Designers often assume that culture announces itself through visible symbols, but the 2026 International Design Conference in the Philippines argued that cultural influence can be far more subtle. The event, organized by the Design Center of the Philippines with the theme “Designing for the Pluriverse,” explored how design shapes daily life and community relationships through arturo Escobar’s philosophy of world-making.
From Representation to Partnership
Ar. Jefa Greenaway, an indigenous architect and founding director of Greenaway Architects, pushed back against treating culture as a decorative surface. He described the common practice of applying motifs as the “muralization of culture,” a reduction that ignores the deeper context of the communities being represented. Greenaway, a descendant of the Wailwan and Kamilaroi peoples, follows the International Indigenous Design Charter to guide his ethical engagement with traditional knowledge.
This protocol goes beyond a checklist. Greenaway immerses himself in communities to listen to elders and knowledge keepers, rather than extracting elements for visual effect. He emphasized that architects should act as facilitators who help communities realize their own aspirations, using design skills to meet local needs instead of imposing a preconceived vision.
The Koorie Heritage Trust in Melbourne illustrates this approach in practice. The center serves as both an exhibition space and a cultural hub, with its location and materials reflecting the heritage of southeastern Australian Aboriginal communities. Greenaway noted that the building’s connection to the Yarra River and the use of locally sourced red gum furniture, including a canoe-shaped table, anchor the space in its environment.
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Designing With, Not For
This shift requires designers to rethink their role and the communities they serve. Dwinita “Tita” Larasati, a trained industrial designer and creative community leader, extends these principles to urban design. Her work in Bandung demonstrates how heritage sites can gain new life through community and creative activity rather than being preserved as static objects.
Larasati also established the Indonesia Creative Cities Network (ICCN), a nationwide organization that connects local governments with creative communities across hundreds of cities. This means creating environments that are diverse and responsive to the realities of daily life.
Designing for the pluriverse requires architects and makers to become “weavers and repairers” of social relationships. By prioritizing community participation and listening to local knowledge, designers can create spaces that facilitate cultural reclamation and self-determination. Grace Nono, an ethnomusicologist, further highlights this by conducting experiential classes with communities, keeping traditions active rather than frozen in time.
The seventh edition of the Anthology ASEAN Architecture Festival brought together over 4,000 delegates from across the Philippines and Southeast Asia. The event explored how design can recognize diverse cultural knowledge, engage communities, and respond to the distinct contexts in which people live.
