Philippine School of Interior Design

In the past fifty years, the Philippine School of Interior Design continues to produce interior design graduates that have made a mark in the interior design industry and have made their own reputable names as professional, responsible, competent and ethical interior designers – the core values of what the Philippine School of Interior Design inculcates and requires of its graduates.

1 June 1967, the Philippine Center for Interior Design (PCID) was launched in the heart of Makati . Initially offered was a four-term Basic Course that includes the following subjects: Elements and Principles of Interior Design, Mechanical Drawing, History of Art and Architecture, Color Theory, Perspective Drawing, Color Rendering, Art Appreciation and Interior Design. All of which were benchmarked from the subjects being offered at the New York School of Interior Design. One afternoon section and one evening section were opened. Both sections were trained under the first batch of teachers comprised of Eli Pinto-Mansor, Dolly Perez and Evelyn Garcia. Every three months, members of the society were invited for cocktails to view a small exhibit mounted by the students at the lobby of the school.

When the Design Center of the Philippines was created in 1967, the school changed its name to the Philippine School of Interior Design, to avoid confusion. With the steady increase in student population, PSID was fast becoming the leader in Interior Design Education.

In 1977, the Advanced Course in Interior Design was added to cater to students who were interested to pursue a higher level of interior design education. Highly specialized subjects focusing on design and style are the components of this Program. At the end of this Course, a major exhibit is mounted to serve as thesis of the graduating batch.

In 1979, under the supervision of alumni-turned-faculty, Mr. Nardy Aquino, the first major Interior Design exhibit entitled “Ambience” was mounted by the first seven graduating students. Thus, beginning a PSID tradition and re-instating PSID’s commitment to design excellence.

During the 1980’s, the political landscape played a major role in the economic instability. This had a major impact on the profession. Even the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers (PIID), the duly accredited professional organization, deemed it appropriate to cease mounting interior design exhibits. However, the students’ did not want to end the “exhibit” tradition. Thus, with creativity and a little resourcefulness, they came up with worthwhile and cost-efficient topics and themes. This included furniture design and product design using local indigenous materials. The decade proved to be a challenge to graduates since opportunities in the industry was low. But despite this, the influx on enrollment was still increasing.

In 1982, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) enforced the Specialty Licensure Examination for Interior Design under the Board of Architecture. This formalized the regulation of practice in Interior Design and thus, ensured the competence of PSID graduates who pass it. The school’s excellence was further stamped in the 90’s when two of its graduates topped the Board in 2 consecutive years. Namely, Mr. Victor Ruel Pambid in 1994 and Mr. Mike Pizarro in 1995.

January 1995, witnessed the forging of two academic institutions when a Consortium Agreement was signed with the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (DLS – CSB). This allowed DLS – CSB to grant a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design degree to students aiming to qualify for the licensure examination.

Attempts to strengthen the school’s academic program started on the onset of 2000 with the formation of the Academic Board. With this came curriculum revisions and the introduction of organizational policies and procedures to facilitate effective management. Thus, an elitist finishing school transitioned into a more serious design school with an ever-growing commitment to produce excellent Interior Designers in Asia .

For a healthy number of years now, PSID-AHLEN INSTITUTE has been the country's leading institute for a full 4-year Interior Design degree-granting course.

The highly advanced curriculum is considered by many successful
professionals in the Interior Design field as both a benchmark
and pace setter in preparing their full-course degree students
into successful industry movers and shakers.

Over the years, we at PSID-AHLEN INSTITUTE continuously strive to enhance our course offerings according to the ever evolving trends and global standards.