The Council of Visual Arts and Design Educators, Inc. (ARTDEC) convened its art and design members and partners in a three-day conference from July 4–6, 2024, at the SAFAD Theater, USC Talamban Campus. 

The professional organization marked this year’s conference with the theme, “Redesign: Explore the Ways Design Practice is Being Re-considered, Re-defined and Re-formed.” 

ARTDEC 2024 honed in on innovative approaches, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integration of cross-cultural approaches in art education.

The tone of the conference was set by the cordial and insightful welcome addresses delivered by two representatives, Dr. Mary Felma Aliño, Chair of the USC Department of Fine Arts, and Asst. Prof. Gigi Ocampo, incumbent president of ARTDEC, and delegates from the University of Santo Tomas (UST).

Professor Ocampo anchored her message on challenging perspectives as a way to ignite creativity and emphasized that such will be achieved through transformative education. On the other hand, Dr. Aliño remarked on the call of the time to redefine boundaries and embrace the unknown in art and design in the context of the iterative and continuous flow of redefinition and adaptation in art and design.

Keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. Adrian del Monte, Dean of the USC School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design of the host university, and Asst. Prof. Mary Christie Que, Dean of UST College of Fine Arts and Design. 

Dr. del Monte mused on the evolving nature of design practice. He pointed out that a future-oriented approach has become an essential framework to address emerging challenges and opportunities, including the impact of artificial intelligence on art and design.

Professor Que on the other hand, unpacked the best practices of UST in terms of redesigning curricular content geared towards heightened learning and community impact.  

She outlined the general education course they created highlighting two strategies: (1) leveraging the standards of the higher-ranking institution and (2) basing the curriculum on social justice, equity, and ethical implementation, thereby protecting indigenous designs and at the same time encouraging adoption of modern concepts. 

After the keynote speeches, the conference proceeded with the plenary presentations. The first day of plenary sessions revolved around the critical analysis and exploration of various aspects of art and design, craftsmanship, and environmental integration as a framework for cultural continuity, livability, and comfort through the following presentations:

• An Aesthetic and Eco-Spiritual Critique of Saulog: Encounter, Pilgrimage, Transformation by Genesis B. Bedio 
• “Dayon Kamo”: A Proposed Interior Renova5on for Balay Samaritano in Cebu City Supported by the Third Place Theory by Juliene Lim
• Philippine Native Trees in the Visayas and their Role in the Urban Landscape by Arch. Ryan Anthony Cabanlit
• I see ICC A look at UST’s General Elective-Indigenous Creative Crafts Course by Anna Marie Bautista

The first day sessions were concluded by a workshop on Pabalat Craft, a form of papercutting that originated in the province of Bulacan, facilitated by Assoc. Prof. Anna Marie Bautista.

Meanwhile, the presentations on the second day dynamically explored the development and impact of a strong branding identity with a focus on high-quality perception, initiating transformative education for communities beyond the academe, the use of interactive exhibitions and cross-cultural exchanges to reactivate museums and museum education, and finally the use of local fiber materials in textiles with innovative applications, through the following presentations:

• A Visual Identity System for the University of San Carlos VERBO Publication by Carla Marie Adlawan
• Art Behind Bars: The Impact of Education of Jail O[icers Towards Improved Livelihood and Art Appreciation and Creativity of PDLs by Guia Concepcion Sarte
• Cross-Cultural Encounter: Narratives of the “UST Goes Namjooning” Interactive Exhibition by Anna Marie Bautista
• Diverse Textile Applications: Based on the Inventory of Locally Endemic Raw Fiber Plant Materials by Jemmalyn Borces 

The second day sessions closed with a collaborative printmaking workshop facilitated by Radel Paredes, assisted by Lucilo Sagayno and Melver Mercado, and a 3D printing workshop facilitated by Joshua Tabasuarez.

As a wrap-up of the ARTDEC Conference, the third day was dedicated to presenting the certificates of appreciation and participation to the facilitators and participants, respectively. 

Fr. Jesuraj Anthoniappen, SVD, Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of San Carlos, had the honor of presenting these certificates. Afterward, Asst. Prof. Jennifer Aguilar, Vice President of ARTDEC and Assistant Dean of UST College of Fine Arts and Design, and Araceli Jayne Culibra, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ARTDEC, delivered their closing remarks which both expressed a heartfelt gratitude to all the presenters, facilitators, and attendees for their insights, enthusiasm, and dedication to make the event a remarkable success.

With reporting from the Department of Fine Arts