Thailand Rule of Law NEXT -- Session III (14 January 2026)

Panel Members: Dr. Sureeshine Polwan Dr. Trynh Phoraksa, Akarakit Worarojcharoendet and Asst.Prof. Pronyos Chattarakul 

Pronyos emphasized that incarceration should be understood as a restriction of physical freedom rather than a withdrawal of fundamental human and social rights. People in custody remain entitled to human and social rights equivalent to those of individuals outside prison walls. Therefore, the design of correctional facilities and controlled environments carries a critical responsibility: to preserve these rights as fully as possible through architecture, spatial planning, and everyday facilities.

Drawing from research and field studies, Pronyos highlighted that the physical environment plays a significant role in shaping inmates’ behavior, emotional resilience, and capacity for adaptation. Seemingly modest design elements—such as the ability to bathe with adequate water pressure, opportunities to eat under trees, spaces that resemble familiar public settings like street food stalls on weekends, areas for drying clothes in sunlight, or printed views of ordinary social life such as markets and streets—can create moments of normalcy. These moments foster dignity, motivation, and a sense of belonging, which are essential for learning, self-regulation, and rehabilitation.

Importantly, Pronyos noted that the rights most influential in behavioral development and psychological well-being are closely linked to social and environmental conditions—an area where correctional institutions can actively intervene. However, these interventions must evolve alongside social change. For example, some young male inmates may avoid outdoor physical activity due to concerns about skin darkening and body image, which can undermine rehabilitation models that emphasize physical exertion as a behavioral outlet. Similarly, female inmates may prioritize personal appearance and bodily cleanliness over regular meal routines, reflecting different motivational structures. Even the arrangement of dining spaces matters: eating in settings designed like small shops can provide greater daily encouragement and emotional comfort than long, institutional dining rows. These examples illustrate how contemporary social values and identity concerns must be carefully considered in environmental design.

Ultimately, Pronyos concluded that designing environments for incarceration is a profound balancing act between control and human development. Architecture and spatial design must simultaneously support security and rehabilitation, ensuring that correctional environments uphold human dignity while enabling positive behavioral transformation and successful social reintegration.

NID Haryana Webinar II -- Design Education and Technology (14 December 2022)

Panel Members: Mr. Sudhindra V., Design Leader, Tata Consultancy Service -- Dr. Jyoti Kumar, Associate Professor, IIT, Delhi -- Dr. Charu Gupta, Associate Professor, University of Delhi -- Mr. Pronyos Chattarakul, Assitant Professor, KMUTT

Pronyos stressed the importance of establishing partnerships between students and companies through Collaborative agreements (MOUs) and expressed that such partnerships allow students to gain practical experience within the company's environment. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement where students learn from real-world applications of design, and companies benefit from fresh perspectives and creative inputs from students. In addition to the partnership between students and companies, there is also an important partnership with the business context as the design curriculum is not developed in isolation but is aligned with the industry needs and demands. The curriculum management system incorporates inputs from the business context, ensuring that students are prepared for the dynamic challenges of the design industry. He mentioned that companies are willing to accept students even in their first year and this suggests that students have the opportunity to work in industry settings and apply their design skills while still pursuing their education. The benefits gained from these placements are integrated into the curriculum management system.

NID Haryana Webinar V -- Design Education - Pedagogy, Assessments and Regulations (3 May 2023)

Panel Members: Ms. Geethe Narayanan, Srishti Institute of Art, Design and technology -- Dr. Gayatri Menon, Sr, Designer, NID Ahmedabad -- Dr. Sudha Dhingra, Professor, Academics NIFT Delhi -- Dr. Parang Annand, Associate Professor, SPA Delhi -- Mr. Pronyos Chattarakul, Assitant Professor, KMUTT -- Dr. Vanita Ahuja, Director, NID Haryanan

Pronyos explained the university's approach to teaching, emphasizing the active learning model. Instead of simply imparting knowledge, students are placed in situations where they must apply and choose the appropriate knowledge for the given context. This process, referred to as active learning, encourages students to record and internalize what they learn through hands-on experience.

These days, everyone is concerned about the elderly. The problem lies in the absence of a central focus, with the majority concentrating on physical aspects. Throughout our work, we've found that it's connected to psychological and social aspects, which precede the physical. However, the current emphasis tends to be on the physical, while psychological aspects are often assumed or neglected.

Physical well-being involves standards and design, and design is about adapting standards to different contexts or situations. I often say that our society, in general, doesn't discuss issues related to the elderly. When our older relatives, who have been working normally, suddenly have to stop working, they often don't know what to do. The subsequent result is an emotional struggle, and the body deteriorates accordingly. Nevertheless, one thing we don't have to rely on the government for is the use of technology. In other countries, they have come a long way with this, but in Thailand, we are starting to make some progress.

https://web.tcdc.or.th/th/Articles/Detail/The-Now-Age-Never-Too-Late