Cover Photo By John David Miranda
Cover Photo By John David Miranda.

Fanning the flames for the better with “SIKLAB: Blazing Horizons”


What better way to celebrate Interior Design Week 2021 than checking out “SIKLAB: Blazing Horizons” from May 24 to May 28, 2021?


By Belle McDonnell | Friday, 21 May 2021

Lighting the right fuses to set one’s pace and place within the realm of interior design, the Guild of Rising Interior Designers (GRID), the official student organization of Benilde’s Interior Design (InD) program, brings you a week-long SIKLAB celebration. This year’s theme is all about “Blazing Horizons,” and it will definitely be a week you don’t want to miss! 

 

“SIKLAB: Blazing Horizons” will feature a balance between the art and science of design itself. Those who’ll join the celebration will be greeted with thought-provoking webinars, a collection of interviews that peer into the field’s roots, a showcase of Benildean excellence, and a reality check of shifting practices of interior designers beyond the classroom.

 

Whilst the online modality has brought with it a sense of isolation, bursting that same bubble will also be a key perk of this week-long event. The opportunity to connect and network with peers and professionals alike is something to look forward to, aside from a concert and raffle draws being added into the mix. 

 

Voyaging through ablazing passions

  • Day 1 (May 24)

Kicking off the week-long celebration will be three exhibits namely the History and Professional Track exhibit at 10:00 a.m., the Asia Young Designer Award entries to be showcased at the following hour, and the Estilo De Vida entries unveiled at 12:00 p.m. 

 

The official commencement program will then subsequently follow at 1:00 p.m. which will have welcoming remarks and testimonials abound to fuel “SIKLAB: Blazing Horizons” into full throttle with the likes of Dean Dottie Asela Domingo and Mr. Vincent Tan. Meanwhile, subsequently concluding the inaugural program will be a live concert featuring Interior Design students and pop artists Tala Gil (TALA) and Shanne Dandan at 3:00 p.m.

 

  • Day 2 (May 25)

The second day starts off with the Creative and Technical Design Track at 10:00 p.m., with two highly interactive webinars peppered with their own raffles to follow.

 

The first of which will be the “Interior Design Practice in the Philippines: The Secret to Great Design” to be presented by IDr. Ivy Almario at 1:00 p.m., whereas the “EDG + Wayfinding” webinar to be presented by Mr. Marlon Barnuevo, will pick up right from where the last one ended at 3:30 p.m.

 

  • Day 3 (May 26)

On the third day, students may log in at 10:00 a.m. for the Visual Communications Track exhibit. Following this, students are also encouraged to fuel the fires of professional excellence with the “Basics of Rendering with Soft Pastels” webinar with Philippine Pastel Artists’ Mr. Julius Legaspi at 1:00 p.m. 

 

Afterwards, Benildeans can expect this theme to carry on with the “Professional Practice in the Industry of Interior Design” webinar to be co-presented by IDr. Jerlyn Antinor and IDr. Sharlene Lanzarotte at 3:30 p.m.

 

  • Day 4 (May 27)

The fourth day will commence another round of exhibits from the Interior Design Exhibit Track at 10 a.m. and the Theories and Thesis Track at 11:00 p.m. 

 

Moreover, the afternoon will be filled with webinars along the more introspective side of things such as the “Dialogue with Your Future: A Reflection on the Practice of Interior Design” with IDr. Michael Pizarro at 1:00 p.m. and the more technical webinar “Theory and Research in Interior Design,” to be laid out by Ms. Mary Montenegro at 3:30 p.m. 

 

At t 5:00 p.m., the INDEXHI’21 Exhibit: TANAW Interview will be a visual and intellectual treat to end the day on a high note, as the graduating class fills the community in on how their vision has panned out so far. 

 

  • Day 5 (May 28)

On its fifth and final day, “SIKLAB: Blazing Horizons” will conclude on the right track, kicking off with showcasing the Furniture Design and Construction Track exhibit at 10:00 a.m. and the Building Science Track exhibit at 12:30 p.m. 

 

In the afternoon, Benildeans will have their afternoon treat of three stellar webinars. The first of which will be “Stepping Into the World of Professional Practice” to give Benildeans the scoop on the tricks of the trade. The webinar will be co-presented by Hong Kong-based interdisciplinary design studio Design Eight Five Two’s (DEFT) Mr. Peter Lampard and Mr. Norman Ung

 

At 3:00 p.m., on the other hand, the “Material Development in Interior Design Practice” webinar will be conducted by Ms. Ann Charleen “Cher” Hernandez

 

SIKLAB’s series of webinars will then come to an end with the timely discussion on “Understanding Your Strengths and Addressing Your Weaknesses” by Ms. Trixie Esguerra, which will undoubtedly equip audiences with the tools needed in any formidable arsenal. 

 

#RiseWithGRID

While all good things must come to an end, concluding the week-long event won’t be a somber occasion either. A community party, featuring the talents that Benilde’s interior design community can boast of, will end things with a bang—and everyone’s invited!

 

Reignite that spark and dare to expand one’s horizons by spending your week with all that “SIKLAB: Blazing Horizons” has been whipping up for the community. Register through this link while you still can!

 

For further updates on the events and exhibits, check out GRID’s official Facebook page.

 

 

 

Last updated: Saturday, 22 May 2021