GET TO KNOW NAPAT PONGPANATNUKUL, A PRODUCT DESIGNER WHOSE ORDINARY ITEMS INSPIRE HIM TO CREATE DESIGNS THAT ARE SIMPLE YET DETAILED, MODERN YET ROOTED IN CULTURAL HERITAGE

TEXT: NAPAT PONGPANATNUKUL
PHOTO COURTESY OF NAPAT PONGPANATNUKUL EXCEPT AS NOTED

(For Thai, press here)

WHO

Beer, Napat Pongpanatnukul

WHAT

I am a product designer passionate about all facets of creativity, ranging from furniture design and graphic arts to photography. I currently juggle my time between my own studio and PDM BRAND.

WHEN

The studio is open every day after 10:00 PM, except Saturdays.

WHERE

I first started my Instagram account while studying in Switzerland, a practice I continue now that I’m back in Bangkok.

WHY

I seek to explore work in keywords or perspectives that interest me, starting projects without the constraints of client specifications, production, or marketing limitations.

How would you describe your work?

My style is simple yet detailed, with a clear character. I enjoy the contrast in my work, appreciating the nuances of craftsmanship while still being captivated by industrial production methods. I favor unusual proportions that remain comfortable, embrace modern aesthetics without losing the essence of my Asian heritage, and I really create characters while maintaining simplicity.

What is your inspiration and guiding principle for each creation?

Inspiration often comes from ordinary items around us, varying in clarity based on the experiences used to interpret them. For instance, a photograph on a phone may reveal a certain angle or reason compelling us to preserve it. Similarly, unusual materials, odd proportions, certain phrases, or even the relationship between objects and space often spur new, intriguing ideas. With every interesting keyword, I attempt to model something simple from nearby materials to expand and explore these concepts. The fascinating details usually emerge during the hands-on process.

What project are you most proud of?

I am particularly proud of the Loft Stool project I created with Fritz Jakob during the ECAL X MIT workshop in America. This venture pushed the boundaries of my traditional thinking within the realm of Soft Robotics, generating movement using readily available, inexpensive materials. The prototype, a flatpack stool, was assembled from three flat plywood sheets held together by plastic ties, which, when subjected to hot air from a hairdryer, contracted to form a natural, strong, and simple structure.

Which stage of the design process do you like the most?

I always find it exhilarating to see the first prototype of a project come to life, transforming from a digital design to a physical piece.

If you could invite a ‘creative’ to coffee, who would you invite and why?

While I’d like to invite many, if I had to narrow it down to one, it would be Dohn, Kanokpon Yokchoo from Designnerd. As a fellow furniture geek, our encounters are always filled with lively ideation and development; we would probably go through many cups of coffee.

napatpongpanatnukul.com
instagram.com/pongpanatnukul