🎨 Where my design people at?
Finally catching up on Week 1 excited, nervous, and ready to reconnect with my inner researcher after 8 years!
Hey everyone! 👋 I might be a bit late to the party since most of you already started your Week 1 around August or September, but I’m finally catching up and super excited (and honestly a little scared) to dive in. It’s been 8 years since I last did any kind of research back in college, so this feels like both a throwback and a new challenge at the same time. 😅
I’m Van, a freelance designer and creative professional. I work with clients abroad but my roots and creative community are here in the Philippines. That’s why this project hits close to home for me. For Week 1, I focused on creative industries and freelancers in the Philippine innovation ecosystem, basically trying to understand where people like us stand when it comes to national innovation.
📌 Key Takeaways
- The Philippines actually has strong creative policies like the Creative Industries Development Act (RA 11904) and the Philippine Development Plan 2023–2028, both recognizing creative work as a key growth driver.
- Freelancers are recognized but not fully included yet. We’re still missing in official labor data, which means we’re not fully seen or supported in programs and funding.
- Most innovation programs are Manila-based. There’s so much talent in Cebu, Davao, and other regions that deserve equal access to creative and innovation hubs.
- Government integration is key. DTI, DOST, DICT, and DOLE all have great programs but they need to connect them so creative workers and micro studios can actually benefit.
Doing this made me realize how important recognition is. Once “creative freelancers” are officially counted and supported, it can change how policies and opportunities are designed for us.
If you want to check out my full Week 1 research, you can view it here 👉 Creative Industries and Freelancers in the Philippine Innovation Ecosystem
💬 Let’s talk!
Would love to hear from fellow creatives here — designers, editors, illustrators, or anyone freelancing. How do you see yourself in the country’s innovation landscape? Have you ever tried applying for a DOST or DTI grant?
Excited to learn from everyone here and see how we can help shape the future of our creative industry together. 🚀
– Van