In May 2024, the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University hosted the Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) Academic Conference on "Design for Society." This event explored how design can contribute to and effectively meet the needs of society, promoting sustainable, inclusive, and harmonious growth. The conference strengthened and fostered collaboration and networking among AUA universities, providing a platform for scholars to form academic clusters and exchange cutting-edge research findings, methodologies, and case studies. Additionally, it helped identify emerging trends and challenges in design, laying the groundwork for future interdisciplinary research and discussing the role of design in addressing societal issues such as urbanization, climate change, and inclusivity.
The conference was held from May 25-26, 2024, at Chulalongkorn University. The event included three keynote sessions. The first keynote lecture, titled "Proximity City," was given by Professor Ezio Manzini, the Founder of Design for Social Innovation and Sustainability (DESIS) Network and Distinguished Professor on Design for Social Innovation at ELISAVA. The second keynote lecture, titled "Art of teamLab: The Concept and Technology Behind," was presented by Mr. Takeshi Yamada, Head of Recruitment at teamLab and the third keynote lecture, "Innovating Aesthetics and Functionality through the Hybrid Design of Traditional Crafts and Material Interactions" was delivered by Professor Dr. Yasuaki Kakehi from The University of Tokyo.
In addition to the keynote sessions, there was a Round Table Discussion on "Proximity City," featuring Associate Professor Dr. Apiradee Kasemsook, President of CDAST, Mr. Sanon Wangsrangboon, Deputy Governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, and Mr. Yossapon Boonsom, Founding Director of Shma Company Limited. Furthermore, the conference included a special lecture on rural development titled "Design for Rural Life with Different Needs" by Professor Lei Zhendong, the Dean of the College of Architecture at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, China.
The parallel sessions encompassed more than 30 presentation topics. A total of 70 participants had submitted papers for the conference. All attendees were required to deliver their presentation in the allotted venues or participate in other sessions of interest. For detailed schedules, please refer to the conference website: [https://aua2024.chula.ac.th].
The evening networking reception on May 25, 2024, provided participants with opportunities to network and discuss with other conference attendees, share ideas, and form research collaborations or academic partnerships.
Source: Chulalongkorn University
