Talented by design

A ceramic set with an Arabic alphabet pattern, a banana paper modular partition inspired by a string of jasmine garlands, funky jewellery in unconventional forms and materials as well as an outdoor chair born from aluminium waste are among the products recognised in the 2011 Thai Creative Awards.

Initiated by the Office of Knowledge Management and Development or OKMD, the awards, now in their second year, are given in two categories of crafts and design, with three awards in each category. Criteria include creativity and functionality, business potential, social benefit and environmental responsibility. Each winner receives a trophy of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, a certificate and Bt100,000 in cash.

Pattani native Emsophian Benjametha wanted to prove that southern Thailand can shine as a ceramic producer every bit as brightly as the North. Employed as a furniture designer by Planet 2001 for several years, two years ago Emsophian quit and returned home to set up his own ceramic factory called Benjametha.

“My father worked in a brick factory and I saw how blocks of soil could produce only one brick costing several baht. My aim is to add value to my home soil. As a Muslim, my ceramic works should also reflect the identities of the country’s three southernmost provinces,” says Emsophian.

He’s tried to use the dark soil of Narathiwat’s Bang Nara district but says the quality is not good enough for ceramics. Right now, he’s mixing Bang Nara soil with earth from Chiang Mai.

“My stoneware is fired at 1,270 Celsius and the soils available in the south are not hard enough to resist such heat. I have to mix soils from different sources,” he says.

His ceramics represent his origins. One set features the Arabic alphabet while another is inspired by the characteristic shape of the Kolae fishing boat with its narrow bow and stern in unique colours.

The winner of several overseas awards and prizes for design over the past several years, among them the Form Award from Germany and G Mark’s Good Design award from Japan, Thosaphol Suppametheekulwat has finally made his mark at home.

His funky kitchenware and household items under the Qualy brand come with playful gimmicks but functionality is still the first priority.

A log-shaped paper towel holder reminds you about using up precious natural resources, a polar bear-like ice bucket jogs your memory of the shrinking arctic and a self watering plant pot conveys a message about preserving the forest. A plug holder reminds you to save energy while smart stacked bins help you separate garbage easily.

Recyclable polycarbonate plastic and food grade colour are the main materials, ensuring that the products are not just environmentally friendly but also won’t harm the health.

There’s also a key ring with a key holder shaped like a birdhouse, scissors and clip holder that resembles a rabbit clutching a carrot, a doggy food bowl that looks just like a dog and a ladle with a bird-shaped handle.

“We focus on creative designs as well as quality and functionality. Our products aren’t just kitchenware or household items but double as home decor for the environmentally conscious,” says Thosaphol.

A part of Trimode Studio, Trimode Accessories was founded in 2008 to focus on fashion accessories and quirky jewellery pieces. The wild designs come from blending and mixing different perspectives until they find new and interesting solutions. Velvet and rubber form a ring and the new collection “Love is Like a Desk of Cards” features semi-geometrical shapes such as hearts, spades, diamond and clubs in plain gold and silver.

Young entrepreneur Pimchanok Palangkul has quickly made her own brand of Chinese white tea – Balankura’s No 57 – famous on the world market. Her success comes from the careful selection of premium quality tea to the design of the aesthetic packaging and a variety of innovative flavours.

“Being the most sensual refined tea brand, the packaging plays a very important role in endorsing the message and mood of each tea flavour including the seasonal limited edition teas for Christmas and Valentine’s day,” says Pimchanok. “Drinking No 57 tea is not about just sipping tea but a cultured sensual fantasy that pull you into a flawless world of joy.”

Another winning work is banana fibre paper that’s cut into interlocking pieces like jigsaws, which can be assembled into any form, like a partition and a tablecloth. Designed by Saran Youkongdee under the brand Sarran, the material is toxin-free, resistant to moisture, stronger than cotton fibre and can help reduce odours.

Apirat Boonruangthaworn of Plus-Sense Co receives his award for turning junk from an aluminium factory into eye-catching outdoor furniture. His outdoor chairs and tables are put together with screws and o-rings while the chair seats and tabletop are made from woven polyethylene for durability.

The winning works are currently on show at Thailand Creative and Design Centre together with another 14 outstanding submitted works.

They include a dining table made from discarded wood by architect Singh Intrachooto of Osisu.
You can also get a taste of outlandish ice creams from by Prima Chakrabandhu Na Ayudhya of IceDea. The flavours include khao tom mud (steamed sticky rice with banana), tako (mung bean flour pudding with coconut topping) and Tokyo Banana, wasabi and sponge cake.

TAKE THE PRIZE
>> The exhibition of the 2011 Thai Creative Awards is on view at Thailand Creative and Design Centre until March 4.
>> The Centre is on the sixth floor of the Emporium mall. It’s open daily except Monday from 10.30am to 9pm. Call (02) 664 8448, extension 2134 and visit www.TCDC.or.th.