2025 Reflections | Designing with Foresight, Building with Purpose

As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been thinking about how much of this year was shaped not by certainty, but by curiosity.

The work pushed us to ask better questions, to slow down when needed, and to think further ahead than the brief in front of us.

In our line of work, the best outcomes rarely come from having all the answers. They come from asking, researching, testing ideas, and being open enough to say, “Let’s look at this again.” That’s how id8 grew this year.

The Work We Took On

In 2025, id8 delivered and advanced projects across workplaces, banking, institutional environments, retail, and mixed-use settings. Each project came with its own pressures, constraints, and human realities that couldn’t be solved with a one-size-fits-all approach.

What connected all of them was intent. Our clients trusted us to go beyond surface-level solutions and ground decisions in data, user behaviour, and business realities. Designing with foresight, rather than reacting late in the process, has become central to how we work.

Through our involvement with HIMAP and other industry communities, we also continued contributing to broader conversations about sustainability, adaptability, and the future of the built environment. These conversations matter. They sharpen our thinking and keep us accountable to more than just delivery.

Why We Lead with Data

Design today sits at the intersection of people, performance, cost, and long-term impact. Intuition still matters, but it’s no longer enough on its own.

At id8, research and data shape our strategies long before lines are drawn. They help us ask smarter questions, reduce risk, and design spaces that continue to work well after handover. Data isn’t about being clinical. It’s about being responsible. It allows us to design environments that support real behaviours, not idealised ones.

Growing from the Inside

Inside id8, growth showed up in everyday ways.

We work in an integrated way by design. Strategy, architecture, and engineering move together from the outset, removing unnecessary friction and keeping decision-making clear. Debate sharpens the thinking. Alignment keeps the work moving.

Alongside our project work, we are intentional about practicing what we advocate. Initiatives like Small Switch reflect our belief that sustainability is not just something we design for clients, but something we live internally. It is built through everyday habits and decisions, reinforcing accountability before it ever becomes a project narrative.

This year, I was honoured to be included among the Top 47 of the 100 Top Filipinos on LinkedIn, recognised for thought leadership and professional contribution. I see this less as a personal milestone and more as a reflection of the teams, mentors, communities, and industry peers I learn from every day. Progress is rarely a solo effort.

Community and Industry

id8 does not operate in isolation. Our work is shaped by our clients, partners, builders, regulators, industry bodies, and the communities we design for.

To our industry partners and professional communities, thank you for the trust, the conversations, and the shared commitment to raising the standard of our profession.

Looking Ahead

As we head into 2026, our focus is simple but ambitious. We want to think further ahead, design more intentionally, and continue building environments that are resilient, adaptable, and grounded in real insight.

The future will demand flexibility, clarity, and courage in decision-making. We’re investing in foresight, stronger systems, and deeper thinking so we’re ready for what’s next, not scrambling to catch up.

With Gratitude

To our clients, thank you for trusting us with complex challenges.

To our partners and communities, thank you for walking alongside us.

To the id8 team, thank you for the care, rigor, and heart you bring to the work.

2025 asked a lot from us. It gave a lot back too.

We move into 2026 grounded, grateful, and clear on what we’re designing next.

With appreciation,

Charisse