Kenneth Cobonpue

Kenneth Cobonpue (born December 16, 1968) is a Filipino industrial designer known for his unique designs integrating natural materials through innovative handmade production processes. He began his design career after his studies in Industrial Design in New York, which led him to apprenticeships and further studies in Italy and Germany.

Cobonpue pioneered the integration of design, manufacturing, and global distribution as well as branding in Cebu, operating from his headquarters on the island.

Awards to his credit include Hong Kong's Design for Asia Award, the Japan Good Design Award, the American Society of Interior Designers Selection, the French Coup de Coeur Award, and the first Asian Designer of the Year title given by the Maison et Objet in Paris.

Cobonpue designs have appeared in full-length films such as ''Ocean's 13'' and ''CSI Miami'' while his roster of clientele includes Hollywood celebrities and members of royalty like Queen Sofía of Spain, Queen Rania of Jordan, and former couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. TIME Magazine has called him “rattan’s first great virtuoso."

Career

Interior Crafts of the Islands, Inc. (I.C.I)

After a series of further studies and apprentices abroad, Kenneth moved back to Cebu in 1996 to help manage their family business founded by his mother in 1972. Upon managing the business, Kenneth discovered that by the use of natural fibers and materials as a medium, modern design could have a new face.

NEDA Region 7 chair

In March 2017, Cobonpue was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as chairperson of the National Economic and Development Authority Regional Development Council for Central Visayas.

Timeline of collections

*1980 – ''Lotus'' (patented)
*1998 – ''Yin Yang'' – Cobonpue's first design.
*1999 – ''Balou''
*2000 – ''Pigalle, La Luna''
*2001 – ''Voyage''
*2002 – ''Yoda, Croissant, Kabuki, Lulu''
*2003 – ''Tilt, Matilda, Amaya, Dimple, Lolita, Terra''
*2004 – ''Chiquita, Lolah, Wave, Pirouette''
*2005 – ''Stitches, Retaso, Suzy Wong, Kawayan''
*2006 – ''Dragnet, Dimsum, Link''
*2007 – ''Kawayan Too, Manolo''
*2008 – ''Oasis, Noodle, Bouquet, Operetta''
*2009 – ''Bloom, Harry, Hagia, Freya, Nobu, Vaña''
*2010 – ''Rapunzel, Ima, Juniper, Ziggy''
*2011 – ''Cabaret, Papillion, Mermaid,Dream Catcher, Pebble, Giza, Enoki, Tria''
*2012 – ''Eclipse, Tropez, Zaza, Kaja, Parchment Table, Annika''
*2013 – ''Parchment, Calyx, Adesso, Trame, Papillion Swing''
*2018 – '' Star Wars Collection'' – in collaboration with the Disney Company Philippines

Other appearances

*International Design Yearbook 2005 (Lawrence King Publishing House of London) curated by Marcel Wanders
*International Design Yearbook 2004 (Lawrence King Publishing House of London) curated by Tom Dixon
*International Design Yearbook 2002 (Lawrence King Publishing House of London) curated by Ross Lovegrove.
*Tropical Living and Tropical Interiors both by Elizabeth Reyes (Periplus Editions) 2002
*New Bedroom Design, 2004 (Daab GmbH) by Marcel Wanders 2005
*1000 New Designs and Where to Find Them, 2006 (Laurence King Publishing, Ltd.)by Jennifer Hudson
Tropical Interiors, 2002
'', (Periplus Editions HK) by Elizabeth Reyes. Pages 93–97
*Design Now!, 2007 (Taschen GmbH) by Charlotte & Peter Fiell
*Simply Material, 2007, (Viction:Workshop Limited) by Victor Cheung
*Fork, 2007 (Phaidon Press) by Tom Dixon
*Phaidon's new 2007 book, "& FORK," underscores his leading position in the industry.
*Appearance in European television including Deutsche Welle and Dutch TV
*“The Voyager” – “Never gonna leave this Bed” music video by Maroon 5 , January 29, 2011
*International magazines:
#Wallpaper
#Newsweek
#TIME Magazine July 2006 ISSN 0040-781X
*Newspapers: The Washington Post and Shanghai Daily News
*“Ocean’s Thirteen”
*“CSI: Miami”
Other Media Magazines featuring Kenneth Cobonpue

References

Travel+Leisure Magazine (October 2009)

Movement 8

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cobonpue, Kenneth
Living people
Filipino designers
People from Cebu City
1968 births
Duterte administration personnel