JOSEF
CRISANTO
ABOUT
JOSEF CRISANTO
Josef Crisanto is a Manila-based, French-trained designer whose work is recognized for its
inventive juxtaposition of modern, experimental forms with indigenous handicrafts and techniques.
His furniture and design pieces have been showcased on the international stage, reflecting a
practice that bridges contemporary design thinking with local craft traditions and material
intelligence
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EDUCATIONDesign | Diplôme Superieur and Diplôme National
École Superieure d'Art et de Design de Marseille
FranceFrench | Diplôme Approfondi
Université de Provence / Aix-en-Provence
FranceInterior Design
University of the Philippines
Philippines
EXPERIENCEDesign Professor
École Superieure d’Arts Plastiques
MonacoInvited Professor
École Superieure d'Art de la Reunion
Reunion IslandSenior Design Consultant
Design Center of the Philippines
Clients
Design Center of the Philippines | CITEM | Dedon | Swarovski | APY Cane |
JLQ International | Pacific Traders | Nature's Legacy
| J.Vaz.Co.
SAVOIR-FAIRE*
WORKSHOPS
With his background as a design professor in France and Monaco, Josef Crisanto developed the “Savoir-Faire” Creativity & Ideation Workshop to share his passion and expertise in innovative design with designers, creatives, and design enthusiasts.*French: literally, knowing how to do
Kamelion
The urban jungle is dangerous. To escape attention, one must find ingenious ways to blend into the
landscape. Mapping the terrain of a typical port city in Réunion Island reveals potential problems and corresponding solutions that become the basis for the design exercise.
Art School Extension
An architectural and design workshop aimed at exploring spatial solutions for a new extension that
would respond to the growing population of Monaco Art School.
Costumes D'opéra
Using the kimono as the base pattern, this workshop explored modern graphic motifs and their
contemporary application to the traditional Japanese kimono. These studies were developed as part
of a new interpretation of The Mikado.
Appartment Témoin
Appartement Témoin is an art and design workshop centered on the theme of the model apartment.
Domestic spaces—living and dining rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and other areas of the home—are
explored and reinterpreted in new and unexpected ways.A monochromatic bedroom appears almost ghost-like as objects dissolve into the background. Organic wall hooks emerged from a technical exercise in ceramics. A gas stove is transformed into a miniature campfire, while a Velcro-strapped corner provides an unconventional storage solution for cushions, creating a relaxed and intimate lounging area.
Naturalia
The Naturalia Workshop was the pilot program for the Savoir-Faire series. In 2017, the workshop
was tailor-fitted to respond to the needs of a manufacturing company based in Cebu. Nature served
as the primary source of inspiration in developing concepts and ideas born from research, as well as
material and formal explorations.This early version of the workshop brought together creatives and non-creatives alike, encouraging
participants from different backgrounds to engage in observation, experimentation, and hands-on
ideation as part of the design process.
Regional Designers Bootcamps
The early Savoir-Faire series combined the WGSN Trends Forecasting Seminar with two
consecutive days of concept and idea development informed by the trends discussed beforehand.
The methodology revolved around research, proper referencing of related works and influences,
and the translation of ideas into three-dimensional forms through manual exploration and making.Regional bootcamps were later implemented in strategic locations across the Philippines, allowing
designers and creatives from different regions to engage with the workshop ’ s hands-on and
research-driven approach to creativity and innovation.
Concours Ladurée
To mark the opening of their luxury bakery in Monte Carlo in 2007, Ladurée launched a cake
design competition among the second-year design students of Pavillon Bosio/École Supérieure d’
Arts Plastiques de Monaco.The design proposals ranged from the simple—a fortune cookie-inspired cake—to the poetic,
where gâteau flavors were associated with childhood memories and poetic lines printed on the ribbons of the packaging. Other concepts embraced whimsy, such as “alien” cakes that combined two opposing flavors on the body and antennae of the cake to create an unexpected explosion of taste, while some proposals explored more elaborate and delicate interpretations of pastry design
mentorship
Josef Crisanto ’s collaboration with agencies attached to the Department of Trade and Industry
began with a merchandise consulting engagement for Center for International Trade Expositions
and Missions during Manila FAME in 2001.He later led a two-year mentorship and advisory program for recent design graduates with the Design Center of the Philippines in 2017. His most recent partnership was with the Philippine Trade Training Center, where he, together with two other designers, mentored emerging creatives through the Obra Masterclass in 2024.
New Design Graduates Training Program
Josef Crisanto’s collaboration with the Design Center of the Philippines began in July 2017 and
included project advisory and mentorship for the New Design Graduates Training Program, which
he also co-developed.In this role, he instructed, supervised, and guided emerging designers through design fundamentals aimed at strengthening their individual creative voices. He also conducted advisory sessions focused on professional growth and career development, helping participants navigate their respective paths within the creative industry.
Obra Design Masterclass
From December 2023 to March 2024, a group of 15 young designers from the Metro Manila region
were mentored by Josef Crisanto, Eric T. Paras, and Rommel Viloria in creative ideation, design
techniques and manufacturing, as well as business strategy and marketing.The program aimed to develop well-rounded, industry-ready professionals equipped with both
creative and practical skills for the contemporary design industry.
PRODUCT
DESIGN
Josef Crisanto’s extensive training in Europe included a French master’s degree in Design under
the mentorship of Tom Dixon.His ability to translate ideas into functional forms has become a defining aspect of his practice and
the driving force behind his collaborations with furniture manufacturers in the development and
production of his designs
Manila FAME 2001
Nearly a hundred products were developed for Manila FAME in 2001, guided by the theme
“Leisure and Pleasure” and supported through initiatives linked to Center for International Trade
Expositions and Missions.The set of sketches captures key highlights from the collection, including lounge seating systems,
pop-up rugs and carpets, and sculptural table vases—each reflecting a playful yet refined approach to comfort, function, and contemporary design expression
The Folding Star
Fold, unfold, cut, connect. The Japanese art of origami serves as the conceptual foundation for this
collection, where paper logic is translated into structural design principles and material
experimentation.The works were exhibited at the Salone del Mobile in April 2008, presenting a series of forms that
explore transformation, precision, and spatial rhythm through folding-inspired constructions.
Decker
A geometric interpretation of the classic deck chair, the design is deceptively simple in appearance.
Its seat frame is carefully engineered to achieve strength, balance, elegance, and comfort,
combining structural precision with refined ergonomicsThe chair has received several design awards in recognition of its thoughtful construction and its
successful reinterpretation of a familiar typology into a more contemporary and sculptural form.
Grayer
“Grayer ” is a folding screen conceived as an homage to Eileen Gray and her “Brick Screen”
design. It revisits the idea of modular, multi-articulating partitions through a more complex system
of interconnected panels.Finished in lacquer, the piece echoes the material sensibility found in Gray ’ s works while
reinterpreting her formal language into a contemporary composition that emphasizes movement,
flexibility, and spatial fluidity.
Glory Hole
“ Glory Hole ” is a four-paneled black folding screen that explores tactility and hidden
communication within a functional object. Its surfaces are designed to be physically engaging,
while the screen itself conceals a message rendered in Braille, revealing meaning only through
touch rather than sight.The work remains a work in progress, continuing to evolve as an experimental piece that blurs the
boundaries between furniture, graphic language, and sensory experience.
Imelda
“Imelda” is a commissioned loveseat project created for Swarovski, inspired by the fairytale-like narrative of a woman of the same name.The piece was exhibited at the Salon du Meuble de Paris in 2002, where it was presented as part of a
conceptual exploration of storytelling through furniture design, combining ornamental sensibility with sculptural form.
Stretch Lamp
Josef Crisanto’s Stretch Lamp (2001) is a strong example of material exploration integrated with
product design. The translucent mosaic tiles were developed by Tony Gonzales for Raphael Legacy.The use of the material as a light-diffusing surface became a natural design decision, resulting in a
lamp that quickly gained popularity and has continued to perform well commercially over the years.
It was later re-released at Manila FAME in 2024 as part of the “Nostalgia” setting, reaffirming its
status as a design classic whose form and material integrity have remained timeless.
Twister
“Twister” is a collection of tables inspired by metallic roof ventilators, reimagined through twisted
and curved steel bar structures. The design translates an industrial reference into a sculptural
language, where form and function intersect through movement and rhythm.The elegant composition evokes a sense of motion—gyrating lines and dynamic silhouettes that
animate the otherwise rigid materiality of steel, bringing it to life with a sense of lightness, energy,
and sculptural grace.
Daddy
Daddy” (2018) was first exhibited at “Memories” by Signum Contemporary Objects, a platform
dedicated to objects created by artists, designers, architects, and other creatives.
Better Normal by Design
What behaviors will shape the direction of the post-pandemic consumer, and how can design help businesses meet the new needs of these emerging sensibilities?With these questions in mind, the Design Center of the Philippines presents Better Normal by
Design, a program showcasing design solutions fit for the evolving times.Under the creative direction of Josef Crisanto, products and lifestyle concepts were developed and proposed for the “Stabilizer” persona—reflecting a consumer mindset oriented toward balance,
security, and adaptability in a post-pandemic context.
Almusal 2025
Wall Art
In collaboration with J.Vaz.Co, the Philippines’ premier concrete surfacing provider, this project explores the creative possibilities of ObraStone— a material known for its refined texture, durability, and design flexibility.What began as a series of hands-on experiments with spatulas and palette knives quickly evolved into a study of form, color, and surface. The process invited play—testing how neutral tones, textures, and extrusions could transform flat concrete finishes into expressive compositions.The outcome, Almusal, is a three-panel artwork that reimagines the Filipino breakfast classic of longganisa, sinangag, and itlog through abstract shapes and bold color. Inspired by modern masters like Hepworth, Matisse, and Brancusi, the triptych blends humor, craft, and material innovation in equal measure.Rendered in multiple colorways and full-scale panels (2 x 4 ft), the collection highlights the aesthetic range of J.Vaz.Co’s specialty finishes—merging art and surface design into a statement of playful sophistication.
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JOSEF CRISANTO
