Update & Visitor Guide
LOCAL PLUS Unleash Creativity, Empower Communities Chiang Mai Design Week 2025
As the world spins faster—shifting economies, disrupted societies, and an unpredictable environment—how do we face it all, if not through collaboration?Chiang Mai Design Week is where creative minds come together. We believe that new doors swing wide open when local communities team up with networks, both near and far. Together, we can navigate change and drive our communities and cities toward meaningful, creative growth.Entering a new decade of Thailand’s first design festival, Chiang Mai Design Week returns with the concept LOCAL PLUS—aiming to elevate Chiang Mai and the northern region as a positive-thinking space for fresh ideas, innovation, people, joy, and seeds of creativity. Here, design is more than just beauty and function—it’s a real, tangible force that drives both the economy and society forward.LOCAL PLUS isn’t just about positive thinking—it’s a symbol of limitless potential, expressed through mathematical signs that point toward infinite outcomes:Multiply (×): Amplifying creative energy exponentially. This year, Chiang Mai expands its showcases across a network of creative cities in the North, connecting local talents with international platforms.Divide (÷): Sharing innovation and knowledge. The festival serves as a space for open exchange, turning grassroots collaboration into a mechanism for national economic and social uplift.Minus (−): Removing barriers through cooperation. By cutting redundancy, reducing waste, and minimizing environmental impact, we create room for progress that’s smarter and more sustainable.Join us in exploring the positive energy of the North, leading to ENDLESS (∞) positive impacts, at the 11th Chiang Mai Design Week 2025, from December 6–14, 2025, in Chiang Mai.#CMDW2025 #LocalPlus #ChiangMaiDesignWeek
19 Jun 2025
People, Bees, and Forests The Sweetness of Nature, The Potential of BEEs’Economy
People, Bees, and ForestsThe Sweetness of Nature, The Potential of BEEs’ Economy When we think of honey, we might imagine a golden, viscous nectar with a mellow sweetness, crafted by tiny creatures—bees. Honey naturally enhances the flavor of food, desserts, and drinks. But in reality, bees provide far more benefits to human society than just as a source of sweetener.At the recent Chiang Mai Design Week 2024, the event offered more than just design ideas for creative lovers. It featured 10 main programs under the theme SCALING LOCAL, which focused on elevating local potential to a global level through various exhibitions and projects. One of them was the exhibition People, Bees, and Forests, which spotlighted the remarkable world of bees.The exhibition People–Bees–Forests tells the story of the intricate relationship between humans, bees, and forests. It showcases the diversity and uniqueness of honey flavors from different regions and invites visitors to discover the small but mighty hero—bees, who play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and sustaining ecosystems through their minute yet impactful contributions.The exhibition begins by exploring the connection between bees and forests, explaining that there are over 20,000 species of bees globally. These can be divided into two main groups: social bees, which live in colonies with clear caste roles (queen, worker, and drone), and solitary bees, which make up 90% of all bee species. Solitary bees live alone, with females laying eggs and abandoning the nest without caring for their young. These bees are crucial pollinators, helping plants grow and bear fruit.From these tiny heroes comes honey, which plays an important role beyond sweetness—it is a natural indicator of forest richness. The abundance of bee colonies reflects the health of a forest: more hives often mean a thriving ecosystem. Hives also reveal whether a year was dry or rainy, and whether the forest is being protected from wildfires or illegal logging, often by local communities. The presence of bees can thus reflect long-term ecological resilience.The exhibition also features samples of various types of honey, allowing visitors to taste and experience the rich, complex sweetness of this natural product.Interestingly, honey can have up to 10 distinct flavor notes: sweet, floral-sweet, mellow sweet, sweet-sour, bittersweet, cool-sweet, salty-sweet, and two more unique flavors derived from specific regions. For instance, mangrove forest honey might have a fermented fruit aroma, while honey from swamp forests in brackish or freshwater ecosystems offers a completely different taste.Workshops at the event include honey testing using various techniques, such as observing color, shaking to check foam, and dripping onto tissue paper.Assistant Professor Terd Disayathanoowat, a lecturer at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, who initiated a sustainable bee farming and product development project, shared that Thai honey, particularly longan honey, is a growing export product with positive economic trends.Besides traditional honeybees, Thai farmers are becoming more interested in stingless bees. They are less aggressive, produce high-value honey, and offer excellent health benefits. During meetings with farmers, I’ve seen younger generations showing interest in beekeeping, which is a good sign for the industry’s future.”Terd also explained the appeal of Thai honey compared to international varieties, referencing research from Chiang Mai University’s SMART BEE SDGs team. The findings show that longan honey has outstanding color, aroma, and taste, with notable health benefits. Thailand is also home to six species of nectar-producing bees, such as the cavity-nesting and giant honeybee, which contribute to the diverse range of local honey.“Our native stingless bees have many endemic species with unique properties, making Thai honey products truly special and internationally competitive.”The exhibition also presented honey products meticulously crafted by local communities, supporting honey producers from across northern Thailand. Terd highlighted that the Thai government plays an important role in promoting this sector through the Agricultural Technology Promotion Center for Economic Insects and the Department of Livestock Development, which help establish standards and support beekeeping efforts.Universities also contribute by conducting research on bee species, health benefits, and value-adding opportunities. Fortunately, more than 10 Thai universities are actively researching bees from various perspectives, making Thailand a strong player in global bee research.On the private sector side, we see strong collaboration among farmer groups, SMEs, and factories. They exchange knowledge and even work together on pricing and market strategies.”To further elevate Thai honey and unlock business opportunities, scientific research is essential to develop new products and add value for farmers. Terd cited New Zealand’s Manuka honey, which commands high prices due to robust scientific backing.“Another crucial area is the promotion of organic Thai honey, which appeals to premium markets. However, meeting organic standards and ensuring proper management poses a significant challenge and requires more study.”Terd also emphasized the importance of community empowerment through workshops, strengthening networks, teaching new product creation, and consistently sharing research data with farmers. His SMART BEE SDGs research team even secured funding to test honey samples for free for local producers, helping them enhance their marketability and increase prices during exhibitions or trade events.“If bees disappear from the ecosystem due to human activities like chemical use or monoculture farming, plants won’t be pollinated, fruits and vegetables will vanish, herbivores will decline, followed by predators, and eventually, we humans, at the top of the food chain, will face food shortages.When the environment collapses, humanity won’t be far behind. But if each of us simply plants some flowers at home, protects our water sources, and greets a bee with a smile instead of fear, these little pollinators will keep coming back. And that’s how people, bees, and forests will continue to thrive—together.”This exhibition provides not only fascinating insights into the role of bees but also reveals surprising economic opportunities, showing how deeply intertwined these tiny creatures are with our environment, communities, and future.
10 Jun 2025
Open Call for CMDW2025
Call for Participation: Chiang Mai Design Week 2025Open from May 15 – June 30, 2025Here’s your chance to become a “creator” at a national-level design festival — powering up Northern-style creativity and elevating the local through boundless collaboration.Chiang Mai Design Week is where creative minds come together. New doors swing wide open when local communities team up with networks, both near and far. Together, we can navigate change and drive our communities and cities toward meaningful, creative growth.Entering a new decade of Thailand’s first design festival, Chiang Mai Design Week returns with the concept 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗟𝗨𝗦—aiming to elevate Chiang Mai and the northern region as a positive-thinking space for fresh ideas, innovation, people, joy, and seeds of creativity. Here, design is more than just beauty and function—it’s a real, tangible force that drives the economy and society forward.We welcome entries from both Thai and international creatives between May 15 – June 30, 2025, in the following categories:1. Showcase and Exhibition – Present works that propose solutions or improve quality of life, with potential for real-world application.2. Creative Activities – Including events, workshops, talks, tours, music, and performance.3. POP Market – Open to vendors offering design products and local brands that showcase regional potential through creative, sustainable, and eco-conscious living, such as fashion, lifestyle goods, home décor, and food.4. Venues – Open call for spaces with the potential to host exhibitions or creative activities, including studios, shops, restaurants, hotels, warehouses, open spaces, and more.📍 Apply now at: https://www.chiangmaidesignweek.com/apply📢 Selected participants will be announced on July 15, 2025, via the Chiang Mai Design Week Facebook page.See you in Chiang Mai — where creativity meets community!#CMDW2025 #LocalPlus #ChiangMaiDesignWeek #CreativeCity #BusinessOpportunity #DesignForImpact #CallForCreators
17 May 2025
Transform your space into a new urban hotspot!
Chiang Mai Design Week 2025 invites landowners and property holders with underused or developable spaces to participate in the festival. Be part of a city-wide network of creative venues—transform your space into a hub of ideas, collaboration, and community-powered projects that spark positive change for Chiang Mai under the theme “Local Plus”𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻:– Development ideas and creative use concepts from leading designers and creative teams– Public exposure through the festival’s website, CMDW map, and social media channels– Opportunities to scale future business or social impact projects– Access to a network of potential investors and future collaborators– The right to use festival activity photos for your future promotionDon’t miss this chance to be part of something bigger!// Now Open for Applications // https://www.chiangmaidesignweek.com/apply/𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝟯𝟬 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱#CMDW2025 #chiangmaidesignweek #LocalPlus
04 May 2025
CEA Gathers Local Creative Network to Shape CMDW2025
CEA Gathers Local Creative Network to Shape CMDW2025The Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization) Chiang Mai recently hosted a collaborative meeting with over 20 local partners, including creative professionals, academic institutions, and public and private organizations, to reflect on the outcomes of Chiang Mai Design Week (CMDW) from the past year and to gather insights and recommendations for the upcoming festival.The session aimed to foster dialogue among key stakeholders to co-develop the direction of CMDW2025, ensuring it continues to reflect and amplify the creative potential of the region. This year, the festival marks its 11th edition under the theme “Local Plus”, which envisions Northern Thailand as a thriving hub of positive thinking, creative energy, and limitless collaboration. The theme focuses on elevating Chiang Mai and the North through local strengths and global connections.CMDW2025 will take place from 6–14 December 2025, inviting all to explore the power of Northern Thai creativity and its capacity to generate meaningful, lasting impact.Let’s come together in Chiang Mai to celebrate creativity with a positive spark that reaches far beyond the local!#CMDW2025 #ChiangMaiDesignWeek #LocalPlus
01 May 2025