I believe destiny makes us who we are. I originally chose to study design just to flirt with the ladies, but then I fell in love with it. Who knows, I might have been good at something else, but I’m here now.
Design taught me to question everything I do. It makes me believe that everyone has the potential to be what they want to be. You just have to be passionate enough to keep on learning.
Thai schools have failed us for so long. The low teacher salaries don’t attract smart people. And many students end up spending 20 years in school for nothing.
Design isn’t just about objects. It’s about everyday decisions. Even when you choose to brush your teeth before anything else, it’s because you think that’s the right choice for you.
Creativity is in everything, from agriculture to Thai desserts; but Thais never believe that we’re cool. We’ve been dominated by Western influences for so long. It makes us afraid to be ourselves. Other countries showcase the great things they have and ignore their weaknesses.
Don’t compare yourself to others. Many of us try to create things to compete with global brands. That’s not wrong. But we should play to our strengths. There are things we can do better than others.
We’re good at doing things in groups. It’s part of Thai tradition, like long kaek (rice harvest gathering). That’s why we are good at partying. The Full Moon Party has the potential to be the best party in the world.
Adaptation is in our genes. People always talk about Thainess, but I see adaptation as our great defining feature. We survived the threat of colonialism, WWII and communism because we welcome things and adapt them for our survival.
Conservation is a dangerous concept. We should focus on contemporizing. The Japanese wear their kimono in everyday life because it’s been gradually modernized. We don’t wear Thai dress because we see it as anachronistic.
Constructive criticism gets better results. It’s about finding the right balance. Criticism is essential to survival.
Some people will be successful wherever they go. But many people try to get into good schools or universities like Chulalongkorn because they see that lots of successful people graduated from there. Truth is, there are many failures, too, but people never remember them.
Learn from your failures. We never remember the names of people who win the lottery, because there are no stories in there. But we remember people like Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi [founder of Thai Beverage, third richest man in Thailand], Warren Buffet and Philip Kotler because of their achievements.
I’m interested in relational aesthetics. It’s not just the design of an object, but the story behind it. You buy a jasmine rice spa product because you have good memories of jasmine rice, not just for the beautiful bottle. But the design helps connect the dots.
People are crazy about customization. No matter if it’s bags or clothes, people value uniqueness.
The information we get at university, from TV and even the internet isn’t knowledge. Many people misinterpret everything they study as knowledge. The real knowledge is acting on what you learn and learning from mistakes, just like the farmers who first learned how to grow rice in our climate. That’s expertise.
I’m trying to connect Asia’s talented designers to bring out the best in us. I created Asia Talents to showcase young designers from Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand and help us develop our industry together.
You’re important in your own way. Many people don’t see the context surrounding them and how it influences who they are. They try to capture things they don’t have. You must rearrange and recompile yourself, like building a house from bricks, and then you will be strong.
Try to stand on the edge of your own boundaries. It will help you see not only the next boundary, but endless possibilities.
