Bangkok Design Week has grown into more than just a gathering for designers. What started as a creative industry showcase is now a city-wide celebration of ideas, experiences, and everyday design. The festival opens up the world of design to the public, bringing it to the streets, cafes, galleries, and hidden corners of Bangkok. It’s no longer just for people who work in the field, but for anyone curious about how design shapes the way we live and work. More than just looking at design, this is about using it. The festival encourages everyone to tap into their own potential, using design and creativity as tools to rethink problems, explore new possibilities, and collaborate across disciplines. It’s a space where design becomes a shared language and a way to change the game for the better.
About B
This approach draws inspiration from the familiar welcome signs seen outside schools, government offices, and local restaurants — smiling boy and girl characters with palms pressed together in a traditional Thai greeting. These iconic images, usually uniform and repetitive, were reimagined using Generative AI. Outfits, expressions, and styles shift from image to image, turning a static symbol into a playful, evolving cast of personalities. The idea behind it goes beyond visuals. These boy and girl figures represent everyone — each person carrying the potential to grow, learn, and redefine who they are. With the help of AI, creative expression is no longer limited by artistic skill. Instead, it becomes an open space where anyone can explore new possibilities, expand their abilities, and imagine new versions of themselves without limits.
About A
The A-cut design features two characters raising their arms to form a plus sign, echoing the theme of "Up+Rising" and the spirit of collaboration. The Thai phrase “ออกแบบพร้อมบวก” roughly translates to “design ready to plus,” with “บวก” (buak) meaning not just addition, but positive energy, creative action, and people coming together. The visual language blends playful Thai elements and everyday objects in a structured yet humorous maximalist style, capturing a bold, slightly offbeat sense of Thainess that feels both fresh and inviting. Unlike previous years where a single key visual was used throughout, Bangkok Design Week 2025 introduced a new approach: three versions of the visual, each interpreted in three styles—black-and-white sketch, two-color flat design, and full-color 3D—released in three separate phases over five months. This evolving visual strategy reflected the nature of design itself as a process of experimentation, reflection, and continuous improvement. The result was a record-breaking response: social engagement soared with the highest number of likes, shares, and comments ever, while attendance jumped from over 400,000 to more than 700,000 visitors, proving that design in motion resonates more than a static image.
I like the idea and the concept, it’s smart. Just not sure if the general public will catch it. People don’t always have the time or focus to notice the details.
The version featuring the traditional Thai greeting characters was also well received by the client, though it required a bit more time for audiences to fully grasp the idea. Still, several elements from that design were carried over into the final version. These included the use of Thai sak yant patterns — sacred tattoo designs traditionally believed to offer protection, luck, or strength. They are often seen on monks, fighters, and taxi drivers, and have become a deeply rooted part of Thai visual culture. In this context, they were reinterpreted with a playful twist, combined with spell-like text that added humour and surprise. The use of Generative AI was also seen as a valuable tool — a way to bring abstract ideas into visual form and invite everyday people to experiment with new creative technologies. These key elements found their way into the final design, helping bridge concept and communication in a way that speaks directly to the wider audience.
