FOR THE RECORD

After Loudbasstard, Franz Ignacio will be forging a legacy that’s well beyond the boom of bamboo speakers

Franz Ignacio is recognized as one-half of the duo behind Loudbasstard (the other one being Koh Onozawa). Ignacio, however, has since stepped down from his position as chief of design at Loudbasstard and is now poised to conquer new frontiers by launching a new furniture line—something unrelated to the speaker brand that built his name.

These are little known facts about the 31-year-old: he got his start in art at an early age. He trained under the world’s chief players in design. His middle school portrait of a turtle’s head drawn with dots sits alongside international artwork at Christie’s New York. “Before even moving here to Cebu,” he says, “I was designing furniture back in Miami and New York.” Now, by catering to a market that is still underserved, Ignacio continues to establish his name and forge a new path in the province of design.

Isn’t it hard to thrive with the competition?

Cebu is a cultural melting pot. Industry leaders [are] open to share their ideas. Nobody’s selfish here. I’m working with my family right now and we have two major clients: resorts [from] all around the Philippines. My mentors have been amazing: from the director of Christie’s to Kenneth Cobonpue, Vito Selma, Carlo Vergara, and my family.

But how would people identify a Franz Ignacio design?

It’s simple in the most elegant way possible.