Kenneth Cobonpue

Where do you like to work when you’re home?

Industrial designer, CEO and creative director of Kenneth Cobonpue in Cebu City

I have more than one spot at home for my workspace. Sitting in one space all the time would bore me. And when inspiration hits me unexpectedly or there’s an email I need to answer right away, I can go to the nearest nook at that moment to sit down and answer that email, sketch or take a call. I also have a garage workplace where I sit down and plan my latest car restoration. Collectively, my workspace at home is very open and non-constricting. It’s also minimal in the sense that it has no filing cabinets and whatnot, just essentials like a notepad and a computer along with views of the foliage outside. It also welcomes a lot of natural light, has splashes of colour and casual furniture from my collection.

What’s something that inspires you in your workspace?

There’s a huge painting on my wall by Christian Tamondong. No matter how tired I am from the day’s work, my spirits are lifted whenever I step in and see it. I make sure to surround myself with plants to bring the outdoors in as well as things that are personal to me gathered from my travels. I have wind-up toys, wooden dolls, mechanical clocks and stuffed animals. I have a small collection of classic sport cars from the Fifties and Sixties, and I have a work table set up in my garage as well. I believe it’s important to have an environment that’s filled with the things you love to make each workday enjoyable.

What’s your actual office like?

Being at home made me rediscover the spirit and inspiration of all the things I designed and collected over the years. My workspace at the office is smaller, the four corners are more defined, and it’s more spartan. My office also holds a lot more stuff like documents, swatches and books. I have a library where my team can pull out books if they need inspiration or reading material. My home workspace is much more personal with objects that are dear to me.

Sparking joy: Sjarief is particularly attached to the bookshelves in his studio, some of which are built into doors