The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) reaffirms its success in building a network of Thai designers towards becoming professional design brands. It has launched the 2023 initiative to promote Thai designers to the global market, known as Designers' Room / Talent Thai & Creative Studio Promotion 2023. This important platform aims to support new Thai designers with potential to develop their businesses and adapt to meet the demands of international markets effectively, stepping into the role of a “designer brand” or “new export entrepreneur” that creates commercial value and plays a role in the economy. This year, the project was grandly launched under the concept “KEEP AN EYE ON: THE CREATIVE POWER OF THE NEW ERA – Observing the Creative Power of New Designers and Global Design Trends.”

M.L. Khaothong Thongyai, Expert in Commerce stated, “The Ministry of Commerce has a policy focused on enhancing the marketing potential of SMEs and Micro SMEs, promoting new entrepreneurs to play a role in the economy in line with national strategies and the 13th Economic and Social Development Plan. The DITP has therefore implemented various projects and activities to push and support new entrepreneurs both centrally and regionally, encouraging them to utilize creativity and innovation to add value to products and services, enhancing trade capabilities and elevating Thai products to higher value, while adapting to the changes of the new economy.”

“The project to promote Thai designers to the global market, managed by the Bureau of Innovation Promotion and Value Creation for Trade, is another significant initiative that supports the new generation using creativity in business to seize opportunities for potential development while adapting to the new economy. It also helps enhance the country's image as a center for the creative industry in the Asia region. Over the past 21 years, the department has developed numerous new entrepreneurs to the national and international stage, with over 744 designers having been developed through the project.”

This year, the project is once again open for applications from new designers nationwide. The department has invited a panel of experts in design and marketing to select designers who are ready to receive opportunities for potential growth in the international market. It is evident that advancements in technology have significantly changed consumer behavior and demands. As designers, we must keep an eye on the trends of changes occurring in this new era, including Digital Transformation and Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the competitive DIGITAL MARKET, necessitating developments that respond to global needs to create the Creative Power of The New Era, while importantly not undermining the desires of future generations. These aspects are considered sustainable development,” M.L. Khaothong added.

The project to promote Thai designers to the global market was first held in 2002 for fashion designers and in 2004 for lifestyle product designers. Most recently, in 2021, the Creative Studio group was added. Through continuous operations, the designers developed from the project are divided into three groups: Designers’ Room, which includes fashion designers, clothing, bags, shoes, and jewelry with 215 brands; Talent Thai, which includes lifestyle product designers, furniture, household items, and decorations with 520 brands; and Creative Studio, which includes design service businesses in various fields such as CI & Branding, Character Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, and Industrial Design with 9 entities.

Ms. Praornuch Pranuch, Director of the Bureau of Innovation Promotion and Value Creation for Trade stated, “This project has created 'personnel/creators' who benefit the country and serves as a platform to nurture new designers to compete in international markets and gain recognition on the global stage. Currently, Thai designers who have participated in the project have works widely recognized, building brands that have gained fame both domestically and internationally, such as Saran Yu-khongdee from the brand SARRAN, Teerachai Supamethikulwat from the brand Qualy, a brand focused on eco-friendly products, Thanisa Veerasaksee from the jewelry brand RAVIPA, Surata Kiattipakphum from the brand PIN METAL ART, which creates value from scrap metal, and Dulyapol Srijun from PDM, who creatively developed traditional Thai mats into household items. Additionally, designers contribute to the country in various ways, such as creating jobs for communities, imparting design knowledge to the younger generation, or developing products for community entrepreneurs, such as Teera Chantasawat from the brand T RA, who specializes in fashion, Pipatchara Kaewjinda from the brand PIPATCHARA, and Korakot Aromdee from the brand KORAKOT, among others.

For the “Project to Promote Thai Designers to the Global Market” in 2023, the operations are divided into two parts:

The first part is for designers who have previously participated in the project, who will receive opportunities to engage in trade negotiations, enhance brand image, and promote their brands at trade shows and design platforms abroad, such as the Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair from September 6-10, 2023, the MAISON & OBJET trade show in Paris from September 7-11, 2023, and trade negotiations through the m.o.m. platform at the COTERIE New York trade show from September 19-21, 2023, the STYLE Bangkok 2024 trade show from March 20-24, 2024, participation in the Milan Design Week from April 13-18, 2024, and the Creative Expo Taiwan in October 2024, which will serve as a platform to build reputation and increase trade channels to the international market. The second part is for new designers, for whom applications will be accepted from now until June 16, 2023, under the concept “Keep an eye on: The Creative Power Of The New Era.” New designers participating in the project will receive knowledge development in business operations to align with the new economy and global mega-trends, divided into two courses:

The first course covers the fundamentals of being an international designer, such as brand creation, digital marketing, online trade, and product development in line with global mega-trends, including Circular Design processes, business development towards a low-carbon society, and sustainability (SDGs), with instructors from leading organizations such as Amazon.com and CIRCO HUB Thailand.

The second course is a boot camp for Thai designers to go global, exchanging experiences with senior mentors and receiving product and business development challenges from the project’s partner network, including Baan Lae Suan, SC Grand, and LIMITED EDUCATION organizations, as well as successful senior brands like Qualy, Mobella, SARRAN, and Q Design and Play. An Alumni Team will serve as mentors throughout the project, encouraging knowledge exchange and fostering collaborative networks.

For designers interested in participating in the Project to Promote Thai Designers to the Global Market in 2023, applications can be submitted from today until June 16. For more details on the application process, please follow the Facebook page Talent Thai & Designers’ Room and for further inquiries, contact the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), Ministry of Commerce at www.ditp.go.th or the International Trade Hotline at 1169.