What the Pop Exhibit: Four Generations of Filipino Pop Culture, Built Into Rooms
A Journey Through Pop Culture
PSID, together with the graduating class of 2026, proudly presents What the Pop, the brainchild of IDr. Nicky Jardenil. Few interior design schools in the Philippines stage an exhibit on this scale, and this year’s looks at Filipino pop culture through four generations: Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Each one explores entertainment through gaming, play, and music, while cinema, fashion, and food deepen the story.
There is something here for everyone, whether you’re a design lover, an interior designer, a parent, a fellow student, or part of the industry. As Sir Nicky says, enter with an open heart and an open mind. You’ll be intellectually and emotionally transported through different worlds, as seen and filtered by our students, because pop culture shapes the spaces we live in.
Boomers: Age Is Just a Number
The journey begins with a couple entering their empty nester years, told through a Bauhaus lens. Childhood games like pico, patintero, and luksong tinik come alive in a playful nod to Toyang, or “too young,” a reminder that the spirit never ages.
Next, step into Booth 2, Telebisyon, and revisit the golden age of cinema from the 1940s to the 1960s in warm, mid-century modern sepia tones. It’s a masterclass in cohesion, where design elements echo each other without ever feeling repetitive.
Generation X: Raw, Rebellious, and Real
Istambay draws from the 70s, a decade of modernization and political strife. This bar lounge pairs the honest materials of Brutalism with self-made, gritty street art, quietly carrying the weight of Martial Law and its underlying themes.
Then comes Tunog Kalye, the soloist of the exhibit. Also set in the 70s, it celebrates how deeply music runs through Filipino culture and shared experience. Rather than recreating the decade literally, it captures its spirit through moody walls and ceilings, warm wood, and cozy details.
Millennials: Glamor and Tenderness
In the Millennial Gallery, Karisma is the first to catch your eye, a tribute to the Bebot era through fashion. The room is owned by a lady. She is glamorous, vibrant, and fashion-forward, and she presents herself with no apologies.
Next is Tealik, inspired by 90s Filipino romantic films. It follows a young girl growing into a young woman, who never loses her tenderness or her capacity to love.
Generation Z: Expression Over Rules
Last but not least is a generation that favors personal expression over rigid rules. If the Boomers began with empty nesters, Simula belongs to a newly married couple with a deep love for coffee. Warm tones, soft curves, and natural wood reflect Pinoy coffee culture as a way of reconnecting and finding identity.
Then walk into Aliwan Avenue, which blends two worlds of Gen Z life: the MRT commute and gaming culture. It’s all about movement, connection, and progress in a digital world.
Come See It for Yourself
Behind every booth is a student who poured their heart, their late nights, and their own stories into the work. PSID and the graduating class of 2026 warmly invite you to step inside, take your time, and see the world through our eyes. Bring your parents, your friends, and your children, because there is something here for every generation.
If you’re considering an interior design course in the Philippines, this is a good place to see what four years at an interior design school can build. We hope you enjoy our world and its subculture, and that somewhere along the way you find a little piece of yourself, your family, or your childhood in these spaces. Come be part of What the Pop. View more of the PSID exhibits here or send us a message.
Exhibit Details
Date: October 4 to 31
Time: 10 AM to 10 PM
Venue: Greenhills Virra Mall, 3rd floor
Admission: Free
