Exhibitors Seminar at Chiang Mai Design Week 2026: Inspiring Designers
Sparking Creative Power Beyond Limits! CEA Announces Chiang Mai Design Week 2026 under the theme “Local Thunders, Global Transformation,” Setting a Benchmark to Drive Business, Scent Innovation, and Sustainability onto the Global Stage.The Creative Economy Agency (CEA), Northern Office, is preparing to host the grand year-end event, Chiang Mai Design Week 2026, from December 5th to 13th, 2026, under the main theme “Local Thunders, Global Transformation.” This event aims to spark creative power through collaboration between local and international creators, unlocking the potential of “people” and profound local wisdom to prepare for “shifting” and coping with an uncertain world, utilizing the creative industry as a new engine to propel Thai businesses and creators onto the international stage through three strategic drivers:New Opportunities: Activities such as Business Matching, Studio Visits, Pop Markets, Cross-Industry Projects (Craft x Design x Food), and International Residencies.Homecoming Creator Integration: Including “Homecoming Club Speed Dating” to connect returning creators with local communities.Local Sustainable Living: Bridging generations and using creativity to solve aging society and environmental issues (Design for Better Living).The event is filled with a creative atmosphere, featuring discussions led by Imhathai Kanjina, Director of the CEA Northern Office, alongside partners from creative groups, business networks, and the creative industry, including:Karnchanok Prakaswutisarn, Deputy Mayor of Chiang Mai Municipality, Dr. Kobkit Isarachiewattana, Chairman of the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce, Chawanat Sinthukhiao, President of the Thai Spa and Wellness Association,Thanyaporn Jittapirom, representative from the PATTERN.ERS creative group.Additionally, there will be a special lecture on “International Law and Protection Rights” by Kittithep Jingjit, Director of AK IP Venture Co., Ltd.Over the 9 days, the event will feature programs from creative networks across the North, showcasing stories of food, crafts, music, and design. As for the highlights, the festival invites viewers to explore the natural and cultural assets of the North, aligning with government policies to drive the “Wellness Economy”:Scents Asia 2026: A strategic project connecting the scent industry supply chain from upstream to downstream to elevate creative products and open new economic opportunities. Key highlights include: ‘Asia Scent Showcase,’ an exhibition space for innovation and scent products from over 50 local brands; ‘Balance in Balance Exhibitions,’ an immersive scent innovation exhibition showcasing the potential of local ingredients; and ‘Scents Asia Awards,’ a Make Scents Award contest honoring perfumers who blend local ingredients with innovation, in collaboration with experts from France to elevate standards to an international level.Wellness Economy Exhibitions: Presenting the potential of local ingredients to create new value for the wellness industry, driving “scent” across other industries.LABBfest.: A music festival connecting Northern artists with both domestic and international stages.Pop Market: A creative market offering products and services using sustainable processes, from the products sold to the event management.Trade & Business Matching: A B2B business negotiation platform connecting Thai entrepreneurs and creators with experts, buyers, and creative industry networks both domestically and internationally to open doors to the global market.Workshops and Art: Including numerous workshops and contemporary art performances designed for all groups, from families and Gen Z to the elderly.Chiang Mai Design Week (CMDW) is an economic driver that has consistently proven its success, pushing the festival’s standards to be an “International Festival” recognized as a member of World Design Weeks for over 11 years. In the previous year (CMDW2025), the festival attracted up to 170,517 attendees and generated an economic impact of 1,554 million baht (Direct Impact 823.98 million baht), while also stimulating over 3,134 local jobs. This year, it is expected to create phenomena and drive the creative economy to a higher level of growth, ready to export Thai creators and creative businesses to the international stage.Join us in celebrating, sharing, and weaving creative power to let our North shine, while inspiring to drive the world at Chiang Mai Design Week 2026, under the theme “Local Thunders, Global Transformation,” from December 5th to 13th, 2026, in Chiang Mai!#ChiangMaiDesignWeek #CMDW2026 #LocalThundersGlobalTransformation #CEA #TCDCChiangMai
Local Thunders, Global Transformation
LOCAL THUNDERS, GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION Spark Local Power at CMDW 20262026 is a year when the world seems to be holding its breath. Signals from the center are growing uncertain, and the weather has become harder to read. Yet nature never leaves a vacuum for long. Beneath the pressure from above, a new charge is gathering from the ground up, powered by people who know their roots, their wisdom, and the potential of their own places better than anyone.Here comes Local Thunders, the roar of local voices. Not to tear things down, but to bring in the rain. A rain that nourishes people, places, and the future, making them feel alive again.The Northern Office of the Creative Economy Agency (Public Organization) invites everyone to mark a new moment of change at the 12th Chiang Mai Design Week, held under the theme Local Thunders, Global Transformation, a rallying call to spark a creative storm of collaboration and charge up local energy to roar far beyond borders.This year’s festival brings together Northern communities, creatives, entrepreneurs, and global networks to meet, exchange, experiment, and celebrate. Together, they will awaken local gems, set new ideas in motion, and turn local voices into positive shockwaves in a world on the move.The 12th Chiang Mai Design Week turns big ideas into action with exhibitions, pavilions, talks, business matching, and future-ready workshops, then keeps the city buzzing with creative markets, music, performances, community activities, and local energy at every turn.This thunder will not stop at Chiang Mai or the North. It is a signal that innovation rooted in local wisdom is turning into a force felt on the global stage. And without a doubt, when the storm arrives, the rain will follow. What comes after is always a brighter sky.Come spark the energy with us at the 12th Chiang Mai Design Week, under the theme Local Thunders, Global Transformation, from 5 to 13 December 2026. See you there!
When “Scent” is the Future of the Thai Wellness Economy
When “Scent” is the Future of the Thai Wellness EconomyIn conversation with Chawanat Sinthukiow, President of the Thai Spa and Wellness Association and exporter of Thai spa to the global market.In recent years, the Thai wellness market has witnessed remarkable growth. According to data from the Global Wellness Institute, between 2022 and 2024, the market expanded by over 35%, growing from $31.6 billion USD to $42.7 billion USD, positioning Thailand as one of the fastest-growing markets among the top 25 globally. These figures encompass everything from traditional Thai massage and spa businesses to herbal remedies, healthy cuisine, wellness tourism, and natural beauty products—all integral components of an ecosystem Thailand has cultivated for generations.In a world where AI is rapidly replacing many forms of labor, the wellness industry remains one of the few businesses deeply tied to human connection. Its value relies not on speed or volume, but on human touch, lived experience, delicate craftsmanship, and centuries of accumulated wisdom—culminating in a unique essence that is nearly impossible to replicate.For Chawanat Sinthukiow, President of the Thai Spa and Wellness Association and a pioneer of Lanna-style spa businesses in Chiang Mai that later expanded internationally, this distinct “scent” did not stem from a generic, ready-made image of Thainess. Instead, it grew naturally from her Northern Thai roots—through herbal aromas, body care rituals, and Lanna philosophy that views health as living in harmony with nature. This heritage was eventually translated into a contemporary Thai spa narrative that resonates with a global audience, establishing a firm foothold on the international wellness stage.We invited her to share her nearly 30-year journey—from leveraging Northern cultural capital to craft a language of wellness, introducing Thai service craft to international markets, to her current role as President of the Thai Spa and Wellness Association, driving the industry toward global growth.When speaking of Thai wellness, many people immediately picture traditional Thai massage, herbs, or herbal compresses as ancient wisdom. However, the spa business you initiated in the 2000s explicitly integrated Lanna identity, leading to the widespread Lanna-style spa phenomenon we see today. What was the original inspiration behind this concept?Looking back to that time, the word “spa” was a very new concept in Chiang Mai. There was only Four Seasons Resort and one other small spa operator. Having a family golf course business, I thought we should have a spa in our clubhouse. So, I reached out to a major spa brand in Phuket to open a branch. That was my entry into the spa industry. We operated with that brand until the contract expired, at which point I thought we should create our own spa brand under the name “Angsana Spa” and weave local Lanna identity into the guest experience.Back then, were there no Lanna-style spas yet?Most were more Oriental or Asian in style. Some might have used local herbs or decor accents, but Angsana Spa was among the pioneers to deeply incorporate Lanna art, architecture, handicrafts, music, ambiance, herbs, ingredients, and even staff attire to create a genuine Lanna experience. We viewed all of this as the “scent” of Lanna—an identity tied to history, the city, and the feelings felt by guests.What exactly is the “scent” of Lanna?Tangibly, it is the fragrance of Northern flowers—the gentle aroma of Kasalong (cork tree flower) or orchids, the cool softness of Gardenia or White Ginger Lily, as well as local herbs, spices, turmeric, lemongrass, Ma-khaen (wild pepper), and the nature of the North. Intangibly, it is the aroma emanating from Lanna’s rich cultural capital, which lives not only in aromatherapy, but in food, arts and crafts, way of life, language, the relaxed pace (Ta-Ton-Yon), serenity, and delicate spirit of Northern people.We didn’t want to sell just a scent; we wanted to sell stories and experiences. People coming to Chiang Mai don’t remember just a single fragrance—they remember the entire composition, from the polite word “Jao” and the gentle manner of speech to the feeling of restful peace and the surrounding nature. Together, these elements form the scent of Lanna—an experience the global market is seeking.I understand that shortly after opening Saban-nga Spa in Chiang Mai, investors invited you to expand overseas. Was that because of the Lanna charm you mentioned?Not entirely. When foreigners first see it, they might feel that Lanna identity looks exotic. But once they truly experience it, we believe it comes down to the sense of refinement. The first country we opened in was Azerbaijan, followed by Russia and several cities in China.Back in the early 2000s, Lanna identity was very new—both to us and to foreigners. Many might have seen pictures of Lanna art, temples, or architecture, but experiencing a spa service was a whole new dimension. Our opportunities to expand abroad mostly began with local businesspeople visiting Chiang Mai, having a wonderful experience, and inviting us to establish a presence in their home countries.Operating a Thai spa in contexts where people knew little about Thailand, how did you have to adapt?We had to adapt a lot. At that time, some people there didn’t even know Thailand, though they knew Bangkok. Therefore, we couldn’t just drop Thainess into that setting without considering the local context. We had to understand what their customers were accustomed to, what they needed, and what standards they expected.We started in Baku, Azerbaijan. Back then, we ran it as a private club rather than a walk-in spa; members entered through a membership system. We had to blend Thai products with familiar international products—such as certain European skincare brands—to build their confidence. At the same time, we retained Thai touches, a Thai menu, Thai-style hospitality, and the Lanna soul at its core.We had 14 treatment rooms. Twelve were designed around the 12 zodiac signs, connecting elements with Lanna folklore. The other two were Sukhothai and Ayutthaya rooms. Even the zodiac signs required adaptation—in a Muslim context, the Year of the Pig was unsuitable, so we referred to Lanna tradition, which uses the Elephant instead of the Pig. These are details that required thorough thought, just like studying customer behavior, culture, and context in each country to align Thainess with the lifestyles of different clientele.Having pioneered Lanna spa identity and brought Thai spas abroad, where do you see Thai wellness today in the eyes of the world?Thai wellness has grown remarkably fast. In the past, foreigners mostly knew us through traditional Thai massage, herbal compresses, or basic herbs. Today, the perception of Thai wellness goes far beyond that. Our core strength lies in “authentic wellness”—health experiences deeply rooted in real culture, complete with storytelling, identity, hospitality, products, aromatics, herbs, and massage oils elevated to international standards.However, taking Thai spas or the image of Thai wellness abroad is no longer the main concern. What deserves greater focus is looking inward at how we can leverage the unique local essence of Thailand to add value to domestic businesses—across spas, hotels, tourism, community products, and the grassroots economy.Since the world is looking for culture-rooted wellness, how can Thailand generate added value from these assets? What specific areas should be driven forward?First, we shouldn’t compete solely on product manufacturing or equate wellness strictly with luxury. Instead, we should move toward “Cultural Wellness Luxury”—luxury imbued with story, culture, and local soul. Chiang Mai, in particular, possesses herbs, food, art, crafts, Lanna lifestyle, and spas. These can all be woven into a unified experience—from scents and products to services and travel itineraries.Too often, we focus only on manufacturing items—making soaps, oils, or similar products—while forgetting to build storytelling and meaningful experiences for customers. Yet story is what connects people emotionally to a brand, whether through health, sustainability, culture, or local wisdom. These emotional and aesthetic connections elevate a product from a simple commodity to a cultural experience.Second, we must structure the value chain effectively so that wellness does not end at spa or hotel operators. It must connect back to local farmers growing herbs, flowers, and spices, as well as handicraft groups, packaging designers, and community tourism. The key is transforming local assets into true value and economic worth—not leaving villagers selling cheap raw materials, but collaborating to generate income at multiple levels, from farming and processing to design and community tourism.Even in wellness, design remains crucial?Extremely crucial. We still need people to interpret and develop concepts to take them further. When designers, developers, or creators look at things from new perspectives, they help transform local herbs, flowers, spices, or produce into contemporary products, services, or experiences.Consumers today don’t just consume the physical product; they consume the experience of using and presenting it. For instance, herbal scents don’t have to exist only in essential oils—they can be developed into sprays, beverages, packaging, or subtle service touches. This brings local raw materials to contemporary life and adds far greater value than selling raw ingredients.Over the next 3–5 years, where do you see the opportunities in the wellness industry heading?Globally, people are placing a clear emphasis on wellness. No matter how volatile global events or economies become, everyone wants good health, wants to avoid illness, avoids becoming a burden to their families, and wants the vitality to work and pursue what they love.Key trends on the rise include emotional wellness, sleep wellness, and stress recovery, as people at every level face stress today. Another indispensable factor is sustainability, because consumers increasingly seek products and services that are good for their health, good for their minds, and good for the planet. Thai scents, herbs, and experiences are exceptionally well-positioned to answer these needs.Why has “wellness” become such a buzzword recently, even though people have been interested in health for a long time?Because wellness is now viewed as a national strategic priority. It is not just about spas or tourism; it is a health economy interwoven with daily life—from eating, sleeping, relaxing, and massage to herbal remedies and preventive care before falling ill.Many regions are making serious moves. Chiang Mai has formed a wellness task force, while in Khon Kaen, the government, universities, and hospitals are moving quickly to develop the city into a regional health hub, attracting visitors from neighboring countries for medical and wellness services. Meanwhile, each region can leverage its own identity—whether herbs, flowers, spices, or local wisdom—because Thai wellness does not have to be one-size-fits-all; it grows from the assets of each locality.As the Thai Spa and Wellness Association, how are you pushing this forward?One thing we want to see is integrating wellness into basic social welfare. For example, state welfare or social security could grant Thai citizens rights to receive certified traditional Thai massage at Ministry of Public Health-accredited massage shops or spas once or twice a month, similar to dental coverage. Traditional Thai massage and therapies are not just about luxury; they can reduce long-term dependence on painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs, benefiting public health and the nation’s healthcare budget.To build Thai wellness into a true ecosystem, who needs to be connected?We must connect the entire value chain—from farmers growing herbs, flowers, and spices, researchers, entrepreneurs, product designers, to spas, hotels, restaurants, tourism, and the public sector. If all parties collaborate, wellness won’t just be a destination business, but a value chain that distributes revenue back to the agricultural base and local communities.Integration is key. Government, education, tourism, and private business must hold hands rather than work in silos. If we organize the system effectively, our existing local assets will be elevated into products, services, experiences, and a health economy that responds to global markets and national strategies.Besides connecting the value chain, what kind of talent does the Thai wellness industry still need?What we urgently need are “innovators”—especially people who understand local raw materials, science, processing, and experience design. Today we already have the core assets—herbs, flowers, spices, food, handicrafts, and local wisdom—but we need younger generations to help drive them further.For instance, when we talk about Lanna signature scents, we must trace back to the source: do we have enough raw materials like local herbs or flowers? Are they cultivated to high quality? How well are they processed? What products or services can they become? This requires developers, technicians, designers, creators, and professionals who understand production standards.Does that mean there are still abundant opportunities for the younger generation in the wellness market?Absolutely. Massage and hospitality are the foundation we already possess. What we need more of is young people bringing innovation to local roots—connecting herbs, flowers, or spices with cosmetics, biotechnology, health products, aromatics, food, beverages, or travel experiences.We have exceptional raw materials, but without people to develop them, villagers might continue selling produce by the kilogram at low prices. We want to see people who understand quality, standards, identity, and value addition, turning local capital into real income-generating products, services, and experiences for communities.How should the education system step in to support this?Educational institutions play a vital role. Developing wellness requires multidisciplinary knowledge—nutrition, herbal science, health sciences, design, tourism, business, and marketing. All faculties need to sit down and collaborate, rather than working in isolation.Furthermore, learning shouldn’t be limited to four-year undergraduate degrees. It should expand into short courses, career pathways, and lifelong learning for people of all ages. This industry evolves rapidly. If we equip people with an understanding of local context, innovation, and international standards, Thai wellness will go far beyond selling raw materials or traditional services.
A Conversation with CMDW 2026 Committee Members on the Challenges for Northern C
How Can Local Thunders Reach Global Transformation? A Conversation with CMDW 2026 Committee Members on the Challenges for Northern CreatorsLocal Thunders, Global Transformation is the core concept of the Chiang Mai Design Week 2026 festival. It projects the image of thunder from the local Northern region as a creative force forged from the area’s roots and wisdom, before expanding its impact into a driving force that transforms and creates change on a global scale.Following the Open Call to select works from creators who will ignite new energy at this year’s Chiang Mai Design Week, we had the opportunity to speak with two of the five selection committee members for the Design Showcases and Exhibitions category. They are Krit Phutpim, designer and founder of Dots Design Studio, and Angkrit Ajchariyasophon, artist and founder of Artist + Run Gallery. We discussed the overview of the selected works and the hopes to see these creations truly reflect the journey from Local Thunders to Global Transformation.Krit Phutpim is no newcomer to Chiang Mai Design Week. Back in its inaugural year, Krit brought works from his studio and the Design Plant group to exhibit. Since then, he has been a regular attendee almost every year for a decade. Additionally, he previously served on the selection committee for Bangkok Design Week. Here is Krit’s perspective as a committee member who wants to see opportunities for Thai creators emerge from this festival.“I am interested in design as a tool to elevate everyday objects we are already familiar with, giving them functions that better answer usage needs while featuring appearances that align more with contemporary tastes. This interest perfectly aligns with what most local creators are doing, which is taking unique local identities or characters and building upon them. However, this uniqueness has both pros and cons. Let us start with the pros. When we choose a highly local creative direction, it communicates excellently with local people or those sharing the same cultural background. But from my perspective working in commercial fields, this communication language might be too niche, creating limitations in reaching a broader consumer base.In this regard, finding a balance between local identity and universality is crucial. The design festival has always tried to explore this balance. Historically, the festival has attempted to connect with international creative networks through the International Pavilion. Another element I believe could help is that we might need to make the festival more commercially oriented.Take Milan Design Week in Italy as an example. We see a significant corporate presence joining the event. Automotive brands like Audi, Peugeot, or Mazda, or even major real estate brands, set up booths or pavilions alongside Italian design brands and showcases by local artists and designers.In one sense, it looks like opening a space for brands to sell products. But for a festival that curates content to serve the creative industry, this allows the works of smaller individuals to be seen by high-potential entrepreneurs. Similarly, these smaller creators get to see the innovations of international brands. It helps create both dialogues and channels that allow local creative works to find a place for broader development and wider reach.Certainly, Chiang Mai Design Week has recently started partnering with more national corporate brands. But I think if we can expand this collaboration even further, the festival would be much more exciting and would answer the Global Transformation concept much more effectively.”Although Angkrit Ajchariyasophon humbly states he is quite far removed from the design circle, his long experience in the art world, including serving as a curator for the Thailand Biennale 2023, led CEA Northern Office to invite him. As an artist hailing from Chiang Rai and a long-time driver of creative activities in both Bangkok and at the local level, he joins as a selection committee member for this year’s Chiang Mai Design Week exhibitions. Perhaps it is this “outsider” perspective from the design industry that makes him particularly interested in the festival’s core concept, with high hopes for the mechanisms that can truly elevate Local Thunders into Global Transformation.“I am originally from Chiang Rai but attended university in Chiang Mai. Since the cities are not far apart, I have always had opportunities to view art in various galleries and frequently visit the design festival. I see that Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai share a similar strength, which is having crafts and handmade arts as excellent foundational assets, along with new-generation creators ready to build upon them. However, in the past, these works might have only answered needs on a functional level, an aesthetic level, or by adding value to local materials and wisdom. The proportion of works creating a broader impact is still not very large.I think this is the challenge that the design festival, as well as myself as a committee member, must seek out or use to stimulate creators to push their work to the next level. The festival is an experimental space for this. Many might feel that over the years, the showcases are repetitive and tell similar stories. But as someone working in art, I believe that developing work through repetition increases precision, gradually shaping the works and ideas to become sharper and naturally create a greater impact over time.Actually, Local Thunders, Global Transformation is quite a grand phrase. I think Northern creators, as well as our entire nation, can certainly create local thunders. From the works presented so far, I believe this year’s festival will be highly enjoyable and spectacular. But the real challenge is how to make this thunder sustainably stimulate the economy and the livelihoods of local people. This might not be the sole responsibility of the festival organizers but requires coordination with the government, the private sector, and various networks to ensure that the proposals in these creative works can be practically applied and developed at both national and international levels.”#ChiangMaiDesignWeek #CMDW2026 #LocalThundersGlobalTransformation
How Can Design Festivals Drive Cities? Talking with CMDW2026 Committee Members
How Can Design Festivals Drive Cities? Talking with CMDW 2026 Committee Members on Creative Districts and Urban DevelopmentIn addition to newly showcased design works and creative ideas, “space” and “space development networks” are two other crucial factors that make Chiang Mai Design Week meaningful each year beyond being just an exhibition.For this reason, selecting creative districts and networks to drive local activities is an aspect that CEA Northern Regional prioritizes just as heavily. It is not merely about having exhibition spaces, but also about creating new opportunities for public or commercial spaces that were previously overlooked. This is evident in how Chiang Mai Design Week has contributed to sparking new commercial districts and spaces for the city over the years.Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with selection committee members for the Chiang Mai Design Week 2026 exhibits under the Creative Communities and Networks category. The panel includes urban development academics, professors and researchers in urban design and community planning, and business leaders who pioneered city development companies. Let us hear what the committee sees or expects from this event before new districts or exciting activities come to life this year.Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pitch Pongsawat is a political science scholar from Chulalongkorn University who has continuously spoken and written about “cities” for a long time, covering local politics, inequality, housing, and urban quality of life. He has become one of the most frequently cited voices when society discusses the future of major cities in Thailand. Although he previously served as a committee member for CEA on several occasions regarding creative centers and infrastructure development, this is his first time serving directly as a committee member for Chiang Mai Design Week. Here is Dr. Pitch’s perspective on design as a tool for urban development in Chiang Mai.“In the past, when speaking of creative districts, we usually thought of transforming old buildings or historic neighborhoods. But today, I see a broader and deeper trend where creators do not always need to alter old things. Instead, it can be about returning to understanding the meaning of what once happened, what disappeared, or the memories of that space, as well as engaging people more with various districts or spaces, which is the crucial point.Chiang Mai is a city with excellent cultural capital, both old and new, and strong creative assets. However, the city’s challenge is how well its people can actually live off real-world creativity. Chiang Mai might be a city that ‘produces less than it consumes’ and lacks businesses that comprehensively support workers in this field. Unless you are a true local with a home or an existing foundation, how can creators with little economic capital survive in this city?To me, a creative city does not just mean having beautiful shops, craft items, designated spaces, or frequent creative activities. It must enable creative workers and general workers alike to sustain their lives.This is the key question I am looking for in the proposals for Chiang Mai Design Week this time. As a selection committee member, I found that many projects submitted interesting proposals, but they might not yet touch upon structural levels or question the economic sustainability of people in the creative industry in this city or the Northern region. This is the issue Chiang Mai Design Week should focus on. At the same time, it needs to build collaboration across various sectors to push these projects forward, helping answer the larger questions about raising urban quality of life and making creative districts economically sustainable.”For Asst. Prof. Dr. Singhanat Sangsihanat, an urban design and community planning scholar, a design festival is not merely an annual stage to present creative works or new innovations. It is a space that allows participants to see urban development and problems across various dimensions. He views design as problem-solving, and when these problems become visible, it opens opportunities to coordinate collaboration to address them. This is what he expects to see in this year’s festival.“The interesting aspect of Chiang Mai Design Week, which was the first in Thailand even before Bangkok Design Week, is its evolution over the past 12 years. It grew from an initial focus on elevating craft skills and honoring local cultural capital to playing a role in using design to solve urban issues. Most recently, it clearly pushes local identity to connect with global perspectives, as highlighted in this year’s core concept.However, connecting with the global scale does not mean simply bringing international creative networks to exhibit. What is more important is distilling lessons on how our local assets can be developed into knowledge others can learn from, or how local thinking and capital can address global issues like climate change or sustainability.For me, a design festival helps address urban issues in terms of inequality and the survival opportunities of creative workers. This is because it serves as an experimental platform open to all parties to join the debate. Remember that solving urban problems cannot be done by any single party; every sector must work together. Having a shared space to lay out problems for everyone to see together is a great starting point for experimentation to solve issues. If an experiment fails, that is fine; we gain lessons to develop new approaches moving forward.Therefore, the heart of Chiang Mai Design Week for me may not be having pretty pavilions, stylish showcases, or fun events. Those things are not unnecessary, but the deeper essence is how far these proposals can be expanded or used to solve real problems after the event ends.”Suradech Taweesaengskulthai is the founder of Khon Kaen City Development (KKTT), one of Thailand’s first private urban development companies that pushed Khon Kaen to become a model of private sector driven city development. This includes the creative economy, public transit systems like the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, and policy level work with the public sector. This year, he joins as a selection committee member for creative district projects in Chiang Mai for the first time, viewing the festival through the lens of a developer expecting to see real positive impacts on the city.“The benchmark I set for evaluating projects in Chiang Mai Design Week this time is not just about activities and spaces, but trying to see what benefits these proposed projects will bring to the city long-term, including how to make them business-sustainable.There is one very interesting project proposing the use of design processes to revitalize abandoned urban spaces back to life. This not only creates new opportunities for neighborhoods and people, but also enhances the overall city landscape.However, as I mentioned, the key point is that we must consider economics simultaneously. If you are revitalizing an abandoned space into a coffee shop, you must think about who you are selling to, how you will sell, or how many cups you can sell per day. Or if it is an art space, you must consider revenue generation. I do not want to see beauty only at the launch; I want to see business models that make space revitalization sustainable.I believe that if projects have supporting business models and CEA Northern Regional can connect with the municipality or the Provincial Administrative Organization, Chiang Mai Design Week will become a great stage to submit urban development proposals for the government to actually implement. When mobile cabinet meetings occur or urban development budgets are allocated, clear proposals can immediately apply for funding. But for all of this, you need ready city data to evaluate project cost-effectiveness and suitability. Connecting creators with districts, community networks, and government agencies may not be enough; it must also connect to research and academic institutions so new ideas can go further than just concepts on stage.In the past, Chiang Mai Design Week has done well as a platform for new proposals. But the next step I want to see is having all parties, creators, the public sector, and academia, open their minds to talk from the very beginning. This will prevent ideas from being just pretty works that end with the event, making them a real part of the urban development mechanism.”#ChiangMaiDesignWeek #CMDW2026 #LocalThundersGlobalTransformation