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Kenneth Cobonpue - Industrial designer

The Filipino now is creative, resilient and global.

I knew I was going to be a designer when, as a kid, I made my mother smile when I would show her the toys I built in our backyard.

The customer that helped me make a name for myself internationally was Brad Pitt when he bought a few of my pieces including Voyage, Croissant, Dragnet, and Pigalle.

The most difficult piece I’ve designed was Tilt because it’s more than 400 pieces of solid wood cut in four different angles each, put together to form an architectural piece without visible bolts and screws.

My favorite city in terms of design is Tokyo because they have a quirky design culture that’s all their own and devoid of influence from the rest of the world.

My design reflects nature’s beauty, the innovative use of materials, and the valuable skills of Filipino craftsmen who practice traditional craftsmanship.

I wish I designed the Wishbone Chair by Hans Wegner. It’s the perfect combination of culture, comfort, and timelessness.

The one incident that made me realize I am in the right job was when I got a letter from a domestic worker based in Israel about how she stood up to her employer who only saw Filipinos as domestic help. She showed her employer her collection of news clippings of me, and made him see that he was wrong; that Filipinos can achieve great things that capture the world’s attention. It was an amazing moment that I won’t forget. I still keep the letter with me to this day.

I am inspired by anything and everything — from the mundane to the exotic.

The things that make me happy are doing what I love every day, making people happy with my designs, driving my classic cars, and traveling.

I would take a first-time visitor to the Philippines to Cebu because it has everything within reach — great food, white-sand beaches, rolling mountains, a thriving creative community, and a concrete jungle full of life. It’s my home.