Bangkok, with a population exceeding 10 million, consistently ranks as a "must-visit" city due to its diverse attractions, affordable cuisine, reasonable cost of living, and friendly locals. Despite being a popular global destination, it placed 98th out of 140 cities on the Economist Intelligence Unit's 2021 'Most Livable Cities' list. Challenges such as traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, air quality issues, limited green spaces, and public areas, combined with an aging population and cultural changes, contribute to this ranking.
In response, the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), government and private agencies, educational institutions, international organisations, and the network of creative business districts, intends to host the world-class creative festival "Bangkok Design Week 2024 (BKKDW2024)." This festival will span 9 days across 15 creative business districts, all centred around the theme "Livable Scape," with the goal of making Bangkok an even more 'livable' city in every conceivable aspect.
Dr. Chakrit Pichyangkul, CEA Executive Director, stated, "The creative economy is a mechanism that drives economic growth by utilising each country's resources to maximise benefits. This is achieved through continuous innovation, creating culturally relevant assets to remain modern, generating added value and differentiation for goods and services. Additionally, the creative economy is a vital tool for building Soft Power, promoting the country's image on the international stage, attracting tourism, and boosting exports.
Thailand possesses a diverse cultural heritage and creative capital that can compete globally. In the past, social and cultural capital has been harnessed to create economic value through 15 creative industries. In 2021, the Thai creative industries had an estimated value of around 1.1 trillion baht, accounting for 6.81% of Thailand's GDP. In 2022, the creative industries employed a significant workforce of 963,549 individuals.
Dr. Chakrit emphasised that "CEA, aims to propel Thailand's creative economy to a global level. One of CEA's crucial missions is to create creative economic zones by fostering and developing areas conducive to a creative atmosphere and the initiation of new businesses. Additionally, there is a commitment to increasingly engage with surrounding communities. Furthermore, CEA also works to promote the growth of the creative industry by developing potential and networking, utilising creative thinking as a tool to elevate both business and the quality of life for the Thai people.
Fostering Creativity and Economic Growth Through Design
Bangkok Design Week 2024 serves as a dynamic platform for innovative ideas and experiences through the festivalisation of the city, with the aim of utilising creative thinking to enhance both business and the quality of life for the Thai people. It also provides a platform to showcase the work of designers and creative businesses, fostering competition and creating networks within and beyond the country. Furthermore, it has a positive impact on various environmental businesses, such as marketing, restaurants, tourism, hotels, public transportation services, and more."
The festival encourages everyone to actively contribute to creating a 'Livable Scape' in every possible form, whether through small personal initiatives, relationships, spaces, environments, or perspectives. The goal is to make Bangkok a more 'livable city' than ever before, with a focus on three key dimensions.
The three key dimensions include:
- Hard Matters - A city that is physically sound, offering easy access to physical well-being, connecting people, ensuring comfort, and promoting good health.
- Heart Matters - A city that is emotionally nurturing, caring for its residents, providing diverse activities, and fostering a strong cultural identity and community engagement.
- Design Matters - A well-designed city that enhances the quality of life, fosters the development of areas, communities, culture, and creative economies.
The CEA Executive Director added, "CEA is taking concrete steps to transform Bangkok into a city that is 'worth living in,' 'worth investing in,' and 'worth visiting'—a city that is 'charming' for all its residents, investors, and visitors. This is not just a theoretical concept; it can be achieved by anyone, because the more people do, the better the city becomes, and life improves."
He also stated, "The festival will be another significant milestone in creating an ecosystem for the creative economy. It will generate opportunities and business income, promote collaboration to build networks, and stimulate creative districts while driving the development of a creative city in Bangkok."
Bangkok Design Week 2024 (BKKDW2024) is the 7th edition and will take place from January 27 to February 4, 2024, from 11:00 - 22:00 hrs, under the theme 'Livable Scape: The More People Take Action, The Better The City.'
"Due to increased public engagement, this year's festival will span across 15 districts of Bangkok, an increase of 9 districts from last year," said Dr. Chakrit.
The 15 districts include Charoenkrung - Talat Noi, Phra Nakhon, Pak Khlong Talat, Nang Loeng, Yaowarat, Hua Lamphong, Ari - Pradipat, Bang Pho - Kiak Kai, Wongwian Yai - Talat Phlu, Kaset - Bang Bua, Phrom Phong, Siam - Ratchathewi, Bangkok Yai - Wang Doem, Phra Khanong - Bang Na, Bang Mot, and others. The new districts comprise Hua Lamphong, Siam - Ratchathewi, Bangkok Yai - Wang Doem, Phra Khanong - Bang Na, Bang Mot, and Bang Bua/Kiak Kai.
The festival consists of four main activities:
- Showcases and Exhibitions
- Talks and Workshops
- Event Programs
- Creative Markets and Promotions
In total, there will be over 500 activities, including a special project called 'HACK BKK,' which presents a challenging design prompt that fosters collaborative changes with a focus on people as the centre. Other aspects covered include business, academia, health and wellness, international collaboration between Thai and international designers, local community engagement, and lively programs such as music, tours, and open houses.
This year, interesting districts to explore include the Kaset-Bang Bua area, driven by SC Asset, and the Phra Nakhon district, where LPN (Lumpini Place Taopoon Interchange) is participating. The Yaowarat district features an exhibition by Hatari, introducing new participants to the festival.
Additionally, this year's festival collaborates with the BMA on a Public Transportation initiative called Legazy Project. This includes the introduction of Go Go Bus, small-sized buses altering routes within various alleys to reduce traffic congestion on main roads, connecting various districts like Charoenkrung, Talat Noi, Yaowarat, and Phra Nakhon. The festival also promotes bicycle use, collaborates with AnyWheel on signage, and partners with MuvMi for their services, connecting all festival areas.
Dr. Chakrit emphasised, "Being a tourist-friendly city alone cannot make a city resilient and sustainable amid the challenges of the present-day world. The livability of a city becomes a crucial essence to progress alongside its residents in a balanced and sustainable manner."
Enhancing Livability: A Multidimensional Approach for Bangkok
The livability of a city is determined by the daily experiences of its residents, encompassing physical, mental, and social aspects. It relies on a harmonious environment that meets life demands in both private and public spaces, neighbourhoods, and the entire city. Products, services, and activities catering to diverse needs foster connections among people and their surroundings. By incorporating local culture and environmental considerations, community integration is promoted, encouraging the exchange of ideas, collaborative thinking, and collective action."
He also highlighted, "Currently, many creative economic districts, notably in Charoenkrung and Talat Noi, have experienced significant growth with the emergence of new businesses. Over the past 6 years, Bangkok Design Week has made substantial contributions, generating an economic value exceeding 1.9 billion baht. The festival has attracted over 2.15 million visitors, including creators, entrepreneurs, government and private sector representatives, educational institutions, and collaboration partners, totalling nearly 10,000 participants.
The festival's 'Design Impact' also extends to creating a 'Model for Livable City Design,' inspiring collaborative projects aimed at addressing community needs. An example is the transformative development of bus stop signs in the Charoenkrung district in 2018. MAYDAY! collaborated with CEA and the Department of Traffic and Transportation, conducting a workshop to design user-centric bus stop signs, enhancing functionality and aesthetics for improved passenger convenience.”
The CEA Executive Director also anticipated the participation of over 300,000-400,000 local and international tourists visiting Bangkok Design Week 2024, expecting the festival to generate an economic value of no less than 350 million baht throughout the event.
"It is evident that this year's festival has engaged participants from various sectors more than ever before, contributing to the creation of a livable city. The collaboration between government agencies, private sectors, educational institutions, creators, and local communities demonstrates the collective understanding of the importance of city development through value creation. This year, everyone is encouraged to join hands in fostering creativity to propel the city forward," he emphasised.
Furthermore, Bangkok Design Week is a significant festival included in the calendar of events in Bangkok, playing a crucial role in driving the creative economy and positioning Bangkok as a prominent member of the UNESCO Creative City Network in the field of design (Bangkok City of Design) since 2019.
For more information, please visit www.bangkokdesignweek.com or follow them on social media: FB/IG: bangkokdesignweek, Twitter: @BKKDesignWeek, Line: @bangkokdesignweek. #BKKDW2024 #BangkokDesignWeek #LivableScape
