KHON KAEN, THAILAND — On 10 June 2026, the Enterprise and Societal Sustainability Division, in collaboration with the Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy Division and the Art and Culture Centre at Khon Kaen University, organised a workshop titled ‘Creative Development and Enhancement of Local Products through Community Participation‘. The project aimed to provide knowledge in designing and developing local products using cultural capital, raising them into high-value products that align with market demands and generate sustainable income for local communities. The event was held at the Khum See Than 1 Meeting Room, Art and Culture Centre, Khon Kaen University.
The workshop was opened by Professor Thidarut Boonmars, DVM, PhD, Vice President for Enterprise and Societal Sustainability, who delivered the welcoming remarks. Mrs Yupharat Duangdeethaweesap, President of the Khon Kaen Thai Silk Promotion Association, shared her insights on developing Thai textile products to meet contemporary market needs. Mr Worasak Worayot, Director of the Art and Culture Centre, presented the project’s progress report. Associate Professor Niyom Wongpongkham, PhD, Vice President for Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, presided over the opening ceremony and highlighted the university’s role in supporting community product development through creative processes and drawing on academic knowledge to strengthen the grassroots economy.
Associate Professor Wongpongkham noted that the workshop offers a means for KKU to advance the creative economy by merging modern design principles with local wisdom to add commercial value to community products. The involvement of faculty members from the Faculty of Architecture and the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, who mentored the 15 participating groups, reflects the university’s commitment to serving as a genuine partner to regional communities and entrepreneurs. The university expects the project to build a collaborative network among academia, communities, and the business sector, supporting the long-term growth of local products.
The workshop centred on creative product development, with participants divided into 15 groups to brainstorm and develop product prototypes under the mentorship of Khon Kaen University faculty. The expert team from the Faculty of Architecture included Lecturer Kwanhatai Thada, Lecturer Monthida Lertnimanradee, and Lecturer Anarknanon Rakyart, alongside Lecturer Apinya Asarach and Lecturer Sathaporn Khamchaturas from the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts. They provided guidance on design, product branding, identity creation, and commercial product development.
The initiative provides an institutional framework for developing the creative economy through cultural assets and local heritage. By building networks of cooperation between the university, local communities, and entrepreneurs, KKU continues to support local products and contribute to sustainable development across the region.
