Product Designer by Day.

Singer, Raver, Rock Climber, Gamer, Skier, and K-pop Stan by Night.

Hi, I’m Ken Villapando, a designer who broke every rule in the Filipino playbook. I turned down a full-ride to engineering school (yep, my parents eventually found out and no, they weren’t thrilled), and dodged every “Anak, why not nursing?” conversation (‘Anak’ means ‘son’ in Tagalog, FYI).

I told them I had a passion for design and asked them to trust me, and that I could make it work,  and I would do whatever it took. Today, they’ve seen the payoff and I’m proud to say I’ve kept my promise.

The only Filipino stereotype I didn’t break? I sing. A lot. I even own a home karaoke machine. 


When I’m not designing, you can find me indoor climbing rocks, hopping in late night Discord calls gaming with friends, dancing at raves, skiing down the slopes or waving my light stick at K-pop concerts. Being immersed in these communities keeps me curious, empathetic, and always thinking about how design can bring people closer to what they love.