Diwa.Dezeñyo, a London-based creative collective, is set to make its official design debut with Take A Seat, a collaborative exhibition featuring wooden stools transformed into functional art pieces by 13 Filipino artists. The event will take place on June 7 at 2 p.m. at Space Encounters Gallery in Ortigas City.
Founded by F. Marco Sebastian Padayao and Luigi Bauzon, Diwa.Dezeñyo specializes in industrial design, branding, furniture packaging, and UX/UI. The agency’s philosophy centers on vernacular, human-centered, and emotionally resonant design — a reflection of the founders’ Filipino heritage and global design sensibilities.
The upcoming collection will showcase three original stool designs: the Diwa.Casa, influenced by Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló, characterized by its architectural fluidity; La.Mariposa, inspired by the grace and diversity of butterflies, featuring painted wings that highlight natural patterns; and Hugis ng Diwa (Spirit Shape), a minimalist reinterpretation of the traditional Filipino bangkito, presented with a modern aesthetic.
Each piece serves as a canvas for artists to blend storytelling with functionality, transforming everyday furniture into collectible expressions of identity and narrative.
“This collection is about more than just design — it’s about honoring heritage through collaboration and meaningful creation,” said Padayao. “We’re inviting artists to embed their stories into these objects, making them not just useful, but deeply personal.”
The project unites 16 Filipino contemporary artists, whose styles span pop surrealism to abstraction, offering a diverse representation of the country’s visual art landscape.
Although based in London, Diwa.Dezeñyo is establishing a growing presence in the Philippines. The collective plans to open a dedicated design space in Metro Manila and eventually build a manufacturing facility utilizing local materials and employing Filipino artisans.
“Our goal is long-term,” said Padayao. “We want to contribute to sustainable design practices while creating a platform that elevates Filipino creativity on a global scale.”
Diwa.Dezeñyo envisions its future not just in product creation but in cultivating a legacy rooted in cultural storytelling, craftsmanship, and community engagement.
