The Philippine School of Interior Design (PSID)-Ahlen Institute is leading the trend in interior design, focusing on emotional engagement and immersion during holidays. The institute nurtures designers who blend traditions, culture, and innovation to redefine holiday interiors. The experiential trend is gaining popularity globally, affecting retail and residential interiors. PSID-Ahlen students design compelling narratives and multisensory elements to connect and engage the senses.

Here are some concepts from PSID-Ahlen students that showcase this design trend.

Perlas Restaurant

One example of this experiential design is the Perlas Restaurant concept that honors the Philippines’ maritime beauty, which will blend the beauty of the country’s many islands with the Filipinos’ deep love for food and social interactions enjoyed over meals.

Polynesian Pool House

Another example would be the Polynesian Pool House, an imagined three-story resthouse that captures the spirit of the culture. This concept explores how Polynesian patterns, textures, and storytelling can create a meaningful dining experience, with each floor immersing guests in a different cultural layer.

Greek Mediterranean Home

Lastly, the Greek Mediterranean Home concept would be a house where guests would experience Greece. The elements, from the furniture to accessories, and the textures to materials, make it a perfect relaxation home for anyone who wishes to immerse themselves in the serenity of the Mediterranean Sea.

This trend of experiential interior design is also most evident in immersive holiday installations in museums, cultural exhibits, and shopping centers. 

Later this year, PSID-Ahlen will hold its exhibit for its graduating class, Designsigns of Christmas Exhibit (D.O.C.E.).

The exhibit will feature four galleries that will immerse the audience in different ways of experiencing the holidays. Gallery visitors will experience Christmas as a journey through time, a reflection of the character of Christmas, through color options, or from a cultural perspective.

“The upcoming exhibit delves into Christmas styling and decorating as a major driving force in introducing holiday trends amid impeccable interior design spaces,” said Pojie Pambid, PSID-Ahlen’s Vice President for Academic Affairs. “The exhibiting class of 2025 promises its viewers a variety of styles and trends guaranteed to inspire, setting the stage for a new way of designing for the holidays.”

PSID-Ahlen’s D.O.C.E. is slated to open on September 27, 2025, at the GH Tower in Greenhills.