One need not be a functional art aficionado or a furniture connoisseur to have spotted and appreciated a Kenneth Cobonpue creation. You may not know it, but you have probably seen an iconic chair or two in Hollywood hits (Ocean's Thirteen, CSI), Netflix productions (Inventing Anna, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery) and K-pop album covers (Seventeen, Blackpink).

I feel very proud to see them there," the world-renowned Filipino industrial designer and manufacturer told DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview held at his brand's flagship store in Greenbelt Residences in Makati City. He had just unveiled the latest collection with a video presentation ending with clips showing the different platforms where his pieces have appeared so far. "I only know about it after people tell me."

But with success comes imitation, which, they say, is the highest form of flattery. "It's a nice way of looking at it," he said, laughing with his eyes disappearing into slits. "But I know. It's always like that. My hope is that it influences the new generation of designers to design something unique and different."

Cobonpue admitted having encountered some imitation pieces, and he just takes it as something that comes with the territory. "You just keep on moving," he pointed out, adding that he takes it as a challenge to innovate more."