Ideas took shape, conversations unfolded, and possibilities for the future emerged as the UP Cebu Design Program celebrated DES/INYO 2026: RE•PORMA, held from June 5 to 7 at the Northwing of SM City Cebu.
“RE•PORMA: Design as Rebuilding” positioned design as an ongoing and deliberate process of reimagining and reshaping, where ideas, systems, and communities are continuously reconstructed through research, reflection, and creative practice. Across three days, the program highlighted the breadth of UP Cebu design education, from concept development to realized outputs presented in a shared public space.
The celebration opened with the exhibition and program, bringing together student works developed over the academic year. These outputs reflected diverse design approaches and inquiries, offering audiences an immersive look into the processes, iterations, and decisions that shaped each project. Rather than presenting outcomes in isolation, the exhibition emphasized design as an evolving practice grounded in context, intention, and critical thinking.
A key highlight of the event was the PROPEL Student Design Pitches, which showcased academic outputs from two year levels. Second-year students from the Ergonomics class presented human-centered design proposals that emphasized usability, accessibility, and lived experience, translating observation and research into responsive design solutions. Third-year students from the Social Design class, on the other hand, shared projects engaging with community realities and systems thinking, demonstrating how design can respond meaningfully to social contexts and challenges.
Throughout the three-day run, guided walkthroughs and sustained exchanges between students, faculty, industry practitioners, and guests created space for dialogue on process, intention, and impact. These conversations reinforced the role of design education not only in producing outputs, but in cultivating reflection, critique, and deeper engagement with real-world conditions.
The celebration also included closing ceremonies featuring the Mundo Design Awards, which recognized outstanding student works that demonstrated excellence in concept development, execution, and relevance. The awarding segment served as a culmination of the program’s showcased works, honoring both individual and collaborative achievements across the design cohorts.
Now in its fourth year, DES/INYO continues to serve as a platform for showcasing the growth of UP Cebu’s design students, fostering meaningful exchange between academia and practice, and affirming design as a discipline rooted in care, clarity, and transformation.