BANGKOK DESIGN WEEK 2022

ART4D EXPLORES BANGKOK DESIGN WEEK 2022, STEPPING INTO THE FIFTH YEAR UNDER THE THEME ‘CO WITH CREATION’ WHICH FOCUSES NOT ONLY ON COLLABORATION BETWEEN DESIGN AND INNOVATION BUT ALSO THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT SECTORS, LEADING TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS YEAR’S EVENT

TEXT: RATCHADAPORN HEMJINDA
PHOTO COURTESY OF BANGKOK DESIGN WEEK EXCEPT AS NOTED

(For Thai, press here) 

Less than a year from the previous event (after last year’s two postponements) in the middle of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with no end in sight, Bangkok Design Week 2022 sets forth with its mission. Reaching its fifth year this year and despite the unlikely accommodating situation and shortened preparation period, the ‘collaboration’ between all different sectors has become the answer to the success of this year’s event, which is what the concept ‘Co With Creation’ is all about. The 2022 Bangkok Design Week sees some interesting ‘collabs’ between design and innovations from the five subject matters: space, mental health, environment, culture and technology, with countless possible end results that have been created. 

Most of the projects featured this year are held as both offline and online editions, from events, workshops, talks to the creative market. However, the programs that are considered a major part of the event are still showcases and exhibitions, which welcomes over 190 works, scattered in venues in four neighborhoods around Bangkok; Charoenkrung-Talat Noi, Samyan, Ari-Pradiphat and Thonglor-Ekamai. What’s interesting about this year are the new, emerging movements from new partners from the private sectors and educational institutions who are participating in the event for the first time. Their involvement has led to a more extensive network of exhibition spaces, venues and kick-offs of new emerging groups of young generation designers.

Let’s start with Pranakorn, which debuted as the fifth neighborhood to join Bangkok Design Week. Here, Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Architecture hosts Urban Ally or the Center of ASEAN Urban Planning and Creativity, in collaboration with the network of designers and local communities on Rattanakosin Island to curate the Urban Ally Festival 2022, one of the major programs created as a part of the introduction of Pranakorn district as another creative district of Bangkok. The special collective works to promote the body of knowledge surrounding urban design and development which takes place outside of the academic sphere.

One of the most interesting things that has come out of this project is the use of old buildings, this year in particular, with the adaptation of Bamrong Nukul Kitch Publishing Company Building in Soa Ching Cha neighborhood. Constructed during the reign of King Rama 5, the building is given a new program of the Future Paradise Showcase by Design & Objects Association, which tells the story of new possibilities of Thai design in the next forthcoming decade.

27 Thai brands, such as PDM Brand, Pin Metal Art, AMO, ARTE, YOTHAKA, to name a few, have reinterpreted furniture design and home decoration objects. Each of the exhibited works are conceived from the realm of hybrid craft that combines Thai handicraft into new innovations, reflecting how the future of Thai design may be going in the opposite direction to progressiveness and modernity.

Lighting is still creating a buzz among the media and on social media platforms. New World x Old Town, the sequel, following the first edition which took place two year ago, attracts the crowd with an impromptu re-opening of the New World department store in Bang Lamphu. The Faculty of Architecture of Silpakorn University brings lights and sounds to the deserted shopping mall, telling stories of the neighborhood through nine installations created with the single light source technique. The works have the design team of HUI overseeing the curatorial direction of all the pieces, working together with Saturate Design, Silpakorn University’s Faculty of Music, and a network of freelance designers, as well as the Sang Pla Kob team. This could be the last chance for the public and the Bang Lumphu locals to see the last image of New World.

Back over at Charoenkrung-Talat Noi, Bangkok Design Week’s main district that is home to 37 exhibition venues. This year’s main venue is TCDC Bangkok and the General Post Office Building, which features several indoor and outdoor showcases and exhibitions. One of them is Design PLANT’s fifth participation at Bangkok Design Week. Returning with the exhibition themed Design Plant ’Express’, the subject matter of the project revolves around the design of objects that can be delivered by mail (within the specified size). The exhibition ends up showcasing everyday objects that fit people’s current contemporary lifestyles and online shopping behaviors, from The First Chair, a chair that kids can assemble by THINKK STUDIO or GOOD DAY GOOD NIGHT, a minimal Buddhist altar by MOREOVER to Spinter!, the scooter designed by VANZTER x Bóncstudio.

CEA’s project continues from last year with the third and last edition of Made in Charoenkrung, which comes back with the ‘Last Generation’ theme that connects five long standing businesses in Charoenkrung neighborhood, each the last of its kind, with four design teams. The collaborations, Kriengsak The blacksmith shop x COTH Studio, Sio Siah Kee Stamp & Coin Service x Likay bindery,  Kwong Fah Press x Likay bindery, Chung Sae The Chinese lantern maker x Ek Thongprasert and Honghuad icecream x witti.studio, give birth to products from the four design teams’ ideation and the production carried out by the five local establishments, showcasing how design can be a tool that directly helps local entrepreneurs and businesses with its ability to create sellable and marketable products.

Bangkok Design Week 2021 will come to an end this Sunday so if you feel like stepping out of the house for some fresh air and design exhibitions, check out the programs and venues at  bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2022. There are a lot of projects that we did not mention here, so inbox us if you feel like it. Let us know which works are your favorites and which ones that you’re not so fond of. We’d love to hear what you think!

bangkokdesignweek.com/bkkdw2022