Insider Spotlight
The collaboration was formally introduced on March 11 during a curated launch event at SoFA’s campus at The Proscenium Retail Row in Rockwell, Makati City.
The gathering brought together educators, creatives, and industry professionals for conversations centered on cross-border collaboration and the future of design education.
Why it matters
Design education is increasingly shaped by international exposure and cross-cultural collaboration.
Creative professionals today often work across industries and geographies, making global learning opportunities a critical advantage for emerging designers.
For Filipino students, partnerships with overseas institutions can unlock access to international networks, diverse learning environments, and creative communities abroad.
Inside the partnership
The launch event featured a Creative Conversation with Spanish footwear brand Flabelus, known for blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design storytelling. Pilar Oraa, international PR and communications director for Flabelus, led the exchange.
Andrea Pagani, senior associate director of business development for undergraduates in Southeast Asia and Oceania at IE University, also shared details about the new opportunities available to SoFA students through the partnership.
She was joined by SoFA co-founders Loralee Baron-Soong and Amina Aranaz-Alunan, while SoFA director for Academic Affairs Mads Constantino hosted the session.
According to a company release, the collaboration will give students access to international internship opportunities, immersive Spanish design tours, exchange programs, and summer school programs with IE University, which has campuses in Madrid and Segovia.
These initiatives aim to allow students to experience diverse learning environments abroad and participate in short-term international design programs.
The bigger picture
Over the past decade, SoFA Design Institute has built a reputation as one of the Philippines’ leading centers for creative education, preparing students to pursue careers in design locally and internationally.
By linking with institutions such as IE University and brands such as Flabelus, the school is creating pathways for Filipino creativity to engage more actively in the global design landscape.
The partnership signals SoFA’s broader ambition to evolve from a specialized design school in Manila into a platform where local creative talent meets international opportunity. —Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
