May 17, 2023 – Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University carried out an academic service project that promotes manufacturing of community products for the Textile Handicraft and Souvenirs Group of Phu Wiang District, Khon Kaen Province. The training was led by Asst. Prof. Somying Puapimon, Ph.D., Head of the Project; Asst. Prof. Supaporn Atthakomon, Ph.D.; Ajarn Khwanhathai Thada, Ph.D.; three 4th year students majoring in design; and laboratory officers. the Textile Handicraft and Souvenirs Group of Phu Wiang District, Khon Kaen Province was founded as a cluster of housewives who make local products when they are free from their work in the farm. The group produces local textiles and souvenirs by incorporating the locality’s cultures and backgrounds. For instance, they use the dinosaur identity, they dye cloth from natural materials until now there are various souvenirs for tourists to choose.
Asst. Prof. Somying Puapimon, Ph.D., Head of the Project, Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University related that the Department of Design of the Faculty has the expertise in design and the Department regularly integrates work with instruction of the different courses to solve problems and carry out projects in accordance with the needs of the community under the department’s responsibility. So now, there are innovations, products and goods that have been produced, which also strengthen the community until they are able to depend on themselves and obtain benefits from the existing resources.
“The academic service project that develops community products for the Textile Handicraft and Souvenirs Group of Phu Wiang District, Khon Kaen Province is aimed at applying knowledge and integrating instruction with the community under the course, AR 025 103 Basic Packaging Design, which is about the design of geometric arts, brands of goods, materials, technologies, design techniques, and types of packages; and the course, AR025 303 Corporate Identity Design, which is about the design of organizational and brand identities. The bodies of knowledge of both courses can be applied in the design and development of products and souvenirs by using the local identity and materials. Therefore, this project truly supports both lecturers and students to apply their competency and potentiality in design. The aim is to develop at least 10 items of souvenirs for the Textile Handicraft and Souvenirs Group of Phu Wiang District, Khon Kaen Province, including publications that will help promote the products. It is believed that after the training, the housewife group will be able to produce these goods and hence can build new occupations for themselves that will raise their earning in the long run.”
Mrs. Orapin Thongnongkoi, the head of the Textile Handicraft and Souvenirs Group of Phu Wiang District, Khon Kaen Province, revealed that the group emerged from the clustering of housewives who use their free time from farming to produce local products such as local materials and souvenirs. They are doing this by incorporating the local cultures and backgrounds such as using dinosaur identity, dyeing of materials from natural materials, until there are now various products and souvenirs for tourists at all levels to buy.
“The Textile Handicraft and Souvenirs Group of Phu Wiang District, Khon Kaen Province wants to increase the varieties of products and use the dinosaur identity with the raw materials found in the locality to produce scented candles and fancy candles in the shapes of dinosaurs. The products can be sold as souvenirs and are in interesting forms different from the former products. The group therefore made a request to the Faculty of Architecture, Khon Kaen University to train the group to develop these products. It is believed that with the housewives working together, they will be able to develop their potential and at the same time, the resources existing in the community can be made use of, leading to new occupations of the Textile Handicraft and Souvenirs Group of Phu Wiang District, Khon Kaen Province.”
News: Kannapat Sirikiat
Information: Pimchanok Srisuriyamat
Photos: Asst. Prof. Somying Puapimon, Ph.D.,
