MAKATI – The Design Advisory Council (DAC), co-chaired by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, convened its first meeting on 25 March 2019 to discuss the crafting of a national strategy that would enhance product design in the country, and in turn help boost innovation and economic growth.
The National Design Policy aims to utilize design concepts to grow and develop globally competitive and innovative industries. Sec. Lopez said this strategy will enable Filipinos to create well-designed products that can compete in the local and international markets, which would contribute to the growth of the country’s economy.
Sec. Lopez stressed the importance of design and innovation in solving societal and national problems, declaring: “The most meaningful designs, creative works, and innovations are those that solve social problems, not just design for design’s sake. We want to promote a culture of design and innovation that can serve as higher-value services that our country can be known for.”
The DAC is the advisory council of the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP), an agency under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Composed of nine public sector and six private sector representatives, the group is co-chaired by Sec. Lopez for the public sector and Architect Royal Pineda of Budji+Royal Architecture+Design for the private sector.
During the meeting, the DAC set to form a Technical Working Group to draft the National Design Policy. Sec. Lopez said this policy’s goal is to make the Philippines synonymous to excellent design.
To get insights on best practices, the DAC invited Danish Ambassador to PH Jan Top Christensen to share Denmark’s Design Policy and how PH can craft its own design strategy.
Other DAC members present at the meeting were CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan, DCP Executive Director Maria Rita O. Matute, Adobo Magazine Founder and Editor-in-Chief Angel Guerrero, French Baker Founder and CEO Johnlu Koa, and Tokyo Tempura Chief Marketing and Finance Officer Jenny Wieneke.♦
Date of Release: 29 March 2019