DESIGNING WITH MALASAKIT:

Good Design Award Philippines honors works that put people first

- By PAMELA IMPERIAL

Design can make things beautiful. But at this year’s Good Design Award Philippines, organizers made it clear that beauty means more than aesthetics.

At the 2026 Good Design Award Philippines held at the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls in Pasay City, designers were recognized not only for innovation, functionality, and aesthetics, but for something uniquely Filipino: malasakit—the compassionate care that places people at the heart of every design decision. From 311 entries submitted nationwide, only the works that demonstrated both design excellence and meaningful social impact emerged as this year’s winners.

“For the Design Center and the Good Design Award Philippines, our ambition is to promote a more human-centered approach to design,” said Maria Rita O. Matute, Executive Director of the Design Center of the Philippines.

“We hope that through those being awarded today, as well as our past awardees, people will see not only the character reflected in their designs and execution, but more importantly, in their design processes.”

She emphasized that design today extends far beyond products and visual communication.

“We are part of a global movement that seeks to shift the conversation and context of design from products and communication to systems, services, and strategic solutions, and to mobilize designers in the Philippines to make their presence felt far beyond our borders.”