DESIGN ACTION HERO: 8 FINALISTS

MEET WITH 8 FINALISTS FROM DESIGN ACTION HERO, A DESIGN COMPETITION FROM THE THAI HEALTH PROMOTION FOUNDATION IN COLLABORATION WITH art4D FEATURING FOUR AREAS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO WORK ON: CREATIVE PLAYGROUND, GREEN BUSINESS, TECHNOTOPIA, AND SOFT POWER

TEXT: PRATARN TEERATADA
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DESIGNERS EXCEPT AS NOTED

(For Thai, press here) 

The Thai Health Promotion Foundation and art4d have collaborated to create Design Hero, a design competition highlighting start-up businesses. The competition featured four areas for interested participants to work on:  creative playground, green business, technotopia, and soft power. The submitted entries chosen to participate in workshops led by experts and professionals were narrowed down to the final eight teams, each of which gave a presentation of the proposed business model on February 11, 2023. 

1. GACHA THANI: The project takes inspiration from a trip to Japan and coming across the ubiquitous Gachapon  vending machines that dispense little collectible capsule toys. The team came up with an idea to create dispensable toys with an intention for them to be a promotional tool for Surat Thani’s tourism business. The toys are designed based on the province’s well-known products, such as salted eggs and rambutans. In addition, the team also possesses the ability to develop the concept into an application and game in the future. 

2. GASTROFILM: A team of creators with an interest in documentary filmmaking and the food industry of Bangkok’s Songward quarter co-worked with Potong, a fine dining establishment distinguished for its architecture and stunning gastronomic creations. Even though this type of content has been widely produced, there should be more focus on the diversity of the Songwad/Yaowarat neighborhood’s local culture which may have added more intriguing colors to the film. 

3. F PROJECT: Inspired by the team members’ passions in fashion and furniture, F Project combines the two disciplines to create meaningful works with the core idea centered on the use of old clothes from loved ones and people with whom one has fond memories as the material for made-to-order furniture. The concept yields yet another interesting conceptual creation.

4. GLISTEN: With a special interest in the use of  upcycling materials from the automotive sector for the production of fashion and interior décor items, the team creates works that have the look and feel of industrial craft while remaining eco-friendly. Their business model holds great potential to expand into the area of export entrepreneurship.

5. BeyondDraftTable: The team from Silpakorn University first began their project by addressing a little problem they experienced in their daily lives: the small alley adjacent to their faculty was regularly used for public urination, generating an unpleasant smell that earned the area the ‘pee alley’ nickname. The team examined and researched the locals and discovered that they, too, had been attempting to solve the problem. The provided outcome didn’t sufficiently demonstrate the team’s clear approach to finding the best answer or whether the problem should be left in the hands of the locals. 

6. EARTHRISE (Bio-case): The team collaborated with Assumption University’s biotechnology lab on the project, which has been attempting to convert rice straws into an useable material. While the initial 10% ratio of rice to plastic straws in the primary product is still relatively low, it is an interesting step forward for the project’s future development.

7. DOMESTIC + CITY UNIT: This socially motivated work attempts to create an activity space that is appropriate for its setting and users. The design team has already began collaborating with Ananda Development and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi to transform the concept into a reality. 

8. HATYAI CONNEXT: The cultural initiative that aims to revitalize Hatyai on a big scale entails the development of the city’s identity through a program that includes a magnificent array of attractions, encompassing food, neighborhoods and illumination. The group also tried to put together a city walk route that introduced participants to local craft workshops and authentic local dishes. 

The winning projects will be announced at the Isan Creative Festival 2023, which will take place in early April of this year as the next Design Hero strives to draw more creatives and creators from across the country. For further information and updates, follow art4d and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. 

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