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We don't call ourselves the Design Destination of Asia for nothing. Cebu is home to some household names in the global furniture design sphere, and over the years, it has also become a breeding ground for up and coming designers that stand out through innovation, material exploration and the tradition of craftsmanship.
Here, an immense pool of creative talent is itching to get out there to get noticed. To help out, the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation (CFIF) has initiated an internship program which pairs design students with CEBUNEXT exhibitors. The fruits of many such collaborations have garnered top prizes at the Mugna Awards, one of the most anticipated events of CEBUNEXT .
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To receive a Mugna Award is to receive a stamp of approval from recognized design entities, and it is the rite of passage for young designers, as well as more established furniture designers and manufacturers. The Mugna Awards has become a fundamental motivation in the creation of furniture that not only addresses current necessities but also takes the craft to its future evolutions. Here, the designer's grasp of concept and manufacturing capability are judged according to aesthetic, functionality, cost efficiency, and sustainability - a challenge to maximize the available local resources and to turn them into fun, functional and intelligent conversation pieces.
One such awardee is Kai Igot's Cuckoo Lamp, with a hip and chic aesthetic that pushes the design |
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processes and inspirations of the region further and beyond its presupposed limits. Many other Mugna Awardees have been acclaimed by international audiences for original takes on the local design philosophy, and to date, several have moved on to win prestigious and international furniture design awards. Top of mind are Kenneth Cobonpue for the Lolah Chair which won the Design for Asia Award in 2005, and Clayton Tugonon for his Egg Shape Table which won Japan's Good Design Award and the Silver Prize at the Singapore International Design Competition in 2006.
By encouraging the work of current perspectives and fostering fresh talent, Cebu cultivates the generation that will take on the mantle of advancing possibilities in furniture design. The passion for creation and a true concern for and connection with the environment is clearly translated into our successful furniture designs. This is what makes Cebu the Design Destination of Asia.
For your first-hand experience, visit CEBUNEXT. |
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