L ELAORBNAI LN C G GI T I Z E N S H I P
THE DESIGN COUNCIL Richard Smith, Head of Secondary Design and Technology Faculty
W
e would like to introduce the new student Design Council to the Bangkok Patana community. The Design Council has been formed by senior students who share a passion for innovation and design-orientated problem solving which encompasses the use of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Design Council is run by Year 13 students and is open to students from Year 7 upwards through the ECA programme. The aim of the council is to create a better school environment and contribute to the wider community by identifying design opportunities and generating smart solutions by encouraging the sharing of knowledge and understanding across subject areas where teamwork is paramount. The overall focus is Sustainable Innovation and Socially Responsible Design. The Design Council’s first assignment is working in partnership with Thailand Friendly Design: A government backed media-based initiative that promotes awareness for products and services that support disabled people and the elderly in Thailand, with an emphasis on “Access for All”. In collaboration with Thailand Friendly Design, the Design Council has hosted the Junior Friendly Design Competition. On Monday 8th October, representatives from Thailand Friendly Design presented to a group of design students in 12
• Bangkok Patana School
The Design Council: Anunay Mehta, Jin Ju Lee, Zahra Poonevala and Thanadol Thanunmanee
the Design and Technology department and launched the project. The launch included games that helped students in attendance to better understand what it is like to have a disability. The competition was open to all students in the Secondary School with Thailand Friendly Design judging the submissions. Contestants were expected to generate design proposals to help improve the quality of
life for wheelchair-users and the elderly. The ten best design proposals were showcased at the Thailand Friendly Design Expo at the IMPACT Convention Centre on 1st December. The participants were also given the chance to present their design at the Expo, which had television coverage on Nation TV. Large national corporations, such as PTT and SCG, were also in attendance at the expo. By the time this magazine goes to print, the winner