The Novel Narrative

Designer Prince Padilla is asking the right question: What goes beyond aesthetic and outcomes? Process, intent, and commitment

- MARIAN SAN PEDRO

Growing up in the United Kingdom, designer Prince Padilla was always exposed to creative people. He had the opportunity to do what he wanted, and he believes it’s important to mention that it’s coming from a place of privilege. As a designer who now works in Manila, he saw that the majority of the creatives he has met—who are as equally talented as him—didn’t have that privilege or option. At 26, Padilla acknowledges that his identity as a designer is an accumulative process that has been happening over the years, and even until now. “I don’t think you ever stop finding out who you are,” he says. “It’s a natural thing to constantly rediscover yourself, even parts you didn’t know existed. I don’t think I’m there yet. But at this moment, I think I’m pretty happy with where I am.”

The way the young designer likes his creative process is quite instinctive, and that the formal education he acquired from the Manchester School of Art is critical to how he works. As he sees it, it’s important to acknowledge that even though one doesn’t necessarily need education to be a creative person, it’s vital to have a certain foundation to build from.

“My design process is a reaction to my personal experiences,” Padilla shares. “Aesthetically speaking, I do like to design for myself. What would I wear? It’s that personal for me. My work is basically an invitation to the things I find beautiful, to what I want to have a dialogue about. I think that’s important with our generation because we should be able to say more with our work, other than what’s nice to look at.”