What is design?

Building on a rich inheritance
Cotton goods - Nandakwang (1951)

Farming is the dominant occupation in the north of Thailand. After the harvest and during other slack times, people have traditionally woven cotton cloth. This eventually developed into a household cottage industry. It was respect for this tradition, handed down from one generation to the next, that inspired Sopa Muangkrachang to set up Nandakwang in 1951. Her business provided a lucrative outlet for local weavers, shining a spotlight on their traditional handmade cotton cloth. In the early years, visitors to Amphur Pasang in Lampoon province would flock to the Nandakwang shop to buy scarves, blankets and tablecloths before continuing on to Chiang Mai. The success of the business led Sopa to open new branches in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Nandakwang has also expanded its range of products to include triangular pillows, sofas, cushion covers, and stuffed animals – all retaining that distinctive handmade feel.

Cotton goods - Nandakwang (1951)

As nature intended
Model Chairs (2002) - Nithi Sathapitanon and Saiyasana Semangern

Thailand’s tropical climate has shaped the national character. Thai people’s love of comfort and convenience owes much to the weather. This is reflected in the way that Thais have traditionally sat and slept, preferring a raised platform or a litter to a Western-style bed or chair. These model chairs were designed by National Contemporary Architect Nithi Sathapitanon and Saiyasana Semangern, a gifted furniture designer known for incorporating railroad sleepers and parts of boats and wagons in his designs. Here, the two artists have chosen not to cut the wood into small pieces but to respect its true nature. As a result, the chair has a light and airy feel, like a traditional Thai house, while the rounded edges recall traditional Thai architecture and its respect for nature.

Keeping the crafts tradition alive
Aranyik Knives – Craftsmen from Aranyik Village

Ayuthaya is located in a fertile river basin that was once an abundant source of bamboo and tropical hardwoods. Because the wood from these trees burns hotter than other kinds of wood, they were ideal for use in iron smelting. In the time of King Rama II, the village of Aranyik in Ayuthaya province was a thriving marketplace and home to a number of popular gambling houses. One of the most popular items for sale or barter in the markets around the town was a particular knife known as an Aranyik knife. The tradition of knife making was started by Lao immigrants from Vientiane who had fled starvation in their homeland and taken refuge in Ayuthaya. These migrants were skilled in making sharp, sturdy knives with wooden handles that were occasionally adorned with mother-of-pearl inlay. Some of the knives were used in agriculture, others in the home, and still others were intended as weapons. Even today the tradition of knife making remains very much alive in Aranyik, although the styles and manner in which the knives are made have been modernized to suit the needs of people today.

A World of Information
i-mobile TV 620 (2009) - Makorn Chaovanich, Samart i-mobile

In the Information Age, the Internet connects us all, and the accelerating pace of modern life has made all of us masters of multitasking. Telephones that used to just make and receive calls now have a whole range of functions and applications that let us do ten things at once! In recent years, Thailand has become a manufacturing and export hub for many Western electronics firms. But the i-mobile TV 620 is a Thai mobile telephone designed by Makorn Chaovanich, founder of Cerebrum Design. The phone was designed with business needs, marketing, brand building, and functionality in mind. Users can watch movies, listen to music, and access high-speed Internet – all at a price that the average Thai consumer can afford.

Siam – the land of smiles
Mr. P lamp - Propaganda (1994)

Thailand’s natural abundance encouraged a kind of communal way of life that has nurtured the native love of fun and the Thai sense of (sometimes risqué) humor. Recognizing these national traits and working within Thailand’s technical and technological limitations, a group of designers who had cut their teeth in the advertising trade formed Propaganda in 1994. Propaganda brought a Thai sense of fun to a range of industrial products that had always been seen as cold, impersonal and sterile. The company is probably best known for a cartoon character named Mr. P. Introduced in 2002, Mr. P is an adorable if somewhat mischievous figure whose body doubles as such items as a tape dispenser and a key chain. His clever poses are guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of city dwellers stressed out by the pressures of modern life.

The beauty of imperfection
Wool and Nylon Shirts – Junya Watanabe and Comme des Garcons

Untucked, loose-fitting shirts, loose-knit sweaters with a moth-eaten look, and tight-fitting skirts with sponge padding that protrudes like a tumor. Items like these fill the collections of designer Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garçons (French for “like the boys”). Rejecting Western notions of beauty, Kawakubo’s designs have been turning heads in the fashion world since her first collection hit the runway back in 1981.

Money from the God
Evisu Jeans – Hidehiko Yamane

Hidehiko Yamane launched his own brand of jeans called Evisu, after the Japanese folk god of money. Yamane’s jeans were a throwback to the vintage jeans of the 1950’s and were produced on machinery in use at the time. To further distinguish them from the mass-produced version, a seagull was hand-painted on the back pocket of each pair. Initially, only 14 pairs of jeans were produced each day, a clear reflection of the Japanese obsession with detail. Because of this limited production, Evisu jeans have become hard-to-find fashion status symbols.

Farmer shoes go global
Pelotas shoes – Camper (1975)

Rich in local character, Camper shoes are inspired by farmers’ footwear from the Spanish island of Mallorca and the rural environment of the Mediterranean. In this part of the world, ‘camper’ means ‘peasant’

Can we help the world through design?
PVC Bag – Demano (1999)

This eco-friendly bag is the brainchild of three Colombian friends with a love for the posters advertising art exhibits and other cultural happenings around their adopted city of Barcelona. While the posters were attractive, the three transplants regretted the fact they were simply discarded after a single use. That’s how Eleonora Para Chini, Marcola Manrique and Lilianan Andrade, living in Barcelona since 1998, came up with the idea of turning these posters, made from highly-flexible, waterproof PVC plastic into trendy bags and other fashion items.

The Goddess
Citroen ID 19 (1957-1975) - Flaminio Bertoni, Citroen

The Citroën ID19 first hit showrooms in 1957. At the time it was the newest in the line of Deesse (French for ‘goddess’) economy cars which went into production in 1955. Designed by sculptor Flaminio Bertoni, the car had a modern look, with lightweight fiberglass roof, and extra-wide windshield and rounded side windows that resembled a spaceship.

Roman holiday
Vespa – Corradino D’Ascanio, Piaggio (1946)

Piaggio, Vespa’s manufacturer, originally made warplanes. Under Allied agreements, at the end of WWII, the company was no longer allowed to manufacture aircraft. Enrico Piaggio decided to create a stylish scooter that was fast and easy to use – a modern design for the masses.

Love machine
Olivetti Valentine portable typewriter – Ettore Sottsass, Olivetti (1969)

Dubbed by many as ‘godfather of Italian design’, Ettore Sottsass has worked throughout his long career to create products that challenged the icons of Italian design that he thought “functioned in terms of status and money.” Launched on Valentine’s day of 1969, the Olivetti Valentine – with its distinctive red colour, light in weight, stylish and compact in shape –captures the Italian joy of life. Ettore Sottsass described it as “an anti-machine machine and was conceived as a domestic fashion accessory… For use in any place except an office…

More than a hat
Fedora hat - Borsalino (1857)

For more than 150 years, Borsalino has been recognized as one of the world’s finest hat makers. Founded by Giuseppe Borsalino in 1857, the company has continuously built on its reputation for outstanding craftsmanship, quality, and attention to detail. A typical Borsalino hat is made by hand using 19th-century technology, and requires seven weeks to complete. The brand’s signature style is the fedora, made from Belgian rabbit fur lined with satin and carefully packed in its own hatbox.

Easy! a single screwdriver only
Lounge Chair (1956) – Charles and Ray Eames for the Herman Miller Company

In the years following World War II, design technologies accompanied the development of new household appliances spurred on by the prosperity of the American middle class. This lounge chair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the Herman Miller Company, is one of the classic designs of the 20th century. Basing their design on the English club chair of the previous century, the Eames brothers simplified the production process. The basic frame is made entirely of molded plywood, the upholstery is leather, and the legs resemble a five-armed star. The chairs can be disassembled for easy packing and shipment and then easily reassembled with a single screwdriver.

So Long, Grammophone!
Phonosuper SK4 (1956) - Dieter Rams, Braun

To industrial designer Dieter Rams, function should always precede form. Good design is aesthetic, but it’s unobtrusive, honest, and “as little design as possible.” The SK4 Phonosuper phonograph that Rams designed for German household appliance manufacturer Braun in 1956 epitomizes this functionalist philosophy.

Form follows function
Safari fountain pen (1980) - Lamy

Lamy revolutionized the stationery business by producing the world’s first fountain pens out of sturdy, lightweight plastic. The iconic Safari pen, designed by Wolfgang Fabian, is unlike more traditional fountain pens in that it has an angled shaft which makes it more comfortable to hold. The ink cartridge is also easy to remove and replace. The clip at the top of the pen is made from a single piece of stainless steel. This smart design, ease of use, and reasonable price made the Safari fountain pen a favorite with designers and architects all around the world.

Icy inspirations
Ultima Thule (1959-1968) – Tapio Wirkkala, Iittala

Tapio Wirkkala’s ‘Ultima Thule’ is a design classic that speaks eloquently of Finland’s pristine northern landscape – from the soothing snow and ice, to wintry forests and lakes. Inspired by Arctic ice formations and the natural environment of Lapland – Europe’s farthest-reaching wilderness – the Ultima Thule also reflects the thousands of hours Wirkkala spent perfecting the glassblowing technique.

Vivid colours in cold climate
Marimekko Cotton Dress (1970s) – Marimekko

Marimekko was founded in Helsinki in 1951, under the direction of Armi Ratia, who sought to produce textiles that merged native and international influences, rural and urban lifestyles, and nature and technology in a perfect synthesis. In the early years, the company’s collections, with their large, bold patterns inspired by everyday objects, nature, and architectural works, had an immediate impact on the international design and fashion communities. Marimekko clothes were bright, casual and comfortable-looking like a Finnish peasant dress.

Brazilian cut
Bikini (1990’s) –Amir Salama, Rosa Cha

Rosa Cha swimwear collections, designed by Amir Salama, an historian turned bikini designer, are known for their vibrant colors, native bead designs, and body-hugging curves. The Brazilian-cut bottoms reveal the buttocks, and Salama’s use of stretchy fabric accentuates a woman’s figure, especially when she walks. Rosa Cha bikinis are an expression of that playful Brazilian sexiness that women the world over long for.

Old items make a comeback
ZigZag Bags and Shoes (2004) – the Campana Brothers, Melissa

Melissa is a major Brazilian shoe manufacturer best known for its soft PVC sandals modeled after the woven sandals worn by French fishermen which made their debut in the 1980s. Beginning in 1999, the company started hiring top designers and architects like the Campana Brothers, Brazilian Alexandre Herchcovitch, Vivien Westwood, and Zaha Hardid to give brand a more contemporary look. Today, it takes less than a minute to produce a pair of classic Melissa shoes, and the PVC used to make them is 100% recycled.

Old items make a comeback
ZigZag Bags and Shoes (2004) – the Campana Brothers, Melissa