The Gallery, a Social Enterprise under Asset World Corporation (AWC), continues its mission to promote Thai arts, culture, and community development through its collaboration with the Faculty of Decorative Arts, Silpakorn University. Together, they have launched The Gallery Art & Design Competition 2025, under the theme “Art Craft n’ Lifestyle & Sustainable”.
The initiative provides a platform for students across seven departments to develop design concepts inspired by local communities throughout Thailand.
This project is a part of The Gallery’s ongoing commitment to the philosophy “Giving Art, Art of Giving,” which reflects the belief that art can meaningfully uplift communities. By enabling young designers to learn from local wisdom and reinterpret traditional crafts into contemporary works, the project helps return long-term value to communities in a sustainable way.
As a Social Enterprise, The Gallery is dedicated to returning 100% of its proceeds directly to local communities. The brand serves as a bridge between emerging designers and artisans from across the country, strengthening community economies while preserving traditional craftsmanship.
Throughout the competition, students received scholarships, prototype development support, and opportunities to work directly with real communities. This collaboration lies at the heart of nurturing young designers who possess both creative capability and environmental consciousness, aligned with AWC’s social development framework under the “Pundee” initiative.
Final Showcase and Award Ceremony 2025
After reviewing submissions from students across all seven departments, The Gallery and a panel of expert judges selected nine finalists whose works stood out for their creativity, design concept, use of community-sourced materials, and potential for real-world product development.
All nine finalist works were presented during the final judging round, evaluated by specialists in contemporary design, applied arts, and community development.
The award ceremony was held on 25 November 2025, on the 53rd floor of The Empire, where AWC executives and representatives from Silpakorn University attended to honor the remarkable potential of Thailand’s next generation of designers.
Each award-winning work reflects the dedication of young creators who reinterpreted local wisdom, materials, and production techniques into meaningful contemporary design.
Winner Prize
The Community School Bag
Designer: Kulteera Seelacharoen
Communities: Ban Samet Ngam (Chanthaburi) & Ban Kham Pramong (Sakon Nakhon)
Inspiration: A contemporary school bag that reflects Thai identity through Chanthaboon sedge mat weaving and natural indigo-dyed cotton, integrating local craftsmanship into practical everyday use. The work elevates traditional materials into a functional product with strong market potential.
1st Runner-up (2 Awards)
1) Bamboo Bloom: The Beauty of the Heritage
Designer: Kamphuchat Hombubpha
Community: Ban Pang Luang, Saraphi District, Chiang Mai
Inspiration: A contemporary reinterpretation of the community’s intricate bamboo weaving heritage, incorporating organic forms inspired by traditional fishing tools and the blooming bamboo flower. The design highlights structural beauty and celebrates the continuity of cultural identity.
2) Sweet Checkmate
Designer: Mutita Pholsena
Community: Buasawan Thai Clay Group, Nonthaburi
Inspiration: A playful fusion of Thai desserts (Khanom Thai) and international chess, crafted with the community’s renowned miniature clay-sculpting techniques. Each chess piece—symbolized by traditional sweets—expresses charming cultural narratives in a collectible and functional design.
2nd Runner-up (2 Awards)
1) Pakaoma Hat
Designer: Apinya Chaiyasri
Community: Ban Khwao, Chaiyaphum
Inspiration: A modern reinterpretation of the traditional pakaoma fabric, turning it into a versatile and colorful hat suitable for all ages. The design celebrates Isaan culture, family ties, and local agricultural motifs while making traditional textiles relevant to younger generations.
2) Lan Saka Naree
Designer: Chanakan Intarajuk
Community: Ban Khiriwong, Nakhon Si Thammarat
Inspiration:
Hand-dyed fabrics using natural pigments from the Khiriwong community inspire this unique shoulder bag collection. Its orchid-petal form and “only one” craftsmanship highlight sustainability, eco-tourism, and the community’s identity as “The Village with the Best Air in Thailand.”
Honorable Mention (4 Awards)
1) Adapted Bag x Mae Ing Shibori (Hib Hor)
Designers: Papankorn Jeaphasook & Thee Puengchanchaikul
Community: Mae Ing Shibori, Phayao
Inspiration: A creative fusion of traditional Thai dessert wrapping forms (Hib Hor) and the Shibori tie-dye technique, incorporating surplus materials into an upcycled, flexible, and customizable bag that reflects modern Thai craftsmanship.
2) Hindudy (Mu-Talu Doll)
Designer: Jiramet Areerungrueng
Community: Doi Tung, Chiang Rai
Inspiration:
A Zero-Waste collectible doll inspired by Hindu deities – Ganesha, Kali, and Lakshmi – crafted from fabric remnants combined with Doi Tung Thai silk. The piece blends faith, art, and sustainability into a meaningful modern souvenir.
3) Ceramic Interlace
Designer: Phanlada Thongprakasit
Community: GHOM LANNA, Lampang
Inspiration: An upcycled lantern design combining broken ceramic fragments, bamboo weaving, and steel structures to create modern craft that reduces waste while elevating traditional Lanna heritage into contemporary decorative art.
4) Breeze from Tha Rae
Designers: Kobsap Meechan, Chuthamas Kitiphumthanin, Puntarik Dokpan & Ratima Raksuwan
Community: Tha Rae, Sakon Nakhon
Inspiration:
A reinterpretation of the historic community’s iconic star-patterned fans, expressing the movement of the wind through contemporary forms, vibrant colors, and symbolic motifs that honor over 100 years of cultural craftsmanship.
