience to look into their personal fractures and question what it truly meant to flourish for them to heal and ignite a transformation.
Beyond personal transformation, Prof. Tachikawa noted that every individual can also help transform the Philippines.
“The Philippines’ archipelagic geography is very unique, so it must innovate and adapt according to its own circumstances. Filipinos — even young people — could contribute to making a transformative change in their own way. Every stakeholder has a role in making an impact,” he said.
The panel discussion that ensued dwelled on how flourishing can take root in different contexts, with the panelists sharing how they rewilded the way they live to create a path towards flourishing. Another panel discussion explored the concept of reinvention in a changing landscape, highlighting creative endurance and ingenuity.
Joseph Pine, co-founder of Strategic Horizons and author of "The Experience Economy" and "The Transformation Economy," encouraged the attendees to lead the transformation, underscoring the role business leaders play in transforming the economy for a collective flourishing by not just serving, but also elevating.
“The reason for the existence of your business [should be] to help people collectively flourish; you help not just the customers, but also the employees. It [would create a ripple effect] on the communities and societies in the Philippines. Then, you’re making a real difference — you’re making an impact,” said Pine.
By fostering a space for critical dialogues and unconventional ideas, IDC 2025 shifted the conversation to a shared vision for collective flourishing. It inspired a re-evaluation of what design can be and served as a call to help shape a future where creativity is a tool for social progress and every design choice contributes to a better world.
Thus, the event turned out to be not just a conference, but an invitation to shift perspective and spark a movement. With participants building relationships, exchanging ideas, and collaborating, IDC 2025 inspired a new wave of creative energy and created a ripple effect from the transformation that started from within. Through collective efforts, the Philippine design community can help pave the way for a brighter future.
RELATED: Philconstruct 2025 showcases industry's next breakthroughs
