Who is he? Kenneth Cobonpue is a designer whose curvaceous rattan furniture is sought by the likes of Hollywood star Brad Pitt, movie studio Warner Brothers and distributors from Australia to Saudi Arabia. The New York Pratt Institute alumnus won the 2004 Singapore International Design Competition, the 2005 Design for Asia Award and multiple Japan Good Design Awards for his creations.
What is his source of inspiration? The Filipino designer draws a lot of his ideas from his surroundings. 'Living in Cebu, I'm inspired by nature. A lot of things I see in Asia are craft-based, such as baskets. If you look at my armchairs, they are really like large baskets,' he says.
What does he think of interior design
in Asia? Cobonpue believes Asian designers are becoming more creative. 'Before, there were a lot of Asian firms making furniture for European and United States companies without any design input, but now a new generation of designers is emerging from Southeast Asia.' Cobonpue is a champion of the region's innovators and founded Movement 8, an alliance of eight award-winning Filipino designers.
Where can I buy his designs? Cobonpue's collections are available at OVO Home (16 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, tel: 2526 7226). Developed two years ago but only recently introduced in Hong Kong, his outdoor furniture resembles rattan but is made with polyethylene and aluminium for greater outdoor durability. 'It's very organic and natural looking,' Cobonpue says.