TAYO Launches an Agency Dedicated to Archipelagic Design

After years of cultural and sustainability work, sisters Bella and Tasha Tanjutco extend their creativity with TAYO Archipelagic Design Studio.

At this point in life, sisters Bella and Tasha Tanjutco have accomplished more than most people their age. Over the years, the pair has founded youth organizations TAYO House of Culture & Creativity and Kids for Kids, putting in years of research and grassroots community building. In 2026, the sisters are turning into a new chapter, with the launch of TAYO Archipelagic Design Agency.

Large group of people seated along a long banquet table in a bright, white-walled hall, eating and socializing.

TAYO Philippines invited friends from the media and Manila’s creatives and sustainability advocates. Photographed by Gab Villareal

Large glass wall mural of a bird (eagle) over a white modern atrium with curved stone steps and people walking byshi

The launch was held inside the National Museum of Natural History. Photographed by Gab Villareal

Always rooted in sustainability, the agency is an extension of the sisters’ design philosophy. “More often than not, people see sustainability as the development goals or something that the governments really try to push different people to do. But our goal is to really see sustainability as something that we can see every day,” Tasha says. “It’s trying to channel systems change into design.”

“We realize that the solution is really in just being a Filipino. All the sustainable, green, local solutions are what will drive us to a better world,” Bella says. “And so we really kind of wanted to practice this kind of archipelagic design. Which really meant how we kind of see the archipelago. That the water is what connects us and not divides us.”

Sisters and co-founders Tasha and Bella Tanjutco. Photographed by Gab Villareal

They begin with an archipelagic lexicon, which they dubbed “The 8 Pulses of Filipino Design,” the framework in which TAYO operates. As the sisters explain, the 8 Pulses are dialectal terms used in design, similar to Japan’s ikigai or wabi-sabi. The agency narrowed it down to the following: bangsa (lineage, nation), diwa (spirit, essence), ginhawa (breath, ease), kalipay (happiness, joy), kinaiyahan (nature, environment), lakbay (travel, journey), paagi (wayfinding, procedure), and paghalong (nurturing, caring). “Our whole goal also in all of this is really to feature and work with the people that speak this language fluently, without even having to try a definition for it,” Tasha says.

The idea goes beyond words, but manifests in each project. Of the recent projects they’re handling, perhaps the most notable is Bayay Halian, a climate-centric school in Siargao, where the architecture fits the island culture and lifestyle. It’s just a glimpse of what the agency can do. Their services encompass various sectors, from fashion and lifestyle to the government and public sector.

Blue paper cut-out shapes forming a loose chain on a light fabric background.

The agency offers an array of services, from identity expression to experience design. Photographed by Gab Villareal

Tiffany-style lamp with a colorful stained-glass shade lit, placed among stacked wicker baskets in a dim setting.

Their services encompass many sectors, from fashion to the public sector. Photographed by Gab Villareal

Over the past year, they’ve also done several collaborations: Balay Yatu at Museo Pambata, which is a youth-curated cultural hub; Salu-Salo TAYO, a curated gathering/installation designed using local materials and sustainable, community-driven food experiences; and collaborations with entities such as PLDT-Smart, Anthill Fabric Gallery, and Isla Tek on design, branding, and experience design.

Looking ahead, the studio marks a new wave of creativity and purpose for the two sisters and the community they’ve built. “We’re really excited to see how we can work together, with all of you, to be able to embody archepelagic design in the different institutions, companies, and communities that you champion,” Bella says.

“Thank you all so much for being part of this barangay, this idea of growing Filipino design into the next level, championing nature, and also of course, championing our island culture,” Tasha says.

For more information and the latest news, follow TAYO Archipelagic Design Studio on its official social media pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is TAYO Archipelagic Design?

TAYO Archipelagic Design is an agency whose practice centers on research and exploration of cultures to co-create visual identities, strategies, and immersive experiences.

Who owns TAYO Archipelagic Design?

TAYO Archipelagic Design is owned and led by sisters and co-founders Natasha “Tasha” Tanjutco and Isabella “Bella” Tanjutco.

What does TAYO Archipelagic Design offer?

TAYO Archipelagic Design offers services in identity strategy and design, experience and spatial design, cultural consultancy, and identity expression and production across various sectors.