The Mùndo Design Awards 2026
Written by Roy Ingente
The Mùndo Design Awards arrives at a moment when conversations around design increasingly extend beyond questions of form and function. Organized by the Design Program of the University of the Philippines Cebu, the awards draw attention to a body of work that reflects how young designers are negotiating the realities of their time—through research, observation, material exploration, and critical reflection. What emerges is not a singular vision of design, but a constellation of approaches that reveal the discipline's capacity to engage with the social, cultural, and environmental conditions that shape everyday life. Seen together, the awarded projects offer a compelling snapshot of the concerns, aspirations, and sensibilities currently defining design practice within the university.
The awards were presented during the 2026 DES/INYO Exhibition last June 5 to 7, 2026 at the SM City Cebu as the highlight event for the University of the Philippines Cebu Design Week where students had the platform of presenting not only to their academic peers but also towards the Cebuano communities present in these dates. The naming of the awards after Prof. Raymund “Sir Munds” Fernandez lends the program a deeper historical resonance. For many within Cebu’s creative and academic communities, Fernandez remains a significant presence whose contributions helped shape the foundations of design education in the region. His commitment to rigorous thinking, cultural inquiry, and interdisciplinary exchange fostered an environment where design was understood not merely as a professional pursuit, but as a way of engaging meaningfully with society. The awards do not simply commemorate his legacy; they situate it within the present, allowing his influence to remain visible in the questions being asked, the methods being explored, and the values being carried forward by a new generation of designers. The award was divided into The Designer of the Year Award recognized a range of emerging design practices demonstrated by this year’s cohort. Millicent Nina Mansueto was conferred the Bronze Medal, while Johnna Revalde and Cashlee Paras each received the Silver Medal distinction. Following deliberation, the Product Design Faculty and Jury of the University of the Philippines Cebu elected not to award a Gold Medal, maintaining the position that the distinction should be reserved for work that establishes an exceptional benchmark within the discipline rather than be conferred as an annual expectation.
While the Designer of the Year Award identifies exemplary achievement across the breadth of a designer’s academic body of work, the Special Awards acknowledge specific areas of inquiry and practice that contribute to the evolving discourse of design. Together, these recognitions reflect the diverse ways in which contemporary design engages with material experimentation, cultural research, visual communication, entrepreneurship, and community-centered practice.
The FutureForms: Design Visualization Award was presented to Fain Damsel Aloyan for work distinguished by its exploration of form, composition, and visual language. Faye Alvinez received the EarthMatters: Materials Innovation Award for projects that demonstrate a thoughtful engagement with materials, production processes, and sustainability. The CraftWorks: Maker of the Year Award was conferred upon Ian Bless Gilbolingo, recognizing a consistent commitment to handcraft, model-making, and prototyping as integral components of the design process.
In the field of visual communication, Samantha Enopia received the ImageMaking: Visual Storyteller Award for her work across visual storytelling, branding, photography, and interface design. The Woven Heritage: Design in Culture Award was presented to Mhelbert Brazil for a research-based project that examines Filipino material culture through critical inquiry and historical investigation, demonstrating the role of design as both a cultural and interpretive practice.
Beyond individual authorship, several awards recognized the forms of collective engagement and leadership. The BrandReady: Entrepreneur of the Year Award was awarded to the Tinkers Officers 2025–2026 for the Ubay-Ubay Design Fair, a project that situates design within entrepreneurial and public-facing contexts. The SparkLives: Community Engagement Award was presented to Trinah Keizha Martinez for work developed through sustained collaboration with community partners, while the DesignLead: Design Collaboration and Leadership Award was conferred upon Diana Radyn Sumalinog in recognition of her contributions to collaborative processes and team-based design initiatives. Taken together, this year’s awardees reflect the plurality of approaches that continue to shape contemporary design practice, demonstrating how design operates simultaneously as a mode of making, research, communication, and social engagement.
At the center of the Mùndo Design Awards is an appreciation for work that demonstrates both intellectual depth and formal clarity. More than a recognition of achievement, the awards provide an opportunity to consider how design education continues to contribute to the cultural life of Cebu, nurturing practitioners who are attentive not only to what they create, but also to the contexts, communities, and histories with which their work inevitably intersects.