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| (Image Source: Manila Bulletin/Department of Trade and Industry) |
The Philippine Trade Training Center – Global MSME Academy (PTTC-GMEA) under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) officially unveiled the OBRA Design Masterclass Program that aims to provide specialized furniture training and mentorships to young designers and scholars. The OBRA Design Masterclass Program is designed to empower and uplift local talent within the furniture and creative industries. The program is set to put the standards of Filipino furniture design to the next level by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technologies, sustainable materials, and innovative creative processes.
“In the OBRA Design Masterclass, there will be training programs from mind setting, design thinking, market-driven designs, creative process, design phase, and prototyping. We will be witnessing the participants’ progress from the raw materials to those worth selling to the international market,” said PTTC-GMEA Executive Director Nelly Nita Dillera. The program also aims to address challenges faced in the industry that affect Filipino furniture makers’ creativity and product development. Dillera cited escalating costs of imported raw materials and the competitive landscape amid rapid development on both local and international fronts. Moreover, according to Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. Executive Consultant Ruby Salutan, a critical challenge the program intends to deal with is the emigration of professionals, including skilled furniture designers, from the country. OBRA Design Masterclass focuses on cultivating a cohort of young designers capable of seamlessly entering and contributing to the industry.
DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba highlighted in her keynote speech the pivotal role of design in shaping a product’s value, influencing consumer perceptions, demand, and market positioning, which generates value in the furniture landscape. “In an increasingly competitive market environment, design stands as a key differentiator. Beyond keeping pace with design trends, our designs must also align with emerging consumer preferences encompassing eco-friendly materials, digital technology integration, and responsible sourcing,” said Aldaba. Officially commenced on the second week of December 2023, the program sessions will take place simultaneously across Pampanga, Cebu, and Manila. Participants will have the opportunity to refine their skills and capabilities in crafting designs and prototypes, guided by industry-renowned furniture designers such as multi-awarded industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue and industry partners like the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines, Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc., and Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation, Inc.
The program comprises three phases: the designer’s phase, providing participants with training in planning, execution, evaluation, and tools; the program consultancy phase, involving participant-companies in product development planning; and the designing for the market phase, where participant-companies engage in an international event, notably the Philippines International Furniture Show slated to be held in March 2024. For more information on the OBRA Design Masterclass Program including schedules on upcoming sessions, visit www.pttc.gov.ph and DTI-PTTC's official Facebook page.
