Designs of Christmas exhibit blends heritage, culture, and creativity
The Philippine School of Interior Design-Ahlen Institute (PSID-Ahlen) unveiled a fresh perspective on the country’s most cherished holiday during the press launch of its 48th graduation showcase, Designs of Christmas Exhibit (D.O.C.E.), held at GH Tower in Greenhills.
The exhibit showcases 12 installations designed by graduating students, each offering a new interpretation of Christmas through culture, color, character, and chronology. Moving beyond the classic red-and-green palette, the displays highlight how Filipino design sensibilities evolve while blending heritage, modern aesthetics, and personal creativity.
“Through the years, Filipinos have evolved in their design sensibilities,” said interior designer and PSID professor Pojie Pambid. “Gone are the days when houses were decorated with giant spoon-and-fork sets or tinikling dancers on the wall. Today, design is more curated, more personalized and more experimental, even during Christmas.”
The 12 booths include:
- Brutalism: A festive entertainment room with raw concrete softened by warm lighting, encouraging play and face-to-face interaction.
- Victorian: Steampunk-inspired grandeur with bold colors, brass details, and historical charm.
- Art Deco: Manhattan-style glamour with deep green walls, gold accents, and velvet textures.
- Mexican: Inspired by Las Posadas, with solemn lighting, Otomi patterns, and papel picado elements.
- Brazilian: A blend of Rio Carnival and Filipino Christmas, filled with curves, wood, and tropical textures.
- Filipino – Simoy ng Pasko: A dining lanai that draws from Simbang Gabi, serene and communal in design.
- Velvet Frost: Chocolate plum and mint tones paired with a sculptural tree lamp and floral mural.
- Liloura Lush: Lilac, icy blue, and ivory hues, creating an elegant and practical holiday space.
- Spiced Ember: Russet and flame tones in a whisky lounge-style room with textured accents.
- Noël Aurora: An Icelandic-inspired room capturing the Northern Lights through shifting tones.
- Urban Cosmopolitan: A bachelor pad with angular lines and a striking red tree.
- Rustic Soirée: A French provincial-inspired space with wooden beams, stone archway, and ceiling-hung Christmas tree.
“Altogether, the exhibit reminds us that Christmas is a living tradition that unites us across time, culture and imagination,” said Joel Benitez, president of the graduating batch. He added that the showcase highlights how design education can be both creative and rooted in culture.
The Designs of Christmas Exhibit opens to the public on September 27 and runs until October 31 at GH Tower, Greenhills.
