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Watch This: A New YouTube Series That Lets You Experience SoFA Design Institute

SoFA Design Institute introduces a new YouTube series that brings you closer to the heart of design education in the Philippines. Community Conversations hosted by Ms. Stephanie Oller is a curated video series that explores leadership, student life, creative growth, and the evolving future of fashion and interior design.

More than interviews, these episodes offer insight into how a leading fashion design school and interior design school cultivates innovation, critical thinking, and industry-ready creatives. Whether you are a prospective student exploring college programs, a parent researching design schools in the Philippines, or a creative professional seeking inspiration, this series provides a deeper understanding of the SoFA learning experience.

Through meaningful dialogue and authentic storytelling, Community Conversations highlights what makes SoFA Design Institute a dynamic creative community rooted in design thinking, mentorship, and hands-on learning.

Episode 1: Ms. Loralee Baron-Soong

Designing the Future: An Interview with SoFA Design Institute's President

The first episode focuses on design leadership and the vision behind one of the Philippines’ progressive design institutions.

Ms. Loralee Baron-Soong shares her journey alongside Ms. Amina Aranaz Alunan in founding and building SoFA Design Institute from the ground up. What began as a shared vision for a future-focused fashion and interior design school evolved into an institution dedicated to shaping creative leaders.

The conversation explores entrepreneurship in design education, the importance of innovation in curriculum development, and how mentorship strengthens student growth. It reflects on how SoFA prepares students not only with technical skills, but with strategic thinking and creative confidence required in the global design industry.

This episode gives you a glimpse into:

  • The founding story of SoFA Design Institute

  • The vision behind progressive design education in the Philippines

  • How design thinking shapes curriculum and academic direction

  • The role of leadership and mentorship in creative development

  • Building a sustainable institution for future fashion designers and interior designers

For students searching for a fashion design course in the Philippines or an interior design degree grounded in industry relevance, this episode offers valuable perspective.

Episode 2: Juliana Jouie Canino

The SoFA Experience Through a Student’s Lens

The second episode highlights the student journey inside a leading design school.

Juliana Jouie Canino, a BA Fashion Design and Marketing student, shares her experience navigating studio projects, critiques, collaboration, and portfolio development. Her story reflects the realities of studying in a competitive yet nurturing creative environment.

The discussion explores project-based learning, creative experimentation, and the challenges that shape professional growth. It reveals how students develop not only technical skills but also resilience, creative identity, and industry readiness.

This episode gives you a glimpse into:

  • The student experience in a fashion design and marketing program

  • Hands-on learning and portfolio development

  • Creative confidence and personal brand building

  • Mentorship and peer collaboration in a studio-based environment

  • Preparing for careers in fashion, retail, and the creative industries

For those exploring design colleges in the Philippines, this episode provides an authentic look at how SoFA students grow academically, creatively, and professionally.

Experience the Stories Behind the Design

Creativity grows through conversation. The SoFA Design Institute YouTube series is more than a collection of interviews. It is an open platform where leadership, students, and creatives share insights that shape the future of fashion and interior design education in the Philippines.

Through discussions on innovation, student transformation, industry exposure, creative entrepreneurship, and academic excellence, Community Conversations reflects SoFA’s commitment to developing future-ready designers equipped for the global creative economy.

Each episode highlights the power of mentorship, collaboration, studio culture, and hands-on training that define the SoFA Design Institute experience.

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes as we continue to share more stories, perspectives, and insights from the SoFA community. Follow the series to learn more about our programs, creative philosophy, and the academic environment that prepares students for careers in fashion, interior design, and the broader creative industries.

Explore Our Programs

🎨 BA Fashion Design and Marketing
🏠 BS Interior Design
🛋️ BS Interior Design-Professional
📖 Workshops and Certificates
✂️ Short Courses
🖌️ Workshops

Enroll today!
📲 Contact our Admissions Office:
📧 admissions@sofa.edu.ph
📞 0917 539 7574 / 0917 501 8136 

📍 2nd Level, The Proscenium Retail Row at Rockwell, Makati City, Metro Manila

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