For years, Filipino designers have looked inward — drawing inspiration from local communities, indigenous traditions, and everyday life. Today, that distinctly Filipino perspective is finding a wider audience on the global stage.
Two young designers from the Philippines brought home some of the highest honors at the AYDA International Awards 2025/2026, proving that stories rooted in culture can resonate far beyond the country’s shores.
Held in Bangkok from June 11 to 12, the international competition gathered more than 9,000 entries from 17 countries and regions under the theme “CONVERGE: Crafting Cultural Legacies.”
Leading the Philippine delegation was Ejhey Durias of the University of Mindanao, who was named Designer of the Year in the Architectural Category for Banuas Lawod, a project inspired by the disappearing way of life of the Bajau and other coastal fishing communities across Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Patricia Danielle Malijan of De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde received the Nippon Paint Colour Award in the Interior Design Category for KAMPIHAN, a concept that reimagines the traditional neighborhood playground as a space where children, families, and communities reconnect through play.
Together, the two projects reflect a growing movement among young Filipino designers—using architecture and interior design not simply to build spaces, but to preserve stories, strengthen communities, and respond to changing social realities.
Designing with memory, identity, and purpose
University of Mindanao‘s Ejhey Durias was named Designer of the Year (Architectural Category)
Durias’ winning proposal explores the environmental decline of aquaculture and its impact on coastal communities whose identities have long been intertwined with the sea.
Rather than focusing solely on infrastructure, Banuas Lawod imagines a sustainable aquaculture hub that allows displaced fishing communities to rebuild both their livelihoods and their cultural heritage.
“This project began with a simple truth: that for the Bajau people, home was never land. It was the rhythm of the tides beneath their feet, and when that is taken away, an entire culture is left to drown on dry land,” Durias said.
Receiving the competition’s highest architectural honor, he said, affirmed that design rooted in local culture can also address global challenges.
A playground that brings generations together
De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde’s Patricia Danielle Malijan won the Nippon Paint Colour Award (Interior Design Category)
For Malijan, inspiration came from something much simpler — and perhaps more familiar.
While observing children in Cebu gathered around mobile phones beside an unused playground, she began thinking about how traditional games, once central to Filipino childhood, were quietly disappearing.
Her project, KAMPIHAN, takes its name from the familiar act of forming teams during neighborhood games, transforming that shared ritual into a community-centered design that encourages interaction across generations.
“Winning the Nippon Paint Colour Award is a true honor, and I hope it encourages deeper conversations about how design can rescue cultural memory and bring generations back together,” Malijan said.
Philippine talent continues to make its mark
This year’s AYDA International Awards marked the 18th edition of the global competition organized by Nippon Paint to recognize emerging architects and interior designers.
Beyond trophies, winners gain access to mentorship, international exposure, and professional development opportunities.
As Designer of the Year, Durias will receive a fully funded place at the Design Discovery Program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, a three-week course valued at up to US$10,000.
Malijan also received the Nippon Paint Colour Award, which carries a US$1,000 prize.
Design beyond buildings
For Nippon Paint, the competition has evolved into more than a student design contest.
Since its launch in 2008, the program has received more than 76,000 entries from over 1,600 universities and collegesacross 20 countries and regions, becoming one of Asia’s most recognized platforms for emerging design talent.
This year’s winners reflected a common thread — design that goes beyond aesthetics to address environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and community resilience.
As preparations begin for next year’s competition under the theme “CONVERGE: Embracing Hyperlocal,” the message from Bangkok was clear: some of the world’s most compelling design ideas begin by looking close to home.
For more information on the AYDA Awards, visit their website or their Instagram and LinkedIn pages.
