Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue - Flipbook
The Significant Works of Industrial Designer
Table of Contents
Criteria I.
Criteria II.
Criteria III A.
Criteria III B.
Criteria IV.
Criteria V A.
Criteria V B.
Profile
Filipino Sense of Nationhood
Pioneered in a Mode of Creative Expression
Impact on Succeeding Generations
Substantial Body of Work and Display of Excellence
Summary of Awards and Recognitions
Critical Acclaim and Review of Works
I. Profile
EVOLUTIONARY, PURPOSE-DRIVEN, GROUNDBREAKING
Kenneth Cobonpue aspires to impart a design legacy grounded on these three qualities in presenting Philippine design talent and excellence to the world.
With an exhaustive outline of his body of works and collaborations with respected designers and institutions, this lookbook details Cobonpue's profound commitment towards advancing design in the Philippines. His active involvement across academia, business, government and the design community propel an advocacy for design education, development, and protection that contributes to the country's economy and social causes.
Cobonpue harnesses a mastery of skill and intimacy with material to command a power in design that empowers and impacts the nation's creative landscape.
Childhood photo of Kenneth with his Mother, Betty Cobonpue Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Creative Director & Industrial Designer
An acclaimed industrial designer, visionary, and furniture manufacturer from Cebu, Philippines, he is lauded for his unique and sophisticated handcrafted designs. He graduated with an Industrial Design degree at Pratt Institute New York; and honed his craft in Italy and Germany before returning to the Philippines. Establishing his own brand in 1995, he gained a roster of clientele that include hollywood celebrities, members of royalty and well-known personalities around the world.
A distinguished Pratt Legend, his notable accomplishments are geared towards the preservation of a cultural heritage in furniture making, the use of sustainable production processes, and design education for aspiring talents. Pushing the boundaries for design in Asia, he was also named as the first Maison et Objet Designer of the Year for Asia—setting the standard for Southeast Asian design and artists across the globe.
With his contemporary designs that use natural materials like the versatile Arurog vine—TIME dubbed him as “rattan’s great virtuoso.” He was recently awarded the Cultural
Center of the Philippines’ highest honor for contributions to Filipino design and culture.Kenneth Cobonpue reveals new work each year in Milan, Paris, Valencia, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, and Singapore. His involvement in his country’s academia, government, business, politics, and the design community have propelled an advocacy for design education, protection and development. In close collaboration with leading designers and through his continuous mentorship of emerging talents, he shares his vision to a global audience and consistently inspires the next generation of designers in Southeast Asia.
1968, Cebu City, Philippines
"My
designs are an extension of my childhood. I drifted off to bedtime stories of castles and creatures and faraway lands. Recreating these stories using leftover cardboard, wood and rattan poles."
-Kenneth Cobonpue
II. Filipino Sense of Nationhood
Kenneth Cobonpue's works are enthralling showcases of Filipino culture captured through the power of handmade and Philippine local materials. His pieces embody Filipino warmth, beauty, ingenuity, and a sense of community as evoked by visuals, textures, and techniques that bring to mind our nation's heritage and way of life.
Cobonpue's work, unobtrusive yet undeniably marvelous and genius in marrying material and technique, dares to make a statement: This is of the Philippines, born from the hands of a skillful maker from the Philippine archipelago.
His story as a Filipino designer weaves into the ongoing storytelling of a creative nation. In his making sense of who he is a craftsman designer, in relation to materials, techniques, and processes, he becomes part of this nation's meaning-making.
In Kenneth’s workshop, people have been trained to master traditional yet complex craftsmanship exhibited in every meticulous twist, and precise cut transforming ingenious individuals with top-notch expertise, sustaining their livelihood, and preserving their traditional skills.
Danilo Dinopol, a dedicated craftsman having been trained under Kenneth for over 30 years, gives each piece a soul as he devotes his extensive time, critical mind, and expert hands to create remarkable works of art.
Kenneth Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue For Habitat For Humanity
Nothing was more difficult than seeing his mother, Betty Cobonpue. work hard to create original designs – and not to be recognized for it
“ Making things was really my passion but the Philippines is really a manufacturing country and I felt it was unfair because I saw how my mother suffered.
So, I insisted that every piece had to have my name and to have that ‘Made in the Philippines’ stamp on it. So I lost a lot of clients and I began to doubt whether this calling, this quest was worth it, and I realized that if we don't stand up to be recognized for our own work then we remain nameless and faceless forever.
When you go through that process on a daily basis you become resilient because you believe in something. I think my purpose was simple in the beginning I just wanted recognition for my design and later on I saw how people's lives changed.
I remember receiving a letter one day, she was a domestic worker from Israel and she said “You don't know me but I collect articles I see from you because where I work my employer thinks that all Filipinos are just domestics” and here she showed her employer that look there's a Filipino who does design that your newspaper writes about
So my purpose evolved into something of a higher calling. I think that we're all defined not from our achievements-- but by how much we've affected other people's lives
I am Kenneth Cobonpue.
I am an Industrial Designer, an Innovator, and a Filipino.”
Watch full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi0Y5GTdANs
Significant
Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
“In the second of our short films, ground-breaking Filipino furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue, whose instantly recognisable designs breathe new life into the traditional crafts of the region.
Kenneth pays tribute to the local artisans who bring his ideas to life – sharing his passion for preserving and showcasing their work globally. Join Kenneth in his native Cebu – both his heartland and his inspiration.”
"The time has come for the Filipino designer to take his place among his foreign peers. We are launching a celebration of individuality by emphasizing the uniqueness of Filipino creativity. An image of a designing people is our message."
-Araceli “Eli” Pinto-Mansor
"We always have in mind that we’re promoting the Philippines and the brilliant talents the country has"
-Budji Layug
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue
Ann Pamintuan
Tony Gonzales
Budji Layug
Milo Naval
Tes Pasola
Carlo Cordaro
Movement 8
The propagation of the legacy of Philippine designthis is what Movement 8 is all about.
Movement 8 is a loose alliance of Filipino designers who, through their evolving bodies of work, are able to give a face to the abstraction that is the Filipino design sensibility. What does it take to be part of this chosen few? A sophistication so advanced, a creativity very acute and total, and that indefinable X factor.
Movement 8 is so named for a variety of reasons. "Movement" because the Philippine design industry is dynamic and versatile. Growing with the changing world and adapting to the varying phases of aesthetics, Filipino design has become accepted the world over. The number "8" speaks of eternity because Filipino design sensibility is timeless. Creativity is inherent amongst this brown Malay race, as evidenced by early ethnic creations and today's collections that reflect a menagerie of styles.
Movement 8 is Philippine design personified.
MAISON & OBJET, 2001
International Furniture Fair, 2002
International Furniture Fair, 2002
International Furniture Fair, 2003
Movement 8
The conversations on Philippine design and consequently, its relation to national identity, are buzzing with different perspectives--from those outside looking in, those within, delving inward and deeper, and those with balanced appreciation of all points-of-view, among others.
What Kenneth Cobonpue brings into the discussion is a provocation on what Philippine design is and what it can be. He veers away from imposing or reinforcing certain aesthetics, but keeps the agility, adeptness and creative resourcefulness of a Filipino craftsman to evoke a sense of Filipino-ness in his own work. He adds in his sense of self, a blend of nature and nurture that figures greatly into his exceptional capability as a designer.
Feria Internacional del Mueble (Valencia, Spain)
Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan, Italy)
Feria Internacional del Mueble (Valencia, Spain)
International Furniture Fair (Cologne, Germany)
Feria Internacional del Mueble (Valencia, Spain)
MAISON & OBJET (Paris, France)
International Contemporary Furniture Fair (New York City, USA)
MAISON & OBJET (Paris, France)
INDEX Exhibition (Dubai, UAE)
International
International Furniture Fair (Cologne, Germany)
2003
Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan, Italy)
2004
Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan, Italy)
Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan, Italy)
2005 2006
Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan, Italy)
Feria Internacional del Mueble, Spain
Furniture Fair, 2003
Salone Internazionale del Mobile, 2006
Salone Internazionale del Mobile, 2005
The last few years have seen a second wave of foreign influence hit the Italian market, after the 1980s when there was an increase in collaboration between Italian companies and countries such as the Netherlands, Finland and Switzerland. The more recent contributions have come from countries such as Brazil, Israel, Portugal and the United States, which if not directly working with Italian manufacturers, are now taking a much more active role in the international design scene. The innovative avant-garde styles of, for example, the Portuguese Voyager Group and the Brazilian Campana brothers and Faz Group have now filtered through and are being taken up by Italian design businesses.
New this year are works by a Philippine group, Movement 8. Like Ross Lovegrove, Movement 8 has a profound respect for the natural world, from which they derive their organic, and biomorphic forms. One of the group’s members, Kenneth Cobonpue, describes his design philosophy as looking at nature with the purity and innocence of a child. There you find perfect visual qualities that are waiting to be transformed into modern man-made objects’. The aim of the group is to bring their work into the global mainstream while retaining their own heritage, in which Malaysian, Spanish and Mexican influences are combined. They want to move the past into the present by seeing things with a fresh eye, using natural materials in unexpected and innovative ways and mixing traditional skills with modern technology. Most of the designs presented show a restraint of form and economy of embellishment that emphasize textural detail and surface pattern. They have a purity of form that is not the aesthetic sterility of minimalism but rather a dematerialization, or toning down, of the unnecessary in order to enhance the sensual and emotional impact of both the workmanship and the inherent quality of the simple materials used.
Lovegrove believes that the new epoch we are entering will be exciting because finally designers seen as pluralist or idiosyncratic, craft-based or low-tech, will begin to dominate the creative world by virtue of a completely free view of how materials and technology can be harmonized.
2002 - curated by Ross Lovegrove
from the book “&FORK”
2007 Phaidon Press Unlimited
Movement In Manila
Melbourne retailers Barbara and John Hermon have long chamioned the work of Movement 8, a Filipino contemporary design collective. Belle travelled with the Hermons to the source of the very individual aesthetic in the Philippines capital.
hermonhermon.com.au
It's all good news for Kenneth Cobonpue, but it's also great for Philippine design. Kenneth, also a founding member of the Movement 8 collective, considers the Philippines to be "a leader in terms of creativity and is often invited to speak on South-East-Asian design overseas. He is arguably its most visible current ambassador.
The starting point of all our designs is the materials, All the pieces are organic and handmade [Kenneth employs 250 people at his Cebu factory and numerous contractors around the Philippines], and are made using innovative, unique production techniques," he says.
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue is MAISON & OBJET Asia’s designer of the year 2014
Kenneth Cobonpue has been named the first MAISON & OBJET Asia ‘designer of the year’. the Filipino creative has been awarded this title for the impact he has made in his field – most notably, the development and manufacturing of woven rattan furniture for indoor and outdoor use.
He has made a name for himself at home, and the greater region of Southeast Asia, through his employment of locally sourced materials and handmade production process. As a part of this ‘designer of the year’ acknowledgement, Cobonpue is creating an aspect of the show, and will act as an ambassador for MAISON & OBJET Asia on this occasion, delivering a keynote speech.
Filipino Sense of Nationhood
Infrastructure & Public Spaces
"We are thrilled by this recognition as it brings pride not just to our company but also to the Philippines. In the past, we have only been known for having the worst airports but through MCIA, we are changing that mindset.”
In collaboration with Hong Kong studio Integrated Design Associates and Budji Royal—Kenneth Cobonpue co-designed the Terminal 2 of Mactan Cebu International Airport.
The airport was conceived as a perfect synthesis and expression of Cebu’s traditions, geography, and culture. Taking inspiration from island’s clear seas—the airport’s undulating metal roof resembles rolling waves and shimmers like the ocean. The large arches, spanning 30 meters, form a skeletal structure that is meant to mimic the hull of a boat. Its exposed timbers throughout the space is meant to evoke a welcoming atmosphere that represents the well-known “Filipino warmth and hospitality.”
In 2019, the airport won in the “Completed Building-Transport” category at the World Architecture Festival, beating Singapore’s Jewel Changi and Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Station. The awarding body chose to give victory to MCIA with the comment that it was a “simple and elegant new airport that uses many locally sourced materials.
Architects: Integrated Design Associates
Key collaborators: Budji + Royal, and Kenneth Cobonpue
Construction: Megawide Construction Corp. and GMR Group of India
Significant
Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
The Philippines’ airports go from worst to best (2020)
The new gatekeepers of the award-winning second terminal at Mactan-Cebu airport have subverted the steel-clad norm by utilising nautical motifs, handcrafted tiles, and plentiful wood.
“Most airport terminals tend to be very cold, typically using industrial materials like concrete, glass, and steel. The Mactan airport, in contrast, uses materials that give a very warm feeling: the use of wood, the handwoven counters, the handcrafted tiles with randomised patterns to mimic sand underfoot,” Cobonpue says. With his involvement in the award-winning new second terminal at the airport – the second-busiest in the Philippines after Manila – the Cebuano has come full circle.
Cobonpue, along with Hong Kong architecture firm Integrated Design Associates Ltd. (IDA) and Filipino design powerhouse BUDJI+ROYAL
Architecture+Design, pooled their visions for the airport’s second terminal—the Philippines’ first airport-centric public-private partnership (PPP) agreement.
The new international terminal, Terminal 2, of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) received another feather on its cap as the sole awardee in the Architecture and Allied Arts category of the 12th Ani ng Dangal (Harvest of Honors) Awards.
Cor Jesu is a design collaboration between two of the school’s alumni: Kenneth Cobonpue and Buck Sia of Zubu Design Associates. Purposefully designed to be a symbol of Christian faith, the oratory reflects the progressive Ignatian values and underscores the Jesuit mission for education. The name Cor Jesu was actually derived from the Latin translation of the ‘Heart of Jesus’ where the design behind the oratory was inspired from.
With a majestic form and an eye-catching design, the “Cor Jesu” Chapel became shortlisted by the World Architecture Festival Awards 2019 for its design in religious architecture.
Architects: Zubu Design Associates, led by principal Architect Buck Richard Sia
Philippine design and creativity take roots in Filipinos’ complex social relationships and shared identity. We are nation that is known for being social, communal and community-oriented, with MALASAKIT and pakikipagkapwa as central values. This then imbues into our creative practice as we become mindful of the needs of others and even our environment. Kenneth Cobonpue’s work embodies this profound sense of oneness with a community of makers, craftsmenand even materials that emphasizes his understanding of his design practice as an inherently community work.
Kenneth Cobonpue supports out-of-school youth group through livelihood and design training
Kenneth has provided training programs and employment opportunity for the out-of-school youth through Filo D' Oro, an organization initiated by the Focolare movement and Bukas Palad religious community.
Kenneth's efforts gained the attention of German DED'S SCOPE program as an innovative approach to core business aligned Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), that is mutually beneficial and sustainable.
World-renowned Furniture Designer Lends a Helping Hand
Sa kabila ng tagumpay hindi nakakalimot si Kenneth Cobonpue na tumulong sa kanyang komunidad, hinahasa ngayon ni Kenneth ang mga out-of-school-youth sa pagawa ng furniture. Gagamit din siya ng mga recycled materials mula sa Payatas dumpsite para gumawa ng mga kakaibang furniture, at ang kita rito ay gagamitin para mabigyan ng livelihood program ang mga taga Payatas.
Sabi Kenneth, higit pa sa awards ay importanteng magamit niya ang kanyang galing para mabigyan ng pangmatagalang pagbabago ang kaniyang komunidad.
Significant
Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
APEC 2015 Welcome Dinner
In 2015, Kenneth Cobonpue was appointed as the Creative Director for the APEC 2015 Welcome Dinner that hosted 21 world leaders including then US President Barack Obama, the late Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Veering away from the typical bright colors, the event was styled with an aim to present an urban and modern Filipino—creating “an oasis of greenery that transport guest to another world.” His installation design evoked the Banaue Rice Terraces of the Northern Philippines. The APEC 2015 Welcome Dinner featured dark colors that were offset by tones of gray and accented by green to evoke a natural feeling.
A swivel chair version of the Kenneth Cobonpue trademark “Yoda” chair, resembling rice stalks, tied in the rice terraces theme of the dinner. These chairs were later auctioned for charity in collaboration with UNICEF for the UNICEF 1,000 Days Campaign that benefits health care and nutrition for children at risk, promoting growth and wellness for every Filipino child.
Significant
Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue x Habitat for Humanity Philippines
First Light Collection
On November 3, 2013—Super Typhoon Yolanda hit parts of Philippines; affecting 2.1 million families or 9.53 million individuals. At least 1,774 casualties were confirmed by the National Disaster RIsk Reduction and Management Council, majority coming from Eastern Visayas.
On December 2013, Kenneth Cobonpue partnered with Habitat Youth Council of Habitat for Humanity Philippines in their efforts to help communities affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda.
Kenneth designed and crafted the “First Light” tea lamps, shaped like tiny homes, with tiny human figures bustling with activity to represent bringing light into homes once again. Proceeds from the lamps went to the Habitat Youth Council’s efforts in rebuilding homes for families affected by Yolanda.
Significant Works
of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue x MovEd (Non-Profit Organization) Banca Homeware Collection
In 2017, Kenneth Cobonpue collaborated with MovEd (Molding Optimism and Values through Education) to provide holistic early childhood care, education and development programs for children in underserved communities.
Kenneth Cobonpue designed and crafted the “Banca” Homeware collection to resemble fishing boats. The limited-edition pieces embody the proverb “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”—a fundamental principle in the advocacy of education for children. Proceeds from the accent pieces benefit MovEd’s initiatives and programs for child education.
“Seeing my designs come to life is truly satisfying, and knowing that the are handmade by extraordinary men and women from my hometown who practice exquisite craftsmanship makes it even more meaningful.”
Faces
of Impact: Kenneth Cobonpue
Founder of Kenneth Cobonpue, an Endeavor Philippines company
“I’m proudest of having created a homegrown brand by utilizing the abundance of natural materials and skilled craftsmen in my country,” says Kenneth. “Asia is known as the factory of the world, not as a source for originality and creativity. I wanted to change that, so I decided it was time for the world to recognize great modern Filipino design. I hope to leave this legacy for many other talented and creative Filipinos to be able to look back to their heritage and give back to our country.”
Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Invention & Reinvention
Kenneth Cobonpue’s airy workshop in Cebu is humming with activity. Metal is being cast, wood is being worked, both tried-and-proven fabrics along with pilot ones are being weaved and upholstered, and product prototypes are being perfected. It feels like a wonderland: part foundry, part wood shop, part experimental textile mill, and most crucially, a place where theory is turned into praxis, sometimes years after being imagined. For those so inclined to appreciate these exhaustive stages of design, the Candy Man energy inside is palpable, as in who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it with dew, and cover it with chocolate and a miracle or two?
“That’s Virgilio, a sample maker,” Cobonpue says, “and that’s Christian Jay, his son, a composite maker. Over there is Matt, a CAD engineer. His dad was our woodworking supervisor.”
Other multi-generational teams in his employ are cited, but the most globally recognized Filipino designer is in a pensive mood.
“The people behind our company have always been the soul of our vision”
III A. Pioneered in a Mode of Creative Expression
Driven with persistence to redefine the landscape of Philippine design, Kenneth Cobonpue has skillfully mastered the art of connecting with the material--knowing when to yield to it or when to take command. It seems intuitive, the way he senses what the material can do and more. He builds on this intimate familiarity, with technique to create experimental and contemporary designs that add to the design vocabulary of the Philippines, making evident his mark as craftsman designer.
Moreover, Cobonpue's high-quality pieces present to the world our uniquely Filipino design attributes of busisi, aliwalas, and pulido.
“I really can’t envision living anywhere else than Cebu. Only on this island can I find the quality of craftsmen and artisans who can transform my dreams into reality.” -Kenneth Cobonpue
There is a sinuous cadence between weaving and the artisan working with their hands. It displays the complex crafting skills put into to every beautiful piece. It shapes the resilience as it weaves the dreams of the people who make the designs of Kenneth come to life.
“New this year are works by a Philippine group, Movement respect for the natural world, from which they derive their members, Kenneth Cobonpue, describes his design innocence of a child. There you find perfect visual qualities man-made objects’. The aim of the group is to bring their own heritage, in which Malaysian, Spanish and Mexican into the present by seeing things with a fresh eye, using natural mixing traditional skills with modern technology. Most economy of embellishment that emphasize textural detail not the aesthetic sterility of minimalism but rather a dematerialization, order to enhance the sensual and emotional impact of simple materials
Lovegrove believes that the new epoch we are entering pluralist or idiosyncratic, craft-based or low-tech, will completely free view of how materials
Movement 8. Like Ross Lovegrove, Movement 8 has a profound their organic, and biomorphic forms. One of the group’s philosophy as looking at nature with the purity and qualities that are waiting to be transformed into modern their work into the global mainstream while retaining their Mexican influences are combined. They want to move the past natural materials in unexpected and innovative ways and of the designs presented show a restraint of form and detail and surface pattern. They have a purity of form that is dematerialization, or toning down, of the unnecessary in both the workmanship and the inherent quality of the materials used.
entering will be exciting because finally designers seen as will begin to dominate the creative world by virtue of a and technology can be harmonized.”
Ross Lovegrove, International Design Yearbook 2002
Pioneered in a Mode of Creative Expression
Object Design
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
The first Kenneth Cobonpue collection was inspired and created from this philosophy. Alternating weaves of rattan peel or polyethylene strips, wrapped on a rigid and perfectly bent steel frame, displays a solid form with a transparent volume. Harmonious, coherent, and structured, this classic design of organic geometry allows balance and harmony to filter into your home.
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Balou (2005)
Materials: Polyethylene, Steel
Breathe in the fresh air flowing freely through the elegant lattice pattern and indulge yourself in a warm embrace of our “Balou” easy armchair. Like the plump, gentle, easy-going bear—Baloo from The Jungle Book, this hand-woven collection brings comfort and relaxation.
Pigalle Easy Armchair (2004)
Award Category: Good Design Award
Awarding Body: Japan Institute of Design Promotion Year Awarded: 2004 City: Tokyo, Japan
The visual drama of the “Pigalle” easy armchair plays up on the female form. Created to highlight the sultry curves on a woman’s body—the ingenuity of its design is found in strands of abaca, individually hand-tied with more than 3,000 knots over a hand-sculpted sinuous steel frame.
It is the recipient of the “Good Design Award” of 2004, recognized by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion for its excellent design based on Japan’s comprehensive evaluation system of design.
La Luna Easy Chair (2000)
Collection Name: La Luna
Year of Manufacturing: 2000
Materials: Rattan, Rattan Peel, Polyurethane Foam, Maple Pioneered in a
A moon-shaped, symmetrical easy armchair. Our artisans used an elaborate twill-plaiting method to create a warp and weft weave that diagonally wraps around the “La Luna’s” spherical structure. A cluster of rattan strands are alternately plaited over and under, creating a checkered pattern, as it merges with a finer weave within the concave shell. The highlight of the “La Luna’s” design can be found along the ridge of its arms and backrest, where two different weaves are flawlessly fused together.
Lolah (2005)
Materials: Polyethylene, Aluminum
Only flowing curves…
The "Lolah" collection is made using traditional boat-building methods. Thin strips of rattan are stained, finished, and bent to the exact degree of tension before being woven onto a lightweight frame. The open weave allows sunlight to filter through, and brings a touch of the tropical outdoors inside.
The beauty of translucent patterns, framed within symmetrical and geometrical shapes. The “C U C Me” hanging lamp collection is a mesmerizing play of light. Crafted meticulously in a steel-shaped frame, Salago fiber is molded around the spherical wireframe, creating a tapestry of fascinating textures, finished in brown and bronze.
Tilt Easy Armchair (2003)
Materials: Maple or Walnut
An engineering marvel. The “Tilt” easy armchair is composed of multiple leaning posts and slanting beams. Wooden pegs are cut in precise angles then arranged in a pattern of diagonal lines. Its complex assembly process results to a chair that appears sloping yet is flawlessly stable and surprisingly comfortable.
The idea of play is discovered in the ingenuity of Chiquita's design. Each dowel, cut with precision, finely sanded, bundled to fill every space, and held together in a cylindrical frame fabricated from thick metal sheets that are cut, shaped, and painted in vibrant colors—a process that takes rigorous skill to create a charming stool that is functional and fun.
Croissant (2004)
Materials: Polyethylene, Steel
A woven beauty that conveys laid-back outdoor ease. The elegance of the “Croissant” collection, its outline—shaped like the delicate curves of a delectable French Croissant, uses abaca fiber and outdoor polymer that are hand-tied over a hand-sculpted steel frame.
Kabuki Cabinet (2004)
Materials: Hand carved HDF (high-density fiberboard)
The Kabuki cabinet is crafted through intricately hand-carving a fiberboard to emulate the textures and forms of bamboo stalks. Each groove is then meticulously hand-painted to emphasize the delicate engraving on its surface.
Significant Works
of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Voyage Bed (2003)
Award Category: Good Design Award Awarding Body: Japan Institute of Design Promotion Year Awarded: 2003 City: Tokyo, Japan Materials: Abaca, Nylon, Steel
A reed boat that sails off to the land of dreams. The “Voyage” bed is shaped like a traditional fishing boat using a steel frame overlaid with strands of abaca ropes that create a pattern of fluid movements.
It is the recipient of the “Good Design Award” of 2003, recognized by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion for its excellent design based on Japan’s comprehensive evaluation system of design.
Featured in international and local newspapers and magazines, the “Voyage” bed gained global attention as hollywood actor Brad Pitt purchased the bed for his home. It has also been featured in Maroon 5’s “Never Gonna Leave This Bed” music video with singer Adam Levine seen laying on the “Voyage.”
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Wave Dining Table (2004)
Materials: Maple or Walnut Pioneered
The endless rise and fall of ocean currents is captured into the rhythmic “Wave” dining table that flows in a progressive fluid pattern. Every wood panel, made from solid maple or walnut, is assembled and successively interconnected with equal wavelength to dramatize each crest and trough. This is the “Wave” dining table—sculptural, hypnotic, graceful, and profound.
Significant
Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Suzy Wong (2005)
Materials: Abaca, Rattan, Maple or Lampakanai, Walnut
Compositional harmony of oriental houses-symmetrical windows, earth tones, and wooden structures. Rattan strips are woven over a maple frame to form the open-woven panels. The "Suzy Wong" cabinet captures the structural aesthetic of century-old homes.
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Yoda Easy Chair (2008)
Materials: Rattan, Nylon, Steel
Flexible rattan vines, like rall blades of grass, swaying verdantly on a steel frame. The natural tension of this versatile vine is a significant characteristic that has been well thought of in the design process of the “Yoda.” “We must bend, but never break”—a philosophy harnessed by the “Yoda.” Handmade and bent with precise tension, it guarantees a sturdy and comfortable support as you in sit on the easy chair.
The making of this ingenious piece requires precise control and understanding of rattan in order to achieve the flexible yet unbreakable nature of the chair.
Noodle (2008)
Materials: Rattan, Nylon, Stainless Steel, Steel
Just like doodles on a sketch pad, the Noodle's charm is in the random loops and curves that gives a play of imagination. Made from rattan vines that are versatile and bent with precision—this chair reimagines the idea of spontaneity, giving this collection a fresh take to modern sitting.
Kenneth Cobonpue
Fandango (2014)
Materials: Cotton Fiber, Aluminum, Acrylic Tube
Poetry in motion, frozen in time, delicate, and suspended in mid-air, our “Fandango” hanging lamp captures the beautiful silhouette of a ballerina’s graceful pirouette.
Casting a gentle glow with dramatic flair, the soft cascading layers of transparent petals made of cotton fabric is like a delicate flower that never wilts. This lamp designed by Danny Fang, hangs with poetic elegance, warming up the mood of your home.
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Bloom Easy Armchair (2009)
Award Category: Coup de Cour
Awarding Body: MAISON & OBJET
Year Awarded: 2009 City: Paris, France Pioneered
Designed to convey boundless love and immense passion. Like buds that bloom to a radiant bouquet, the “Bloom” chair is anchored and assembled from the center with a hundred fine folds made to resemble large petals. Made from Italian microfiber, each floral pad is elaborately hand-stitched and supported on a steel base.
Recipient of international awards, the “Bloom” chair has received the Coup de Couer Award by MAISON & OBJET in 2009 and the Prix D’Excellence Coup de Couer by SIDIM in 2011 for its “profound emotional impact on its viewers.”
Beautiful and elegant, the technique of braiding patterns has been adorned and praised across several cultures. The Rapunzel easy armchair interlaces style and emotions into every thick upholstered foam tube of braid using a blend of acrylic and cotton. A harmonious flow of movement passing each braid over and under, this soft plait is mounted on a stainless steel frame creating a curvaceous silhouette with rich textures like the delicate tresses of a princess. The braids of Rapunzel, a visual allegory that has inspired our easy armchair.
Parchment (2013)
Materials:
Acrylic fabric, Urethane foam, Maple, Steel
Knots masterfully bind the Parchment chair—its paper-like edges mimicking the effect of time on paper.
Beautifully bound and showing its aged ridges. We refashion the art of manuscript binding through layers of fabric to design the Parchment collection. Inspired by bound manuscripts, the charm of this armchair is in every crease and fold of inter-layered acrylic fabric, bound by a fabric-wrapped rope, lined with urethane foam, and mounted on a maple and steel base.
The beauty of aged paper—a visual wanderlust that inspired the creation of the Parchment collection.
Papillon (2011)
Materials: Polyethylene, Steel
Its dainty wings, spreading outward in a radial pattern, capture the delicate wings of the butterfly-a painted canvas of the most striking pattern in nature. Its extraordinary metamorphosis reminds us that nature's infinite beauty is in constant transformation. The Papillon, made of polyethylene strands, exhibits that delicate movement of the butterfly, gracefully frozen in time.
Cocoon in the handwoven comfort of the Papillon amidst the cascading beauty of nature that surrounds us.
The innovation of weaving techniques manifest into the “Cabaret” sofa. Soft plush tubes are weaved in a motion of artistic twists and turns to fasten these together onto a sturdy steel frame. Exhibiting the ingenious method of interweaving huge fabrics—it won the TOP PICK AWARD for innovation in 2012 from the American Society of Designers (ASID) and the BEST OF THE YEAR AWARD from Interior Design.
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
The delicate fronds of the “Zaza”—microfibers are intricately weaved together to create a tapestry of a leaf blade. Its plume-like frills are anchored with Fiber-Reinforced polymer and steel. This whimsical interpretation of a tropical palm tree displays both distinct design and skillful artisanship through intertwining fabrics that make up a slightly bent and loft yet sturdy backrest.
Vivo Dining Table (2014)
Materials: Steel
Lithe forms—like a forest of kelp, gracefully sweeping along unpredictable paths of the ocean currents, resemble the Vivo dining table. Inspired by the age old tradition of jewelry design, each hand- bent metal sheet is a harmonious dance of pure design and artisanal craft. Ornamental and sculptural, layers of antique gradient copperfinished metal sheets reflects the natural beauty of the aquatic habitat viewed through its glass top.
Limbo Collection (2020)
Materials: Steel, Brass
Hands tediously weave fine, gossamer wires in triple twists to shape polygon patterns then clip through this curvaceous body with precision. Floral forms are then intricately soldered onto clean cut edges. The “Limbo” collection captures a spontaneous moment of an aerialist in mid-flight.
Difficult and complex—the work that transpires into the “Limbo” collection is painstaking as finding individuals willing to take on the job. Laying out a search for those seeking out an opportunity, people came to our workshop in pursuit of a new skill and a means of living. Trained for months, they not only learned but mastered traditional yet complex craftsmanship exhibited in every meticulous twist and precise cut of our “Limbo”—becoming ingenious individuals with top-notch expertise. Today, our artisans continue to create sophisticated pieces, driven by the purpose of sustaining a livelihood that has kept families and a crafting heritage alive.
Russel (2015)
Materials: Polyethylene, Aluminum
As sunlight shines through its dome-shaped canopy, gaze at the casted shadows forming intricate, web patterns along a soft and vibrant cushion. Feel the breeze flow freely through the open-weave of our “Russell” loveseat and lay in comfort as the day passes by.
Acacia (2015)
Materials: Rattan, Steel
The majestic Baobab tree-its massive barrel trunk that grows a fusion of branches is the inspiration that shaped the Acacia collection.
Made from natural rattan poles, fastened to create the sculptural and fluid contours, each vine is carefully laid by hand, like an assemblage to simulate the beauty of this majestic tree.
Peacock Easy Chair (2018)
Award Category: Individual for Lounge
Awarding Body: International Interior Design Association (IIDA)
Year Awarded: 2018
City: Las Vegas, USA
Materials: Rattan, Nylon, Steel
With its vibrant yet graceful allure, the “Peacock” easy chair reinvents the traditional wicker chair—giving it a modern yet stunning appeal.
Its colorful patterns and sinuous curves bring out the elaborate details of the “Peacock easy chair.”
Handcrafted using a slender, flexible reed called “Arurog,” each rattan vine is carefully bent with precision. Highlighting a contemporary design, it resembles the fanning out of a peacock’s train feathers in hues of blue and greens.
With its reinventive, creative design—the “Peacock” easy chair won the Individual Category for Lounge in the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Expo Product Design Awards held in Las Vegas, USA.
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
Cloud (2015)
Materials: Cotton, Steel
Imagine soft and delicate clouds adrift clear skies just right above your bed as you sleep. Designed by Hae Young Yoon for Kenneth Cobonpue, the “Cloud” collection exudes a dainty glimmering light from within its hand-shaped cotton fiber onto weightless wire armatures to create a puffy formation of clouds.
Kenneth Cobonpue
Little People Boomtown Lamp & Screen (2015)
Materials: Salago, Steel, Stainless Steel, Mylar
A display of an unbreakable bond of strength and unity. Hundreds of people gather, climbing up on each other’s shoulders in succession to form a human tower. Interconnected figures of our “Little People,” formed through applying salago fiber to a sculptural composition of steel, embody the principles of the Filipino “Bayanihan” spirit of working together.
Demonstrating outstanding design based on the standards of the NYCxDesign board of New York, the “Little People” Boomtown Lamp was recognized as an Honoree under the Lamp Category of the NYCxDesign Awards.
Village (2020)
Materials:
Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer, Wood
Village homes with steeply pitched roofs and rectangular-shaped windows bring an old-world charm to European townscapes. Our “Village” hanging lamp takes the form of this picturesque scenery. Made of fiber-reinforced polymer and wood, it carries in a warm, ethereal radiance to any living space.
Knit (2020)
Materials:
Velvet, Rattan, Maple, Steel Pioneered
Like a knitted cardigan-warm, cozy, and ever-comforting. Take a rest and be wrapped in the snug embrace of our Knit collection. Soft and plush velvet tubes filled with polyester fiber, woven over rattan, sit elegantly on finely crafted maple wooden legs. Pleasantly laid- back, these woven classic chairs reflect our never-ending love for Nordic woodcraft and needlework.
Kenneth Cobonpue
Sage (2020)
Materials:
Velvet, Polyurethane foam, Wood, Steel
Delicate velvet, meticulously hand-stitched, elegantly connecting each fold to the midrib section, the Sage captures a larger-than-life experience with nature.
Inspired by Thumbelina's story, this collection brings the enchanted tale of the forest's gigantic foliage, transforming everyday living into an ethereal experience with nature.
Corda (2020)
Materials:
Cotton rope, Resin, Steel
A single cord moving through air, captured in a moment of stillness, becomes the Corda dining table. This functional piece, crafted from random shapes and loops, is a work of art composed of a mesmerizing pattern of knots and twists.
Natural cotton cord is wrapped around a molded steel frame, carefully arranged to create flowing symmetry, giving this table an intricate appeal that invites you to wander across its surface.
Gingko (2020)
Materials:
Fiber reinforced polymer, Glass
Luring you in for a closer look at nature's little wonders. The Ginkgo collection is an exquisite sight of the tiniest part of the over-imposing Gingko Biloba tree.
Its radial base beams a beautiful pattern of fluid lines, meeting by the mid-section of intersecting fan-shaped leaves. Cast with fiber-reinforced polymer, the Ginkgo tables are the larger-than-life replicas of nature's captivating details.
Dolce
(2020)
Materials: Velvet, Maple, Steel
“Il Dolce Far Niente" It means 'the sweetness of doing nothing.'
It's that same emotion you feel when you step into our pod-like Dolce bed and sofa. Wrap yourself in layers of the softest fabrics and cocoon comfortably in its cotton pod. Every plush tube is woven over a metal frame and shaped like a puff of cloud, designed to give you comfort in your own private space as you drift away in your sweetest dreams.
Poppy (2014)
Materials:
Handmade Paper, Tyvek, Steel
An assemblage of handmade paper blossoms reminiscent of flowers freshly plucked from a garden. Laminated with Tyvek, poppy are assembled together over a steel wireframe, creating a giant bouquet that composes the visual poetry of our “Poppy” hanging lamp.
Through the array of intricate clusters of distinctive patterns and irregular shapes, formed with the use of polymer, a harmonious display of marine life wonders and formations is unveiled. Capture a sparkling reflection of the sea with our “Barnacle” mirror collection.
Barnacle Mirror (2023)
Linya Wall Installation (2023)
Materials: Rattan
A larger-than-life bow drawn from a single line—gracefully merging and continuously connecting, like ribbons overlapping and receding.
The "Linya" wall installation gives depth and drama as light dances around, casting playful shadows from the layers of intersecting curves and lines of rattan.
Barnacle Hanging Lamp (2020)
Materials: Rice Paper, Steel
Delicately shaped and assembled by hand, intricate clusters of rice paper or molded resin shape our “Barnacle” hanging lamp—a harmonious display of an ocean wonder. Distinct gaps along arrays of rough patterns allow light to glow through its material.
Spin (2023)
Materials: Carbon fiber
The Spin easy chair is built using only carbon fiber. We fused traditional weaving techniques with this material to create a chair that is lightweight yet strong and durable. The Spin easy chair's patterns flow in repetitive shapes likened to a Spirograph. Its ingenuity lies in how it only weighs 4 kilograms, but has a load capacity of 90 kilograms.
The “Pup With A Hat,” so curious and spry! Delight in its playful charm as you pull the little bone hanging by its tail—its glimmer lights up your happy corner!
Our charming “Cat With A Hat” lamp brings warmth and whimsy into your space. Gently pull on the little mouse, and see this gleaming lamp light up your house.
“I am also going into limited-edition collectables and art. One of them is a fascinating project to create limited edition figures of Filipino myths and legends called ALAMAT. Inspired by stories passed from our ancestors to us, these characters form part of our heritage and tradition and must be retold today.”
Alamat Series: Iñigo
To be released
Inspired by mystical stories that run prevalently deep in Philippine folklore, the “Alamat” Series brings the mythical creatures of Filipino fables and tales to life.
These ethereal and otherworldly beings are ingrained in our culture’s past— believed to watch over people, to instill respect and fear of the supernatural that teaches people lessons that bring abundant blessings or a cycle of curses. The “Alamat” series hopes to keep the narrative of Philippine folklore alive through handmade figurines that allow you to rediscover the beauty of our Filipino culture’s past.
Iñigo is the first mythical creature brought to life by the “Alamat” series. A fabled “Bungingis” that roams the mountain terrains and deep forests of Bataan—Iñigo is the ominous, elusive cyclops that towers and reigns over the woods. A wooden figurine that retells the magical stories passed throughout generations.
Pioneered
in a Mode of Creative Expression
Sustainable Transportation Design
Pioneered in a Mode
Phoenix Bamboo Car Concept (2011)
Materials:
Bamboo, Rattan, Steel, Nylon
A lightweight car concept made in collaboration with product designer Albrecht Birkner. Completed in 10 days, it was handmade by skilled weavers and artisans. Its shell mimics the structure of a leaf with the use of a single spine. Crafted out of bamboo, rattan, steel, and nylon—craftsmen weaved the exterior shell beginning from the front then making their way to the rear, enveloping the interior that forms the dashboards and seats.
Introducing alternative, sustainable designs for transportation with the use of natural materials; it gained international recognition and won the ORIGINAL PRODUCTS DESIGN AWARD under the Modern Decoration International Media Awards in 2012.
A green alternative for exploring towns and traveling around cities. Easy to maneuver and compact in design, it is perfectly suited for navigating congested streets. The “Eclipse” promotes a greener urban vision—producing zero-emissions and reducing noise pollution that often comes with using motor vehicles on the road.
Bamboo Bike (2016)
Materials: Base Bike, Bamboo
An environmentally friendly bike that is light and flexible but sturdy as steel; the “Bamboo Bike” is a sustainable transportation alternative that uses less to zero amount of fossil fuels. It highlights the use of renewable organic materials for the construction of transportation vehicles.
Pioneered in a Mode of Creative Expression
Education and Business of Design
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
It’s Time for the Business of Creativity (2008)
You read and hear often enough about the Pinoy’s “world class” creativity: the jeepney, the Lunar Rover (or Moon Buggy), woodcarvings from Paete. And then there’s the truly world class creative furniture designs of Kenneth Cobonpue.
Film + Music Videos
Film + Music Videos
KENNETHCOBONPUE collections are featured
Film + Music Videos
KENNETHCOBONPUE collections are featured in production
Film + Music Videos
KENNETHCOBONPUE collections are featured in production
KENNETHCOBONPUE collections are featured in production set designs
But “world class” creativity, while a feel-good label, counts for next to nothing in a peso driven economy unless it earns money as a viable business. Banal or uncreative as this may sound, this reality leaves creative people and organizations with only two business models to choose from: the heroic but starving artist (unfortunately the dominant model)—or Kenneth Cobonpue.
Cobonpue of Cebu might be the icon of the successful creative person/entrepreneur the fledgling “Creative Industry in the Philippines” earnestly seeks to develop, and whose existence is a major force for growth in economies such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The now world famous Cobonpue manages Interior Crafts of the Island, Inc., a family-owned furniture design and manufacturing company. Among Cobonpue’s more recent awards was the 2005 Design For Asia Award that he won in competition against 500 other entries.
His is a shining success story for Filipino creatives, and is the outstanding Filipino example of world-class design and creativity. “Brangelina” are two of his satisfied customers.
“Creativity or in economics/business terms the act of value-adding and, more importantly, value-creating provides a differentiating factor in the ability of the Philippines or a Philippine company to deliver a product or a service,” said Rhea Matute, Officer-in-Charge, Operations Group 1 for the Center for International Expositions and Missions (CITEM), and who is deeply involved in pushing creativity as a competitive weapon in the export market.
“Most especially, applied creativity de-commoditizes a product or service and elevates it where the creative input or content greatly determine its value. This enables Philippine companies to have a stronger hold on the market and reverses the relationship from a mere supplier to a business partner.”
She noted that for a creative country like the Philippines, there is tremendous potential for Philippine companies to use this creativity to carve out a niche in the global market instead of playing the game through somebody else’s rules.
“Kenneth Cobonpue’s knack for traditional oragnically-inspired furniture with details reminiscent of the movie’s leading characters.”
“Kenneth Cobonpue’s knack oragnically-inspired furniture of the movie’s leading characters.”
“Kenneth Cobonpue’s knack for traditional craftmanship and oragnically-inspired furniture with details reminiscent of some of the movie’s leading characters.”
kennethcobonpue.com
“Kenneth Cobonpue’s knack for oragnically-inspired furniture with of the movie’s leading characters.”
kennethcobonpue.com
Blackpink
Seventeen
Blackpink
Seventeen
Blackpink
Blackpink
Seventeen
Kenneth Cobonpue
Faces of Impact: Kenneth Cobonpue (2017)
Endeavor is the leading global community of, by, and for High-Impact Entrepreneurs — those who dream bigger, scale faster, and pay it forward. Driven by our belief that High-Impact Entrepreneurs transform economies, Endeavor is on a mission to build thriving entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging and underserved markets around the world.
Endeavor creates a Multiplier Effect by inspiring high-growth founders to dream bigger, supporting and investing in them to scale faster, and providing a platform to pay it forward — thereby compounding their individual impact.
Kenneth Cobonpue’s path to furniture design began at a young age. “I was born in the world of furniture,” he recounts. At his interior designer mother’s furniture factory, Kenneth grew up with the local craftsmen and artisans who made her designs, and who eventually taught him to make his own pieces. There, he found a passion for design, which he pursued in his studies in New York, then working in Italy and Germany.
He would later return to Cebu to run his mother’s factory, implementing his own aesthetic designing modern, handmade and natural pieces, and launching his own brand, which Endeavor supports today.
“Endeavor helped me realize there’s always more to be done, and that the bigger picture needs more attention. I’ve been pushed to ask questions I would never have asked before,” says Kenneth. “I intend to use everything I learn at Endeavor to look beyond the horizon and expand my company in as far as touching lives and making a difference.”
But when Kenneth considers the impact he’s made as an entrepreneur, that’s only part of the equation. In his own words, impact means doing what you love and achieving something bigger than yourself.
HIPE Stories 2 Ep. 4: How Kenneth Cobonpue Built a Global Design Empire
High Impact Pinoy Entrepreneurs (HIPE) are entrepreneurs who are based in the Philippines who have the most disruptive ideas, scale their business to a big success, then go on to do something special—they pay it forward by helping the next generation of entrepreneurs.
In this episode of HIPE Stories, Manny Ayala and Kenneth Cobonpue sat down to have a conversation on his journey from a business student to a celebrated designer, creating innovative and unique designs, which eventually garnered him worldwide acclaim.
Kenneth Cobonpue shares his visionary design approach that led to global recognition for his brand and viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth on the path to fulfilling your true calling.
See full video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__OLsA6YWCo
He shared effective strategies to support the growth of emerging Filipino designers through targeted education and strong infrastructure. To pay it forward, Kenneth Cobonpue also shares his wisdom and guidance to young and aspiring designers.
“We have interns that we monitor and work closely, even when the interns graduate and when they set up their own businesses, we help them. There's about the two or three right now who have who have good businesses and they come they show me the design and I tell them how to make it beautiful, where to sell it, and how to how to make it grow.”
When you took over (Interior Crafts of the Islands) what was your dream?
I wanted to be a designer, I wanted to be known for my designs because I knew that I had this very original designs then. And the whole model of -- if you're an Asian company you manufacture for other brands abroad you are an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
Then I saw China, I knew then that the Philippines was not going to be very competitive place soon and I had to change then. This was in the 90s, I saw the rise of China yeah and I said soon these companies will not stay in the Philippines and will bring their wares outside to China, and today it’s Vietnam.
That was the dream, I wanted to create my own brand.
Were there any design influences that you thought were important in you coming up with this this new look?
“Yes of course, when I was studying and living in the US, I learned about the tenets of modernism or how it works. I learned the Americans for example preferred things that were traditional because everything around them was fairly new, and America is not a very old country and the Europeans loved things that were modern because all around them was old. I think I tried to marry that and tried to abstract what was different about our culture, so when I found a weave, I tried to make it as simple as possible and put them in very simple forms.
My ideal then was that the furniture that I designed had to go and look very good and be compatible in an apartment in New York or in Milan and it had to be Filipino, but it had to go with the rest of the furniture that they already owned, so it can't be too ethnic. I think that was the secret.”
Kenneth Cobonpue, Chairman and Consultant (2014-2019) De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde
Kenneth Cobonpue, served as Chairman and Consultant at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde from 2014 to 2019 where he led and defined a transformative approach to industrial design education in the Philippines. As a pioneer, Cobonpue redefined DLS-CSB’s Industrial Design Program by developing a new curriculum that emphasized a distinctly Filipino perspective, contrasting with traditional Western models of Industrial Design which is still utilized by DLS-CSB up until today.
Kenneth Cobonpue, Founder and Professor of Industrial Design Program (2005 - 2013) University of the Philippines - Cebu
Kenneth Cobonpue, as the founder and professor of the Industrial Design Program at the University of the Philippines-Cebu from 2005 to 2013, pioneered the first industrial design curriculum in Cebu, a hub of creativity and manufacturing. Recognizing the gap in formal design education, Cobonpue, along with dedicated educators, established this program under the Fine Arts Department, which remains active today.
Even with the end of his tenure in UP Cebu, his commitment to education and mentorship endures through the annual acceptance of design interns at his company KENNETHCOBONPUE, where he guides young and aspiring designers on their path to pursuit their careers in design.
Pioneered in a Mode of Creative Expression
Works Featured in Pop Culture
Film + Music
KENNETHCOBONPUE collections are featured in production set designs of feature films and music videos around Asia and across the globe.
Netflix's Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
The Flight Attendant
Maroon 5
Ocean's Thirteen
Maroon 5
The Flight Attendant
Ocean’s Thirteen
Maroon 5
The Flight Attendant
Ocean’s Thirteen
Maroon 5
The Flight Attendant
Ocean’s Thirteen
Maroon 5
The Flight Attendant
Ocean’s Thirteen
Film + Music Videos
Film + Music Videos
Pioneered in a Mode of Creative Expression
KENNETHCOBONPUE collections are featured in production set designs
Film + Music Videos
KENNETHCOBONPUE collections are featured in production set designs oragnically-inspired furniture with details reminiscent of some of the movie’s leading characters.”
KENNETHCOBONPUE collections are featured in production set designs
“Kenneth Cobonpue’s knack for traditional craftmanship and oragnically-inspired furniture with details reminiscent of some of the movie’s leading characters.”
"Kenneth Cobonpue's knack for traditional craftmanship and oragnically-inspired furniture with details reminiscent of some of the movie's leading characters."
kennethcobonpue.com
“Kenneth Cobonpue’s knack for traditional craftmanship and oragnically-inspired furniture with details reminiscent of some of the movie’s leading characters.”
Pioneered in a Mode of Creative Expression Policy Making
Design Advisory Council (2019-2023)
The Design Advisory Council (DAC) is the country's very own design think tank. DAC is a public-private partnership mandated by Republic Act No. 10557 to shape the country's design direction through the National Design Policy – equipping and inspiring every Filipino with the right tools to create freely design purposefully and innovate boldly.
Kenneth Cobonpue is part of the inaugural DAC as one of five (5) presidentially appointed private sector representatives to represent and convey the views of various design business support organizations.
Kenneth Cobonpue also represented the DAC in the global celebration of World Industrial Design Day in 2021. Celebrating its ‘diversity’ theme, the specially produced video presentation embraced the rich tapestry of cultures in the Philippines' 7,641 islands by featuring the World Design Organization's Code of Professional Ethics translated in 6 Filipino languages.
The video is a celebration of design, a recognition of all industrial designers, and a reminder of the critical role design plays in improving quality of life and of the planet we all live on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbd2H7zpghA
Kenneth
Cobonpue
leads Region 7 as NEDA RDC Co-Chair of the Regional Development Council
(RDC) is the highest planning and policy-making body in the region. It serves as the counterpart of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board at the sub-national level. It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region. It also serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with regional and national development activities.
Kenneth Cobonpue has served as Chairman (2017-2013) and Co-Chairman (2023-Present) for Regional Development Council in Region VII, Central Visayas. During his tenure, key accomplishments in terms socio-economic policy and planning are the establishment of special committees including the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pagasa (BP2) Committee and pivotal projects such as Metro Cebu Expressway and other infrastructure projects.
“The progress of these major projects tells us that if we work together, we can build a strong foundation for a better future.”
III B. Impact on Succeeding Generations
Kenneth Cobonpue's vision and commitment to Philippine design excellence extends beyond his brand and onto empowering the younger generations of Filipino designers. He worked with higher academic institutions to develop curriculum and programs that enable design students to bridge theory with practice and to transform ideas into work of hands. Cobonpue's mentorship of emerging talents helps shape the future of design in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.
Kenneth gives design direction to his in-house Industrial Designers sharing his expertise on construction and material manipulation.
The beauty of craftsmanship is rooted in art-forming hands that craft materials into pieces imbued with an artisanal tradition—a lingering intimate humane connection and a timeless beauty.
Impact on Succeeding Generations
Movement
Cobonpue
Movement 8
The success of Movement 8 paved the way for succeeding generations of young designers to be bolder, to go beyond the traditional crafts and forms, and play with the possibility of innovation. They were design leaders whose varied design sensibilities one can look up to for inspiration and encouragement to test out forward-thinking ideas. Movement 8 raised the bar of craft and design excellence in the Philippines, and thereby making the Philippines more visible in the global design map.
Cobonpue, being one of these beacons, stands as a model for the next generation Filipino designers that they too can contribute to the ongoing narrative of Philippine design.
Impact on Succeeding Generations Design Mentorship
Hive
Hive cultivates an environment of creative freedom, coupled with a strong sense of aesthetics and functionality. A habitat for designers and artisans, the design collective encourages collaborators to create a variety of original forms, textures, and ideas in clever and invigorating expressions.
Hive has found its niche by drawing inspiration from nature and fusing it with an enduring respect for handmade production techniques. The refreshing manipulation of locally-sourced, self-sustaining organic materials such as rattan and abaca marks the company’s identity in the field of modern design. The preservation of traditional hand-working methods allows Hive to perpetuate a component of culture for future generations
Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
KCurated launched during BODEGA Design Caravan 2022
KCurated
“We set up an online site for small accessories, this is more affordable, small things and accessories and it’s doing well, it’s called KCurated. It has my designs and some of them are from my students designs and former interns. “
KCurated is a brand that offers unique and personal objects for home decoration and gifting, crafted by hand and selected by the founder.
DESIGN Philippines
DESIGN Philippines positions the Philippines as a sourcing destination for finely crafted products for the world market. It is a design movement that nurtures and celebrates the creativity and originality of a globally competitive and passionate community of Filipino designers and craftsmen.
As a movement, DESIGN Philippines has taken shape and now speaks with recognized authority in the world of design.
DESIGN Philippines has built its reputation through its presence in the world's leading design shows such as Salone Internazionale del Mobile, MAISON & OBJET Paris, and International Contemporary Furniture Fair. It positions the Philippines as a destination for products which speak of a higher level of artisanship – a design movement that nurtures and celebrates the creativity and originality of a globally competitive and passionate community of Filipino designers and craftsmen.
Creative Direction to Design Philippines
and Participants of International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF 2014)
Kenneth Cobonpue has provided creative direction and consultation towards Philippine participants of the ICFF to enhance their brand and marketing strategies geared towards a global market.
Notable local brands and manufacturers included under this mentorship include: Contemporaneo, Nature's Legacy, P&B Valises, Catalina, Masaeco, Cebu Fil Veneer, Ito Kish, Lightworks, Ann Pamintuan, Industria and Schema.
The initiatives of design Philippines has done various positive changes on most of the brands that participated on ICFF 2014.
Impact on Succeeding Generations
Articles about Cobonpue's enduring influence on Next Generations
‘Local shapes global and global shapes local’ (2012)
Budji, Kenneth, Milo with designers based abroad yield the ‘cross-pollination’ of design. Last week’s Manila FAME heralded a return to roots
Superior not only because of the cultural tradition, but also for their ability to inspire or stir feelings.
When American retail veteran James Booth was made project head of last week’s Manila FAME, he developed the concept “The Art of the Craftsman Equals the Soul of the Philippines.” That reflected his faith in our country.
“I have been coming to the Philippines since 1978. Theirs is a truth that speaks through the product. That truth has deep roots in heritage and culture. It is a language all its own,” he said. “There is quality of execution of the design. This is where the care and delight come into the craftsman’s work.”
In the pursuit of industrialization, First World countries have in- variably divorced themselves from their indigenous capabilities. Although their designs have harnessed technology to improve lives, the soul is missing.
In contrast, design in the Philippines has arrived, declared Booth. “It takes its lead from a wealth of design talent combined with a wealth of indigenous material. World exposure is refining more and more the authenticity of what the Philippines has to offer the design world.”
Read full article here: https://lifestyle.inquirer.net/72900/local-shapes-global-and-global-shapes-local/
Design Philippines: The
new wave at MAISON & OBJET Paris (2014)
Guests at the pavilion were amazed at the wealth and breadth of talent, materials and manufacturing capabilities from the Philippines. Even Kenneth Cobonpue, a recognized international designer and brand who has been a MAISON & OBJET Paris exhibitor for the last couple of years, manages to astonish buyers season after season with new designs that fuse native organic materials with innovative handmade production techniques. His Limbo chandelier of a sculpted metal mesh acrobat received a lot of attention, as did his Gobi cactus tables and Parchment line of multi-leaf upholstered furniture that reminded Parisians of their beloved mille-feuille pastries.
For Hive, which Kenneth founded with some friends to produce exceptional lighting and interior design accessories, he designed “Flutter,” a wall installation of Butterflies that belied their material of solid metal with the lightness of feeling that it evoked. His “Enigma,” featuring a floating spinal column, was also of note among interior designers and stylists who thrive on cabinets of curiosities. The whisk lamps by Stanley Ruiz were whimsical takes on the iconic implement in this city of culinary renown.
Read full article here: https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/modern-living/2014/10/18/1381289/design-philippines-new-wave-maison-objet-paris
Designer entrepreneur aims to become next Kenneth Cobonpue (2016)
Filipino designer Stanley Ruiz showcased his rational approach to product design as one of “Rising Asian Talents” in the recent MAISON & OBJET Asia held in Singapore... The Designer of the Year and Rising Asian Talents awards offer visitors an overview of both established and emerging design talents in the Asia-Pacific.
World-renowned designer Kenneth Cobonpue was Designer of the Year during the first edition of MAISON & OBJET Asia.
Read full article here: https://business.inquirer.net/209742/designer-entrepreneur-aims-to-become-next-kenneth-cobonpue
“I think when I retire, I would like to create a school, my own school, teaching other young kids and students to take up this profession. I don’t know where it would be, but it would be in this country of course.”
ABS-CBN News : LSS The Martin Nievera Show (2020)
Your greatest legacy would be what?
“I think that the inspiration that it gives to the new generation of designers, my dream is that other young people or designers would come and depict after what I’m doing and keep on shaping the definition of what Filipino design is. ”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIFKXRZph3I
Kenneth Cobonpue on What Matters Most in Design (2021)
How can the next generation carry on this task— continuing to define and expand local design's history and meaning?
The history of Filipino design is not even half a century old; it’s relatively young. Design is like a language which evolves over time, and it's up to this and the next generation to add, subtract, and refine the vocabulary by which Filipino design is known in the world. I tell my students that it's up to them to find the distinct forms, materials, and silhouettes that will characterize our country's design identity in the future.
Read full article here: https://fameplus.com/touchpoint/kenneth-cobonpue-on-what-matters-most-in-design
Changemaker Kenneth Cobonpue and Smart Infinity champion design entrepreneurship and craft sustainability (2022)
Advocating design entrepreneurship and craft sustainability
Read full article here: https://manilainsight.com/business-section/changemaker-kenneth-cobonpue/
Together with Smart Infinity, Cobonpue headlines a design entrepreneurship program, wherein he mentors young designers to bring them to their fullest potential. It also aligns with his advocacy of preserving the craft of design and manufacturing for future artisans.
He particularly saw the capability of his mentees Marriel Colaljo and Chini Lichangco and is helping them further improve their designs in terms of aesthetic, production, and quality. With Collajo’s handbags made of repurposed pressed plastic, Cobonpue advised that the waste materials should transform into a very elegant and luxurious final product that would speak for itself—and being good for the environment would be the icing on the cake.
Kenneth Cobonpue on the importance of contributing to the longevity of craftsmanship (2022)
What challenges do you see now in your respective industry?
How do you intend to help address these challenges?
The average age of the Filipino weaver, carver and craftsman is 50 years old. Their children no longer want to work with their hands. Because of this, our rich tradition of craftsmanship and manufacturing industries will eventually die. We must develop the next generation of designers who will give these artisans a suitable means of living. I lecture worldwide, mentor apprentices, and teach in different design schools in the hope of inspiring young people to use our resources and skills so it become not only a means of employment but a source of pride for the country.
What are your plans for the coming years, and what keeps you going?
We are continually expanding the brand in Europe and Asia and returning to the international show circuit. I am also going into limited-edition collectables and art. One of them is a fascinating project to create limited edition figures of Filipino myths and legends called ALAMAT. Inspired by stories passed from our ancestors to us, these characters form part of our heritage and tradition and must be retold today. We are also continually adding products to our online site called kcurated.ph with gift items I designed or chose.
Read full article here: https://www.tatlerasia.com/homes/architecture-design/kenneth-cobonpue-asia-s-most-influential-2022
Kenneth Cobonpue on the craft of furniture making (2024)
How do you differentiate your brand from your competitors?
KENNETHCOBONPUE is the first international all-Filipino furniture label that’s design-centered and nature-inspired. We pride ourselves in promoting culture and heritage by preserving and utilizing traditional craftsmanship, and natural materials. Our designs have that special human touch that is weaved into them and is part of the story. We have our own manufacturing arm and a complete set of departments that design, market, and sell our products.
How did you break into the international market?
The one that introduced me to the global market was Movement 8, a group of Filipino designers put together by the late Ely Pinto, director of CITEM and Budji Layug, to showcase the best of Filipino design to the world. I was part of that group and we went around the world in all the major exhibitions waving the Filipino flag and introducing our country’s brand of home design.
Kenneth, whose early educational and apprenticeship tours had taken him to Munich, Florence, and New York returned to found the Industrial Design Program at the University of the Philippines-Cebu and chair the Department of Industrial Design School of Design and Arts, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde. He has mentored several of his best students.
Read full article here: https://vogue.ph/lifestyle/invention-reinvention/
“Only on this island can I find the quality of craftsmen and artisans who can transform my dreams into reality. The problem with Philippine design is not the lack of designers but the dearth of craftsmen to execute designs.”
“My mentees really immersed themselves in our factory, learning every nuance. These skills, which we are losing, are what these designers are saving,” he says.
Of course, Cobonpue also introduced them to industry shakers, widening their networks and jumpstarting their careers.
“Through his guidance, I learned to take risks, experiment freely, and think outside the box, just as a child would when discovering something new. His mentorship went beyond technical skills.”
“Even the unseen underside of a product should be beautiful, he would say,” she says. “This taught me the mentality of excellence.”
“He taught me to learn how to build with my own hands. And to take criticism well and sometimes kill your darlings if you want to elevate taste,”
“learned to think beyond conventional boundaries and embrace unconventional ideas. To tell a captivating story.”
Mirei Monticelli
Mona Alcudia
Lil Manahan
Chini Lichangco
Impact on Succeeding Generations Academe and Educational Institutions
Significant Works
of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-CEBU
KENNETH COBONPUE, FOUNDER AND PROFESSOR OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN PROGRAM (2005 - 2013)
Kenneth Cobonpue together with dedicated educators introduced this new design program under the institution’s Fine Arts Department. His passion for education and mentorship is still carried on through the yearly acceptance of UP design interns within KENNETHCOBONPUE—instilling invaluable knowledge of hands-on craftsmanship, and design and product development to Cebuano young designers.
“I co-founded the Industrial Design Program which is still in effect today in in the University of the Philippines - Cebu. Ironically, Cebu is a place for creativity and manufacturing but there was no design curriculum there, so we put the first one and it is still on today.”
Significant
Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
DE LA SALLE COLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE
Kenneth Cobonpue, Chairman and Consultant (2014-2019)
In the school year 2018, he co-designed a new industrial design curriculum together with his students, faculty, industry practitioners, and alumni. His tenure in Benilde has led to the enrichment of the skills and knowledge of students and faculty members alike. He was also active in conducting series of impactful design seminars and workshops that have truly left a mark on the department's curriculum, shaping the trajectory of industrial design education for years to come.
“I used to teach and also used to be the Chair of the College of Saint Benilde - Industrial Design Program. I think my legacy there was to create a whole new curriculum which they're using up to today and I trained and worked with the faculty and teachers a very Filipino approach to Industrial design, vis-a-vis the western model.”
Watch full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lA79eBefug
Impact on Succeeding Generations
Influence Through Local
Books & Publications
Influence on Next Generation Through Local Books/Publications
Kenneth Cobonpue’s works and design journey has been extensively featured in design reference materials such as Tropical Living: Contemporary Dream Houses in the Philippines, The Tropical House: Cutting Edge Design in the Philippines, Salumpuwit: Chairs in Filipino Life, and Cebu Furniture: A History of Inspiration and Innovation.
These significant showcase of his extensive array of designs, document his journey for the present and succeeding generations of Filipino designers.
Tropical Living Contemporary Dream Houses in The Philippines
By Elizabeth V. Reyes | 2012
This tropical design book showcases the innovative interior designs and architecture of The Philippines most luxurious homes. This Filipino design book presents over 30 of the latest homes in the archipelago: from a classic old-world penthouse in the art-deco Malate area to the creative homes of artists of Antipolo: from Asian-fusion villas on Batangas Bay to the elite Philippine Mediterranean manors of Forbes Park, the book covers Filipino taste in all of its manifestations.
The Tropical House: Cutting Edge Design in the Philippines
By Elizabeth V. Reyes and Luca Invernizzi Tetton | 2018
The Tropical House: Cutting Edge Design in the Philippines celebrates a growing trend toward globalization in interior design. More than 25 stunning houses and condos in and around Manila, the Philippines, evoke a distinctive tropical-modern-fusion style that is gaining popularity around the world.
The selection features modernist designs referred to as Zen or Minimalist; admires the modern Global Eclectics, those well-traveled collectors of beautiful objects from East and West; and celebrates the individualists who mix European furniture with acutely creative accents from local designers.
Salumpuwit: Chairs in Filipino Life
By Gerard Lico | 2012
Where do we sit? How do we sit? Why do we sit? The book counts the ways. And this is just but the first sitting in the exploration of the many context within which the Philippine chair finds its place in the furniture of history.
Chairs are products and agents of their socio-cultural contexts. They reflect and affect society. The combination of the words salumpuwit, bangko, and silya is evocative, encapsulating the plural Filipino chair lexicon: Salumpuwit.
Cebu Furniture: A History of Innovation and Inspiration
By: Maricris Encarnacion | 2012
Cebu Furniture – A History of Inspiration and Innovation traces the Cebu furniture industry’s beginnings and evolution, following the personal and professional journeys of those that have brought the industry to where it is today. More importantly, it establishes a graphic timeline and provenance of over 100 classic and modern landmark pieces that catapulted the province of Cebu in the Philippines to the global furniture market.
Impact on Succeeding Generations
Design in Policy Making
Kenneth Cobonpue leads Region 7 as NEDA RDC Co-Chair
RDC Co-Chair Kenneth Cobonpue leads Infrastructure Development Committee
Regional Development Council through Chairman Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado and Co-Chair Kenneth Cobonpue steers various strategies and approaches that would be implemented locally to achieve poverty reduction, economic growth, boosted employment rates, and combat inflation.
Key accomplishments on their joint and tenure include the endorsement of projects for Region 7 such as the establishment of Special Committee on Devolution for the implementation of the Mandanas ruling, and the creation of regional rehabilitation and recovery programs for Region 7’s major economic disruptors: COVID-19 pandemic and super typhoon Odette.
All of which are testament to design’s permeating value in local policy development processes and socioeconomic development.
Design Advisory Council Guides the Creation of Making Design Counts Report
The Inaugural Design Advisory Council Guides the Creation of Making Design Counts Report
“Imagine if the Philippines was a design leader not only in Southeast Asia but around the world. Imagine if communities in the Philippines were empowered through design to make better decisions for their municipalities. Imagine if every department in the Philippine government had a design team and took user-centered approaches to service and policy development.”
Kenneth Cobonpue as part of the inaugural Design Advisory Council (2019-2023) of the Design Center of the Philippines, broke new grounds on Philippine design through the Making Design Counts Report.
Design is traditionally seen as a creative practice. However, new policy approaches are increasingly recognizing it as an important economic driver and an effective approach for national and local development.
Making Design Counts is the Philippines’ first design economy mapping study that serves as basis for the formulation of the Philippines’ first National Design Policy – introducing the role of designers in national policymaking tables.
IV. Substantial Body of Work & Display of Excellence
Delving into Kenneth Cobonpue's extensive portfolio, affiliations, collaborations, and initiatives. Cobonpue's impact extends beyond industrial design, he champions Filipino craftsmanship and enables the next generation of Filipino designers to add their unique voice into the growing Philippine design vocabulary.
Kenneth Cobonpue is the Design Legacy of the Philippines.
V A. Summary of Awards & Recognitions
With design works that grabbed the attention of the global design market through its striking organic forms, and transformation of materials, Kenneth Cobonpue earned numerous accolades from prestigious trade fairs and exhibitions across the world. His visionary design sensibilities is also a driving force behind a creative leadership that continuously embeds significant impact on Filipino art, design, and culture.
It is in our culture that Filipinos unite, helping others without being asked, without expecting anything in return; and working together to achieve a common goal. This Filipino value is also carried over amongst the artisans of Kenneth, working together and giving form to a hundred people holding hands, as they shape the “Little People” collection.
The elaborate twill-plaiting method of warp and weft weaving dramatically wraps around the spherical structure of the La Luna.
Summary
of Awards & Recognitions
Local
Awards & Recognitions
Gawad CCP para sa Sining Awardee for Design 2020
Kenneth Cobonpue received the Gawad sa Sining Award 2020 on September 2, 2022. This award is the highest distinction given by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) to Filipino artists for contribution to the Philippine Arts and Culture scene. The CCP is a government-owned corporation established to preserve, develop, and promote arts and culture in the Philippines.
Significant Works of Kenneth Cobonpue
Ani ng Dangal 2015 - Recognition for International Achievement in Visual Arts
(for MAISON & OBJET Asia, Paris)
Ani ng Dangal is an annual event that highlights the conclusion of the National Arts Month by giving recognition to Filipino artists who have achieved significant international success and earned accolades in their respective fields in the past year.
Kenneth Cobonpue has received his recognition for International Achievement in Visual Arts for his Designer of the Year Award conferred on the 1stedition of MAISON & OBJET Asia.
Ani ng Dangal 2019 - Recognition for International Achievement in Architecture and Allied Arts
(for IIDA/HD Product Design Competition)
Ani ng Dangal is a ceremony spearheaded by the NCCA that aims recognize Filipinos and Filipino works in the arts field who have brought glory to the country in the reference to the awards they have received the prior year. The awards are given for architecture and the allied arts, broadcast arts, cinema, dance, dramatic arts, literary arts, music and visual arts.
This is Kenneth Cobonpue’s second Ani ng Dangal and this time for Architecture and Allied Arts in recognition to the award that he received for his design of the Peacock Easy Chair which won Best Seating Award, during the 22nd Annual IIDA/HD Product Design Competition held at Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2018.
MVP Bossing Award 2016
PLDT SME Nation
PLDT SME Nation through the MVP Bossing Awards 2016, recognized 8 outstanding Filipino entrepreneurs for their achievements in driving their businesses towards inclusive growth and nation building.
Kenneth Cobonpue and the following were recognized as MVP Bossings:
Andok’s Litson Corporation CEO Hon. Leonardo “Sandy” Javier, Jr. ; Astoria Hotels and Resorts President Jeffrey Ng ; Double Dragon Properties Inc. Chairman and CEO Edgar “Injap” Sia ; Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli President Gerry Chua ; Mercury Group of Companies President Vivian Azcona ; and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. President and CEO Dennis Uy
PLDT SME Nation believes that the investment in the MVP Bossing Awards each year impacts economic development in that celebrating successful leaders inspires more and more Filipinos to get into business, and more entrepreneurs to up their game.
Living Legends: World Renowned Filipinos
Philippine Postal Corporation 2021
Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) launched a series of stamps of "Living Legends: World-Renowned Filipinos” in commemoration of its 254th founding anniversary.
Kenneth Cobonpue is joined by bowling world champion Paeng Nepomuceno, grandmaster Eugene Torre, theater actress and singer Lea Salonga, innovator and technology entrepreneur Diosdado Banatao, fashion designer and entrepreneur Josie Natori, National Basketball Association player Jordan Clarkson, billiard legend Efren “Bata” Reyes, iconic Filipino fast-food chain mascot Jollibee, and Monique Lhuillier, a fashion designer.
PHLPost takes pride in recognizing great Filipino talents, "through stamps, fueling the Filipino passion for excellence anywhere in the world".
Impact Award, Asia's Most Influential 2023
Tatler Philippines
Tatler Ball annually recognizes individuals who made exemplary contributions to their fields of expertise and industries. Three awards were given this year for Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue (Impact Award), Golden Globes-nominated actress Dolly De Leon (Arts and Culture Award) , and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa (Diamond Awardee). The awards honor each of its recipients’ recent achievements and continuous invaluable work.
Kenneth Cobonpue received the Impact Award in celebration of his award-winning works and efforts in making the local design industry thrive internationally.
Sugbuhanong Bahandi Award 2023
Cebu City Local Government Unit
Sugbuhanong Bahandi Award, spearheaded by the Cebu City Local Government Unit through Cebu City’s Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of Cebuano talents in the visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, media arts, music, dance, theater and allied arts fields, the award is granted to individuals who have made significant contributions to Cebu City’s ascension as a creative city.
Amongst the winners are industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue; visual artist Jose “Kimsoy” Caras Yap, Jr.; internationally acclaimed ballet danseur Nicolas Romo Pacaña; Cebuano National Artist for Literature Resil Buagas Mojares; Palanca and National Book awardee Rodolfo Escalona Villanueva, and visual artist Romulo “Mulong” Noel Galicano.
Local Awards & Recognitions
Impact Award, Asia's Most Influential 2023
Tatler Philippines
29 November 2023 | Taguig City, Philippines
All Star Team Award for Design Excellence
Rotary International District 3860 Conference 2017
3 March 2017 | Cebu, Philippines
Magellan Award 2016
Global Network of Magellan Cities
15 February 2016 | Cebu, Philippines
Outstanding Achievement in Export Marketing
Agora Awards, Philippine Marketing Association
October 2011 | Manila, Philippines
Award for Most Creative Force
10th Philippine Tatler Ball
November 2011 | Manila, Philippines
Innovation Entrepreneur Award
Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 | Makati, Philippines
Awardee | Flare 2018
Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines
2008 December | Manila, Philippines
10 Most Outstanding Entrepreneurs Entrepreneur Magazine
6 November 2007 | Manila, Philippines
Microsoft Special Award for Most Dynamic Entrepreneur
Microsoft
6 November 2007 | Manila, Philippines
Ten Most Outstanding Alumni
Sacred Heart School for Boys (50th Founding Anniversary)
2005 | Cebu City, Philippines
Perlas Award for Outstanding Cebuano
Philippines Foundation Inc.
2004 | Cebu City, Philippines
Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (for Arts-Design/Entrepreneurship)
JCI Philippines
2003 | Manila, Philippines
Golden Shell Award 2002 - Presidential Citation for Embodying Ideals of Asian Design
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Office of the President
29 November 2002 | Manila, Philippines
Craftsmanship Award
International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2001 2001 | New York, USA
13 Mugna Design Prizes for Exhibition and Product Design
Cebu International Furniture and Furnishings Exhibition (Cebu City, Philippines)
Various Years | Cebu City, Philippines
5 Katha Design Awards for Product Design MANILA FAME (Metro Manila, Philippines) Various Years | Manila, Philippines
Summary of Awards & Recognitions
International Awards & Recognitions
Significant Works of Kenneth Cobonpue
Pratt Legends 2023
Legends 2023 pays tribute to exceptional honorees, who are also esteemed Pratt alumni, and have made remarkable and responsible contributions to the creative world. It is an annual scholarship benefit that pays tribute to icons of art, design, and architecture and serves as a fundraiser for scholarships that prioritize diversity, inclusion, and equal access to education.
Three distinguished Pratt alumni—celebrated furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue, visionary architect Edward Mazria, and renowned artist Kay WalkingStick—were honored at the historic Weylin in Brooklyn.
Kenneth Cobonpue has attended Pratt Institute for his Bachelor of Industrial Design from 1988-1991 and has received highest honors—Summa Cum Laude.
Significant
Works of Kenneth Cobonpue
Designer of the Year Award: 1st Edition of MAISON & OBJET Asia (2014)
The Designer of the Year award was given during the inaugural Asian edition of MAISON & OBJET 2014.
Kenneth Cobonpue was selected amongst top Asian designers who have made a strong impression in their field of design. The jury cited him for being a recognized symbol of not only Filipino but Southeast Asian design to the world.
“This award is not only for me, but for all the Southeast Asian designers who have the same dream as I do when I started,”
Kenneth Cobonpue hopes it will encourage young Filipino designers to make a mark on the global stage.
Bed Best In Show | Bedroom Category
October 2022 | North Carolina, USA
IFDA Excellence in Design Awards (North
Carolina, USA)
International Furnishings & Design Association (IFDA) Excellence in Design Awards is given during the High Point Market which is considered the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world. More than 100 countries are represented in this semi-annual event, which gathers home furnishings buyers, interior designers, architects, and furniture makers.
Dolce Bed was one of the 12 winners at the IFDA Selects Awarding Ceremonies on April 4, 2022, held at High Point Market in North Carolina, U.S.A..
Dolce
NYCXDESIGN Awards (New York, USA)
NYCxDESIGN Awards celebrates and honors outstanding achievement and talent across major areas of design—from architecture to interiors, from products to accessories, from craft to technology.
KENNETHCOBONPUE has received numerous recognitions from NYCxDESIGN for his body of works in particular the Knit Easy Armchairs (2022), Zoey Recliner and Alchemy Hanging Planter (2018), and Little People Boomtown Lamp (2019)
NYCxDESIGN is a non-profit organization that nurtures, supports, and provides opportunities for NYC’s design sector.
Knit Easy Armchairs
Best Contract Seating 2022
May 2022 | New York, USA
Honoree | Outdoor & Accessories Category
July 2018 | New York, USA
Little People Boomtown Lamp
Honoree | Accessories & Lamp Category
July 2019 | New York, USA
Zoey Recliner and Alchemy Hanging Planter
IIDA/HD Product Design Competition 2018 (Las Vegas, USA)
The prestigious design award is given by the United States-based International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and Hospitality Design (HD) magazine. The winners were chosen based on innovation, technical advancements, cost efficiency, environmental consciousness, aesthetics, client-user benefits, and need and usage in the hospitality industry.
Kenneth Cobonpue made history as the first Filipino designer to win the IIDA HD Product Design award.
IIDA/HD Product Design Competition
May 2, 2018 | Las Vegas, USA
Peacock Easy Chair
Cabaret Sofa
Top Pick Award for Innovation by American Society of Interior Designers
March 22-25, 2012 | New York, USA
Architectural Digest Home Design Show 2012 (New York, USA)
Architectural Digest (AD) is the international design authority, featuring the work of top architects and designers. AD celebrates the best in global design by showcasing today’s most influential interiors, architecture, talent, tastemakers, and new products
Cabaret Sofa became the Top Pick Award for Innovation at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) in 2012. His work has consistently captivated audiences worldwide, from Milan to New York, and continues to inspire the design community.
SIDIM Design Show 2011 (Montreal, Canada)
The Bloom Easy Armchair received the Prix D’Excellence Coup De Coeur at the SIDIM Montreal design show. This award further underscores Cobonpue’s exceptional craftsmanship and unique design approach.
SIDIM is Montreal’s International Design Trade Show, an annual gathering of over 20,000 industry professionals and leaders in interior design, architecture, and construction. The event showcases emerging trends that will furnish homes, offices, businesses and institutions of tomorrow in Canada and beyond.
Bloom Easy Armchair
Prix D’excellence Coup De Coeur May 2011 | Montreal, Canada
MAISON & OBJET 2009 (Paris, France)
MAISON & OBJET is a major French trade fair for interior design, held bi-annually. It is among the most important European events for interior design, showcasing a vast collection of innovation and talent in one place.
KENNETHCOBONPUE has received the Coup De Coeur Award by Home Magazine during MAISON & OBJET 2009.
Bloom Easy Armchair
Coup De Coeur Award by Home Magazine
January 2009 | Paris, France
Business of Design Week
by the Hong Kong Design Centre
KENNETHCOBONPUE was honored with the Design for Asia Award during the Business of Design Week organized by the Hong Kong Design Centre. This recognition highlights his significant impact on the field of furniture and design.
Business of Design Week gathers the most sought-after creative leaders in the world, with a host of concurrent design-related initiatives, making the event one of Hong Kong’s most anticipated events.
Lolah Collection
Design for Asia Award
November 21, 2005 | Hong Kong
Good Design Award (Tokyo, Japan)
By Japan Institute of Design Promotion
Japan's Good Design Award program is a uniquely comprehensive platform for design evaluation and advocacy. Exemplary design in many spheres, with the potential to drive industrial growth and enrich lives, is found and shared through the program, which has a distinguished history and has grown to an unmatched scale. Over more than 60 years, the G Mark logo has become a familiar sign of good design.
KENNETHCOBONPUE has received 6 Japan Good Design Awards and included in the 2003 and 2004 ASEAN Design Selection
Kabuki Cabinet
Good Design Award 2004ASEAN Design Collection 2004 | Tokyo, Japan
Yin & Yang Easy Armchair
Good Design Award 2003ASEAN Design Collection 2003 | Tokyo, Japan
C-U-C-Me Screen
Good Design Award 2004ASEAN Design Collection 2004 | Tokyo, Japan
Pigalle Easy Armchair Good Design Award 20042004 | Tokyo, Japan
Voyage Bed
Good Design Award 2003ASEAN Design Collection 2003 | Tokyo, Japan
One Night Stand Sofa Good Design Award 2004 –ASEAN Design Selection , 2003 | Tokyo Japan
International Awards & Recognitions
NYCXDESIGN Awards (New York, USA)
Knit Easy Armchairs
Best Contract Seating 2022 May 2022 | New York, USA
Cove Mirror and Little People Boomtown Lamp Honoree | Accessories & Lamp Category July 2019 | New York, USA
Zoey Recliner and Alchemy Hanging Planter Honoree | Outdoor & Accessories Category July 2018 | New York, USA
Good Design Award (Tokyo, Japan) by Japan Institute of Design Promotion
Pigalle Easy Armchair
Good Design Award 2004 - ASEAN Design Selection 2004 | Tokyo, Japan
Kabuki Cabinet
Good Design Award 2004 - ASEAN Design Selection 2004 | Tokyo, Japan
One Night Stand Sofa
Good Design Award 2004 - ASEAN Design Selection 2004 | Tokyo, Japan
C-U-C-Me Screen
Good Design Award 2004 - ASEAN Design Selection 2004 | Tokyo, Japan
Yin & Yang Easy Armchair
Good Design Award 2003 - ASEAN Design Selection 2003 | Tokyo, Japan
Voyage Bed
Good Design Award 2003 - ASEAN Design Selection 2003 | Tokyo, Japan
Dolce Bed
Best In Show | Bedroom Category
IFDA Excellence in Design Awards (North Carolina, USA)
October 2022 | North Carolina, USA
Peacock Easy Chair
IIDA/HD Product Design Competition (Las Vegas, USA)
2 May 2018 | Las Vegas, USA
Cabaret Sofa
Furniture - Outdoor Seating
Interior Design Magazine’s Best of Year Awards (New York, USA)
29 November 2012 | New York, USA
Innovative Craft Award 2015
ASEAN Selection
19 March 2015 | Bangkok, Thailand
Cabaret Sofa
Top Pick Award for Innovation by American Society of Interior Designers
Architectural Digest Home Design Show (New York, USA)
22-25 March 2012 | New York, USA
Phoenix
Original Products Design Award
Modern Decoration International Media Award (Shenzhen, China)
December 2012 | Shenzhen, China
Bloom Easy Armchair
Prix D’excellence Coup De Coeur
SIDIM Design Show (Montreal, Canada)
May 2011 | Montreal, Canada
Bloom Easy Armchair
Coup De Coeur Award by Home Magazine
Maison et Objet 2009 (Paris, France)
January 2009 | Paris, France
International Awards & Recognitions
Lolah Easy Armchair
Outstanding Quality and Design Innovation Award Decorex (London, United Kingdom) 2008 | London, United Kingdom
Lolah Outdoor and Dimple Outdoor Design Excellence Award 9th Annual IIDA/Hospitality Design Product Competition 5 May 2005 | Las Vegas, USA
Lolah Collection Design for Asia Award Business of Design Week by the Hong Kong Design Centre 21 November 2005 | Hong Kong
Balou Outdoor
Outstanding Design Prize High Point Show ) 2005 | North Carolina, USA
Croissant Collection First Prize, Open Design Category Singapore International Furniture Design Competition 2004 | Singapore
V B. Critical Acclaim and Review of Works
Described as "poetic objects with strong stylistic presence," Cobonpue's design work received outstanding reviews from the professional design community, both local and international. His work is widely recognized as exemplars of artistic expression, highlighting the distinct forms, transparent compositions, meticulous material selection, and exceptional craftsmanship as points of merit. His works graced pages of esteemed design publications and literature, further amplifying the prominence of Philippine design.
His command with materials and technique had critical design eyes looking, eventually receiving critical acclaim globally when Time Magazine called him ‘rattan’s first virtuoso.’ Indeed, it is undeniable that Cobonpue’s adept hands and eyes for good design are both honed skill and sheer talent.
Kenneth’s designs are constantly evolving, never conforming to a formula. However, the high-level craftsmanship required to create his pieces remains the same. The materials, forms, and elements used are born out of handmade production processes. This makes his works warmer, tactile, and more human.
Kenneth’s workshop in Cebu hums with activity. Metal is being cast, wood is being worked, both tried-and-proven fabrics along with pilot ones are being weaved and upholstered, and product prototypes are being perfected.
Local Critical Acclaim and Review of Works
It all started with a dream: To put a face on Filipino design. And now, that dream has turned to beautiful reality, thanks to visionaries Ely Pinto-Mansor, former executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), and Budji Layug.
Ely Pinto-Mansor encapsulates it in these words: "The time has come for the Filipino designer to take his place among his foreign peers. We are launching a celebration of individuality by emphasizing the uniqueness of Filipino creativity. An image of a designing people is our message."
Kenneth Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue: Wins Design for Asia Award (2005)
Acknowledged furniture design leader Kenneth Cobonpue gives the Philippines - and Cebu - a reason to be proud. Once again, he has highlighted the country on the map of the highly competitive world of design…That just validates that Filipino creativity is indeed world class.
Kenneth Cobonpue's award-winning Bloom Chair is made of deep soft folds of handmade microfiber fabric stitched into a steel base to mimic the captivating efflorescence of a flower bursting in richly saturated color—a visually delightful manipulation of material and form that even Thumbelina will be pleased. This chair won the prestigious "Coup de Coeur" Award at Maison et Objet Paris in 2009.
The Dragnet is an ovoid chair made with structured rope net, supported by four flaring metal legs. The delicate yet massive form defines Cobonpue's mastery of the sculptural manipulation of materials.
Contemporary Dream Houses in The Philippines (2012)
by Elizabeth V. Reyes
“Ken Cobonpue of Interior Crafts of the Islands has originated three abaca wrapped “transparent" armchairs--unique exercises in positive and negative spaces and volumes that are catching attention and orders abroad. Other abstract concepts and interesting notions are born from this Pratt-educated designer who leans toward stark modernity and favors "the elimination of everything that is not essential”.
Kenneth Cobonpue on innovation and evolution (2014)
Through his distinct furniture crafted from bamboo, rattan, and abaca – materials native to the Philippines – designer Kenneth Cobonpue has made the world notice the craftsmanship of the Filipinos.
Rather than basking in the glory of what he’s accomplished, Cobonpue looks ahead to what more can be done. For all his achievements, he hopes to use his craft to elevate Pinoy culture, in the hopes that other designers may follow suit.
THE MAGIC OF MATERIAL: THE RENOWNED DESIGNS OF KENNETH COBONPUE (2017)
This masterful way of weaving nature, local craftsmanship, and innovation is Kenneth Cobonpue’s signature, having earned him numerous international awards and recognition for his creative yet organic pieces.
The way his furniture is designed is light and airy, in full contrast to the use of his rattan and steel materials. With chairs that blossom outward, and supple seats that look like bright petals, each piece is rich in decoration and a true showcase of the versatility of local materials.
The Force is Strong with Kenneth Cobonpue’s New ‘Star Wars’ Collection (2018)
Cobonpue’s work is world renowned, and some of his pieces have made their way into the homes of A-listers, including Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford. With this new (Star Wars) collection and its homages to all kinds of characters and machines, you get to choose your side—or balance the dark and the light.
Asian Fixation: Asian Presence at the Salone Del Mobile (2024)
Kenneth Cobonpue’s sizable presence at the Salone gave him the corner space necessary to banner his illustrious practice’s new collections, like the playful “Llama” storage and display solution, the mesmerizing Curio collection, inspired by 18th-century curio cabinets featuring otherworldly blooms and creatures within woven enclosures. Iconic creations such as Bloom and the Peacock Easy Chairs cap off a decisive showing by the Filipino furniture maestro. Alas, he flies the flag solo this year in terms of studio presence; we see the great value (though understandably with considerable expense and logistical tribulations) for more local furniture brands to show at the Salone with its heavy foot traffic and the global exposure it brings.
See full article here: https://kanto.com.ph/spaces/salonedel-mobile-2024/
Kenneth Cobonpue has a new home in Rustan’s (2024)
Designer Kenneth Cobonpue, born and raised in Cebu, has a mouthwatering client list — Forbes lists some of them as Queen Sophia of Spain, as well as then-power couple “Brangelina... More than changing the face of what rattan furniture looks like to the eyes of the world, he’s also out to change how the world sees the Filipino.
See full article here: https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2024/05/13/594 316/kenneth-cobonpue-has-a-new-home-in-rustans/
Critical Acclaim and Review of Works
International Critical Acclaim and Review of Works
The last few years have seen a second wave of foreign influence hit the Italian market, after the 1980s when there was an increase in collaboration between Italian companies and countries such as the Netherlands, Finland and Switzerland. The more recent contributions have come from countries such as Brazil, Israel, Portugal and the United States, which if not directly working with Italian manufacturers, are now taking a much more active role in the international design scene. The innovative avant-garde styles of, for example, the Portuguese Voyager Group and the Brazilian Campana brothers and Faz Group have now filtered through and are being taken up by Italian design businesses.
New this year are works by a Philippine group, Movement 8. Like Ross Lovegrove, Movement 8 has a profound respect for the natural world, from which they derive their organic, and biomorphic forms. One of the group’s members, Kenneth Cobonpue, describes his design philosophy as looking at nature with the purity and innocence of a child. There you find perfect visual qualities that are waiting to be transformed into modern man-made objects’. The aim of the group is to bring their work into the global mainstream while retaining their own heritage, in which Malaysian, Spanish and Mexican influences are combined. They want to move the past into the present by seeing things with a fresh eye, using natural materials in unexpected and innovative ways and mixing traditional skills with modern technology. Most of the designs presented show a restraint of form and economy of embellishment that emphasize textural detail and surface pattern. They have a purity of form that is not the aesthetic sterility of minimalism but rather a dematerialization, or toning down, of the unnecessary in order to enhance the sensual and emotional impact of both the workmanship and the inherent quality of the simple materials used.
Lovegrove believes that the new epoch we are entering will be exciting because finally designers seen as pluralist or idiosyncratic, craft-based or low-tech, will begin to dominate the creative world by virtue of a completely free view of how materials and technology can be harmonized.
2002 - curated by Ross Lovegrove
Cobonpue
(2006)
GIVEN ITS ASSOCIATIONS WITH DECAYING HILL STATIONS AND HIPPY HOVELS, RATTAN FURNITURE HAS NOT TRADITIONALLY HAD GOOD PRESS.
But in Philippine designer Kenneth Cobonpue, kennethcobonpue.com, the material may have found its first great virtuoso. The 37-year- old alumnus of New York City's Pratt Institute has been garnering kudos-most recently a 2005 Design for Asia Award-from his studio in the sun-splashed city of Cebu (a place better known for its azure ocean and impossibly sweet mangos). Now the big time beckons. Brad Pitt recently bought Cobonpue's Voyage bed, pictured; Warner Brothers asked Cobonpue to furnish a casino set for the forthcoming Ocean's Thirteen; and distributors from Spain to Singapore are clamoring to stock Cobonpue's sexy, curvaceous designs, most of which are consummate expressions of rattan's versatility. The skin of the lowly vine is used as a weaving material and for binding (some fastening techniques are borrowed from traditional boat building), while rattan's surprisingly sturdy core forms the structure. "Each piece I design has a character and soul born from the inspiration and design process," says Cobonpue, adding that his ideas come mostly from the natural richness of Cebu. One exception is his award-winning Lolah chair, which Cobonpue says was inspired by a softly dented can of Coke. Talk about turning base metals into gold. –By Joan Koh
from the book “&FORK” 2007 Phaidon Press Unlimited Significant Works of Industrial Designer Kenneth Cobonpue
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Filipino design alliance " Movement 8" celebrates 10th anniversary (2009)
When eight Filipino designers got together in 1999 the furniture produced from the Philippines was relatively unknown on the international circuit. The group called themselves Movement 8 and started to
represent the Philippines in trade fairs and international expos…The designs reflect the philosophy that has pushed this group's members to the A-list of designers in the world.
Kenneth Cobonpue
Sense of Nationhood
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Cobonpue
Kenneth Cobonpue: Is He Empty or Voluminous? (2012)
Kenneth Cobonpue is the sole lecturer to use music. Cobonpue’s presentation ended up feeling like a catalogue of furniture and other projects with carefully inserted anecdotes about inspiration and production.
Cobonpue’s claims to sustainability are legitimate and emerge from a long term exploration of function, beauty, and making.
Cobonpue’s dedication to an aesthetic and vernacular process has fueled his long and consistently evolving career. The result of that dedication: locally sourced, organic, sustainable, hand-made products. We can be sure, however, that he’ll bring his responsible design practice and aesthetic insistence with him.
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Biodegradable Bamboo Car is Like Driving a Lawn Chair (2013)
Phoenix introduces the concept of a naturally woven skin which biodegrades together with the life of the car. Should a car’s life extend longer than average, this shell can be replaced inexpensively. No longer a product of automation, Phoenix brings back the dignity of the human being and pays homage to the skills of the craftsman.
Kenneth Cobonpue is MAISON & OBJET Asia's Designer of the Year (2014)
Kenneth Cobonpue has been named the first MAISON & OBJET Asia ‘designer of the year’. the filipino creative has been awarded this title for the impact he has made in his field – most notably, the development and manufacturing of woven rattan furniture for indoor and outdoor use. he has made a name for himself at home, and the greater region of southeast asia, through his employment of locally sourced materials and handmade production process.
Organic in form and material, Cobonpue’s furniture is sculptural, statement-making and, more often than not, best suited to spacious interiors with a resort-luxe feel or a touch of futurism. What makes his designs so sought after is the unique blend of contemporary design and natural materials like rattan, hemp and jute, using both innovative and traditional handicraft methods. Cobonpue describes himself as “an Asian designer who uses the materials, skills and resources from his region”.
Considered a pioneer internationally, he also collaborates with European design stars Marcel Wanders and Ross Lovegrove. So Asian designers and manufacturers should take note when he says the global market is not looking for any more Scandinavian- or Japanese-inspired designs from Asia.
Rather, what innovative Asian design needs, Cobonpue proposes, is personality. “The work of designers from highly industrialized places like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and, to some extent, China, will be harder to distinguish from that of their European counterparts because they share the same technological expertise, market conditions, and manufacturing resources,” he says.
What Kenneth did next was something rather special; he took ‘modern design’ in a completely new direction by incorporating natural fibres and materials in its production.
“Kenneth was the first designer to design from the Philippines using the materials and techniques of his homeland,” Caron says. “I love that he shares his know how with other young designers and is an integral figure in growing more confident Asian designers within the whole region.”
Kenneth was the first designer / company that we discovered that encompassed all that is great about Asian design and manufacturing using local materials and handmade techniques with a European design sensibility for products suited to our climate.”
Spotlight On Award-Winning Filipino Furniture Designer
Kenneth Cobonpue (2015)
Designer Kenneth Cobonpue’s client list encompasses myriad notables from Queen Sophia of Spain and Queen Rania of Jordan, to Hollywood royals Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
Nowadays Cobonpue’s eponymous brand stands tall as one of the most prominent luxury furniture companies in Asia, showcasing a slew of high-end, handcrafted home furnishings inspired by its founder’s experiences exploring a hodgepodge of places—from humdrum milieus and exotic locales around the world, to his native tropical paradise.
Kenneth Cobonpue is perhaps one of the most notable Southeast Asian designers, certainly considered as part of the vanguard leading the charge for world class, original design in the region. Hailing from the Philippines, Cobonpue’s works have garnered international acclaim, having most recently been named the Designer of the Year in the inaugural MAISON & OBJET Asia, held last March in Singapore.
The Wave table creates an organic curve, bringing a gentle dynamism to the dining room
A striking red setting woth Cobonpue’s Yoda chair on show
How Cebu became centre for world-beating design (2016)
When Filipino designer Kenneth Cobonpue presented his first collection in Europe in 1999, his peers were nonplussed. “People were saying, ‘Who is this guy? He’s from where?’ He was like an alien,” recalls Frederic Bougeard, the commercial and development director for MAISON & OBJET, an interior design fair with shows in Paris.
It didn’t take long for them to come around to Cobonpue’s work, and these days the 48-year-old Cebu native is the Philippines’ best-known furniture designer, renowned for the way he weaves contemporary form with traditional craft techniques and natural fibres. He isn’t alone. A small but dynamic group of designers and manufacturers in Cebu is tapping into the island province’s heritage of weaving, woodworking and inlaying to create unique furniture and home accessories.
Filipino Designer Kenneth Cobonpue Mixes The Best Of East And West
In His Contemporary Furniture (2017)
Using locally sourced, sustainable natural materials and handmade production techniques in sophisticated, modern designs, which give back to human beings their dignity and pay homage to craftsmen’s skills, Cobonpue’s work reflects his background: certain pieces would fit in perfectly in a thatched hut on the beach, while others look like they belong in a modern home. He comments about the materials – palms, sea grasses, bamboo, abaca, rattan and polyethylene fiber – that go into the making of his products.
Kenneth Cobonpue – It’s More Fun in the Philippines! (2018)
Surrounded from earliest childhood by his mother's outstanding design, Kenneth Cobonpue knew as a boy already what he wanted to do later: create beautiful and useful items. However, unlike his mother, he wanted to make a name for himself. Today even Queen Sophia of Spain is his fan, as well as Queen Rania of Jordan - or Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
“Kenneth Cobonpue’s quest to design unexpected furniture and accessories continues, where the combination of materials, shapes and colors leads to a world charged with symbols but at the same time contemporary, an invitation to relaxation and reflection. Kenneth Cobonpue’s signature design interprets it and proposes it in poetic objects with a strong stylistic presence.”
Kenneth Cobonpue: Filipino furniture designer on ‘handmade’ (2022)
In 1996, after completing his degrees and gaining work experience in Florence, Italy and Munich, he returned home to Cebu to manage the family’s furniture business.
During that time, South-east Asia’s furniture industry mostly consisted of workshops and factories that churned out designs ordered from elsewhere, with little creative endeavours taken to make original designs. However, Interior Crafts of the Islands, Inc. took risks by crafting original designs.
Kenneth took it to another level by experimenting with hand craftsmanship and rattan. He began creating pieces with open structures that had gaps in the weaving, making them transparent.
See full article here:
Legends 2023 to Honor Kenneth Cobonpue, Edward Mazria, and Kay WalkingStick (2023)
Kenneth Cobonpue is an award-winning industrial designer and manufacturer from the Philippines, known for his unique handmade designs. A Pratt Institute graduate in industrial design, he honed his craft in Italy and Germany before returning to the Philippines in 1995. Cobonpue founded his own brand in 1998, which has grown to over 300 employees and craftsmen based in Cebu, with global offices and showrooms. His designs, praised for their fusion of nature, craftsmanship, and technology, have earned him international accolades, including the Good Design Award,
Design for Asia Award, and TIME magazine’s recognition as “rattan’s great virtuoso.” In 2020, he received the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ highest honor for his contributions to Filipino culture and design. Additionally, Cobonpue is involved in academia, government, private sector leadership, and global design advocacy, consistently inspiring the next generation of designers in Southeast Asia and worldwide.
Kay WalkingStick (photo by Julia Maloof Verderosa)
Edward Mazria (photo by Roberto E. Gonsales)
About Legends
The Legends Awards celebrate distinguished individuals and corporations in the world of art and design, whose accomplishments and values resonate with those of Pratt Institute. Each year, Legends raises essential funds to provide financial aid to Pratt students based on need and merit. Eighty percent of Pratt’s students require financial aid to pursue their educations. Every dollar raised through Legends strengthens the student body by increasing the scholarship endowment-allowing the most qualified students an opportunity to attend one of the world’s foremost schools of art, design, and architecture, regardless of their financial background.
1999-2023 Pratt Legend Award Recipients
• Laurie Anderson • Iris Apfel • Ralph Appelbaum • Santiago Calatrava
• Daniel Boulud • Mario Buatta • Nina Campbell • Dale Chihuly
• Kenneth Cobonpue • Angela Conner • Fleur Cowles • Christo and Jeanne-Claude • Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel • Michele Oka Doner
• Arem Duplessis • David Easton • William T. Georgis
• Timothy Greenfield-Sanders • Pete Hamill • Cathy Hardwick
• Kim Hastreiter • Tommy Hilfiger • Shirley Hill • Al Hirschfeld • Marc Jacobs
• Helmut Jahn • George Kalinsky • Ellsworth Kelly • Wendy Kvalheim
