Philippines General Design Observations A

A two-part collection of general considerations from a design internship in the Philippines.

Bridging the gap: traditional basket weaving with contemporary hardware. Souvenier shop, Baguio City.

Variety based on geographic, climate, use and/or tradition? Woven pasikings (backpacks) from the Cordillera Mountain Region, for sale in Baguio City.

The French baker of Sagada, Aklay, wearing a pasiking. When is practical too practical? Where do (and should) aesthetics and function meet?


Transport norms and conventions. Pig heads in the back of a trike; camping fuel sold in day-use plastic baggies.

What other goods warrant individual sale? Or wholesale? What weight is given to frequency of use, price, perception of quality in this decision? Individual cigarettes for sale at a gas station sari-sari store, Mountain Province.

Cross culture iconography? How important is understanding the content’s specific meaning and origin vs. the overall contemporary theme, or feeling, it imparts? 50’s Diner, Baguio City.

At Jollibee, where your order can be taken in-line and radioed to the kitchen. You then take the bill with you to the counter, where your food is already waiting. In this case, is the bill designed for the customer’s use or the company’s? How much detail does the customer need, or desire, or even realize she desires?

Context of use and meeting various needs (2-for-the-price-of-one): Locking doorknob fitted to a desk cabinet, outlet for both flat and round prong plugs.


Where do seeming anachronisms and pragmatics meet? Singer sewing machines for sale in a department store, Baguio City; predominantly handwritten signs, Puerto Princesa.

How much are we willing to sacrifice for design? Price, durability, performance? Where is the tipping point for these justifications and is there a universal measure, or does context always determine this? Bamboo surfboard, San Juan beach, La Union.