For their second edition, Benilde Open Design + Art empower rising creatives to reinterpret and rework nature in bold, experimental processes.&nbsp;

Nature has long been an inspiration for creation, and across generations, we have seen how artists, designers, and creatives translate the natural world's growth, bending, and endurance into objects, spaces, and experiences. Today, that exchange continues to evolve, as what was once begun as imitation has since evolved into interpretation and now, reinvention. In its second edition, Benilde Open Design + Art of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde expands on this conversation, introducing a new generation whose works move beyond reflection, seeking instead to reshape nature&rsquo;s design in unexpected ways.

Created to support risk-taking projects and experimental practices, Benilde Open Design + Art serves as a platform to empower Filipino creatives across disciplines &mdash; from artists and architects to designers and filmmakers &mdash; to push beyond the conceptual and make it into realized works. Selected grantees are given up to Php300,000.00 in funding, alongside curatorial guidance and a dedicated exhibition platform that brings their projects into public view. From hundreds of submissions locally and globally, only a handful were chosen to move forward with their proposals.
The theme this year revolves around the idea of &ldquo;Extension of Nature,&rdquo; which challenges participants to explore the growing relationship between creation and environment &mdash; challenging them to reconsider how art and technology work with, rather than against, natural processes. Influenced by kinetic and responsive art, it calls for works that are adaptive and interactive, reframing nature as an active agent and collaborator in the creative process.&nbsp;

Among this edition&rsquo;s Benilde Open grantees are Andi Osme&ntilde;a, Bianca Carague, Karl Castro, Kiri Dalena and Ben Brix, Krishner Appay, Mac Andre Arboleda, Mikael Joaquin, Nicole Racal, Ni&ntilde;o Tayao, and Studio Unosinotra, who each present projects that span installation, textile, industrial design, and speculative material practices. Altogether, they showcase a modern creative landscape, where organic and engineered forms coexist, and where function flows into expression.&nbsp;

Running alongside the main program is Best of Benilde &mdash; a category dedicated to student-led initiatives that provides both funding and curatorial support for emerging creatives. This year&rsquo;s grantees include Patty Malijan and Tiyera, who each received Php50,000.00, demonstrating how ideas nurtured in the classroom can turn into works that engage audiences beyond campus walls.&nbsp;

Benilde Open Design + Art and Best of Benilde together position the institution as a space where inquiry is encouraged, imagination is nurtured, and invention is celebrated. As these projects come to life, they remind us that creativity thrives when it interacts with the world, inviting people to engage, question, and collaborate with their surroundings. In doing so, it cultivates a new generation unafraid to push boundaries, explore possibilities, and envision a future that fosters harmony with both art and the environment. ​

Atlas of Water Futures by Studio Unosinotra

Benilde Open Design + Art 2026 Explores Nature Through Design

L'OFFICIEL HOMMES PHILIPPINES MARCH 2026 - Andres Muhlach ₱600

Benilde Open Design + Art 2026 Explores Nature Through Design

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