Designing students sail off to a bright future

Twenty-eight architecture and interior design students from three schools took on the challenge of the Aboitiz Transport Group’s "Design Our Store" contest which showcased the younger generation’s novel ideas. With a total of 13 entries from Adamson University, Mapua Institute of Technology, and the University of the Philippines, the winners received certificates and plaques of appreciation. In the end, only one group, composed of three students bagged the first prize. The unique event ended with the awarding of the winning entry held last week at the Superferry 16, the newest among the Aboitiz group’s roster of ferries.

I had the chance to tour the Superferry 16 and I could see it was a perfect venue for barkada outings and family reunions. It had an array of choices ranging from cabins, staterooms, suiterooms or the Sharon rooms, to tourist and business classes, to mega and super value. The Aboitiz Transport Group (ATG) is composed of Superferry, Supercat, Cebu Ferries, WSI Supercommerce, and Aboitiz One. The winning design from this contest will be used for the initial concept superstore of ATG.

It was around the month of May when a road-show team composed of various members from the different ATG units visited four academic institutions to recruit participants. The team presented the corporate backgrounds of each of the ATG companies in order for the students to understand fully the objectives, standards and needs of the concept outlet.

It definitely took more than luck for the winners to bag the "Best Design" award, plus a roundtrip Sail Away package to any destination in the Philippines and not to mention, P10,000 pocket money. And it does get better. Their alma mater will receive a trophy and a complete computer package as well. Mapua surely rocked the boat with their victories. The winning groups were both from the Intramuros-based campus. Fernando Ignacio, Seth Corda and Flint Junson Almiron (entry no. 5) walked away with the "Best Design" trophy. It was not much of a surprise that students from Mapua were the recipients of the "Best Design" award. The group that landed first runner-up (entry no. 1) also came from the Mapua Institute of Technology (MIT). The group was composed of Geefy Evangelista, Kern Richard Parangan and Josephine Therese Pinlac who received plaques of appreciation and special gifts from the ATG. It was, undoubtedly, Mapua’s night as they went home with the major awards.

I was eager to meet the award winners after cocktails. Good thing, they were more than willing to let me in on the nitty-gritty and behind-the-scenes account of their project. "After we were briefed about the mechanics and all the technical requirements, we proceeded to surveys. Pumunta kami sa mga Aboitiz stores, did case studies, researched about standards. We even interviewed some employees on how they handle traffic and other transactions within the store. Every week, we would come up with one to five different schemes, and with the help of our adviser, architect Edward Que, he guided us in designing our interior." Geefy, one of the members of the group that landed first runner-up, did not hesitate to share with me their stories. Just like the group who bagged the "Best Design" award, both designs had a "water or beach" concept. Geefy and his team members even volunteered information about their design. Their pebble wash flooring gave the customers a feel of "Boracay sand."

According to WG&A SuperFerry PR & corporate communications manager Gina Virtusio, this activity aims to come up with a creative design for an outlet that will become the cornerstone of a nationwide distribution network for all ATG products and services including the SuperFerry, SuperCat and Cebu Ferries tickets, Aboitiz Express Quik products, passenger services, merchandising products, ZIP and CFS cargo services. Eventually, this model outlet will also offer other complementary products and service of future partners of the ATG, she further added.

I was surprised to find out from Seth, who belonged to the winning group, that the preparation they had only lasted a week, and the production of their design on paper took around three days and three nights. "Syempre, hindi kami makapagsimula agad dahil sa quarter-sem ang Mapua. Tuloy-tuloy ang class namin. Ang vacation namin one week, including enrollment." I couldn’t help but smile when these guys chorused, "Pero maganda, masaya. Iba ’yung experience. ’Yung achievement. ’Yun ’yung importante." If only the Philippines had more students like these guys.

The criteria for judging were: design concept and originality, 30 percent; efficiency of workflow based on layout, 20 percent; ability of decorative and color scheme to create a conducive working environment, 10 percent; structural feasibility, 15 percent; rendering presentation and visual impact, 15 percent; and branding, 10 percent.

The seven-member panel of judges were composed of ATG senior officers and noted industry members including Susan Valdez, EVP/Chief Measurement Value & Control Officer; Mike Camahort, SVP/COO Freight Division; Wilmer Alfonso, chief operating officer, Passenger Services Division; Ramon Villordon, president & CEO, Cebu Ferries Corp. and Supercat Fast Ferries Corp; Lot Hilvano, board secretary of the Philippine Institute of Interior Design; Arch. Carmencita Rosales, co-chairman of the United Architects of the Philippines Committee on Awards; and Arch. Alfred Wieneke.

"I was attracted by the artful use of curves denoting ocean waves on both the façade and interiors," said Lot Hilvano, board director of the Philippine Institute of Interior Design. "Also, Aboitiz corporate colors were used consistently in the design along with materials symbolic of their businesses such as the metal to denote ships."

"This is going to change the way we do business," said Sabin Aboitiz, president & CEO of Aboitiz One. "We envision a one-stop shop where all our products are available to all our customers. This new concept of having a cup of coffee while buying your ticket will be a trendsetter."

WG&A SuperFerry is the largest shipping company in the country serving 22 ports of call nationwide. Through WG&A Jebsen, its strategic partner specializing in ship management, its entire fleet was certified and awarded the International Safety Management (ISM) Code standard. WG&A and SuperFerry is also one of the recipients of the prestigious "Hewitt Best Employers in Asia Award."