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Cebu, and the Philippines in general, lacks original design skills due to insufficient support from government and academe.
?We don't have enough original designs, which we can use to compete globally,? world-renowned furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue said in a forum for design students in Cebu.
Cobonpue noticed a lot of interest from the youth.
?The interest level of the students is high; but then again, we don't have enough teachers to teach them. Thus, the academe also felt it's not wise to offer the course yet.?
According to Cobonpue, there are only two universities in Cebu that are offering design courses: University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu City campus and the University of San Carlos.
Another problem faced by design students are high rates of tuition and not very promising prospects for employment right after graduation. The course itself is very technical and requires a high level of intelligence.
?I also teach in UP and last year we had our first graduate. Only one out of 15 students who enrolled actually finished the course and that's just sad,? Cobonpue said.
According to Cobonpue, many the students who enrolled in UP's Industrial Design course dropped out because they found it really tough. The lack of facilities also hampered the creative flow of ideas.
?Filipinos in general are very creative. With enough training and conducive facility with the help of all stakeholders, we can definitely reap more. We have a big potential,? he said.
Cobonpue said that the government should also recognize and understand that design is a big industry that has a lot of promise if it is further developed.
?We are already behind when it comes to manufacturing and information technology. Maybe we should also refocus ourselves and try to see that the design industry can very well be a niche industry for us,? he said.
A passionate designer himself, Cobonpue and other notable designers in Cebu have gathered and formed a group they call the Cebu Design Education Foundation, which aims to support sustainable design development and enhance the design culture through non-credit and non-formal design education.
One of the programs of the foundation is the Chiye Mori Design Library on the 3rd floor of the Rivergate along Gen. Maxilom Avenue, which has a lot of reference materials for use by everyone in the design industry especially students.
Other programs include the Design Speak , which they did last week, where they invited internationally acclaimed designer Danny Fang to discuss about "Design in China, How to Tickle the Giant."
Design Watch, Design Week, Design Awards, and Design Mix are also among the activities being initiated by the foundation since it inception in 2008.
Other planned activities include Designer in Residence, which encourages design educators in world-class institutions to do a sabbatical program in Cebu as well as the Sustainable Design Development program, which intends to reach out to marginalized artisans.
