Well wooden you know!

SEVEN TALENTED industrial-design graduates from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Thonburi got a fast reputation boost this year when their Thumm iPhone dock won a Demark Award for its minimalist allure. 

The Pana Objects-brand dock is a concave beechwood slab that resonates naturally, enhancing the phone acoustics without the need for any electricity or hi-tech accoutrements. Simple yet functional, it’s ideal for trendy urbanites. 

The Pana gang went their separate ways after graduation but regrouped three years ago to pool efforts in freelance designing. “We were working in various branches of design – graphics, branding and furniture – but we wanted to build funky products under our own label. That’s why we started Pana Objects in 2012,” says Waewyos Sonthichai. 

They started out selling items on Facebook – lifestyle stuff, stationery and gadget accessories made from imported walnut, beech and maple. Then they set up shop in the Selected, the multi-brand store at Siam Centre, and had booths at the Baan Lae Suan Fair and Bangkok International Gift and Houseware Fairs. 

With the emphasis on simplicity, the products come in natural shades and bear natural wood grains and other textures. 

Waewyos’ Sila smartphone stands are crafted from single blocks of maple. The surface looks sophisticated, even three-dimensional, resembling the rounded stones of a riverbed.

“Maple, beech and walnut have shades and grains that are easy to mix and match in modern decor for the house,” he says. “We have a 

 process in which we brainstorm ideas for the collection and choose the best ones. The concepts come from various things around us, which we modify so they’re easier to use in daily life.”

Frank is a square beechwood lamp that looks like a dog, with four legs (adjustable). The two-tone Teepi diffuser cover comes in maple and walnut. Snappy is a button-like wall hanger in maple that can support two kilograms of clothes, bags or hats.

Among the stationery is the Blok pencil box in maple with magnets in the lid. The Crackie tape holder resembles a cracker. The cartoonish Bot sharpener is walnut and maple.

Then there’s the Trinkle key holder in a bell shape, the Sit mini-clock with hands in vivid colours, and the Shady wall clock that has the same three-dimensional approach as a sundial.

 

 

KNOCK KNOCK

>>Find Pana Objects products at the Selected at Siam Centre, on Facebook and at www.Pana-Objects.com.