“Design Up+Rising: Facing Challenges With A Positive Twist” at Bangkok Design Week 2025: Celebrating Bangkok Through Creativity

The eighth edition of Bangkok Design Week returns with an expanded and dynamic program, bringing creativity to the forefront of the city. Under the theme, Design Up+Rising: Facing Challenges with a Positive Twist, the festival spans over 350 events across seven key districts and various locations throughout Bangkok.

Since its inception in 2018, Bangkok Design Week (BKKDW) has become a key event in the city’s cultural landscape, playing a crucial role in advancing the creative economy. The festival has been instrumental in positioning Bangkok as a UNESCO Creative City of Design, reinforcing its reputation as a hub for innovation and artistic expression.

Organized by the Creative Economy Agency (CEA) in collaboration with over 60 public and private organizations, educational institutions, and international partners, the event attracts approximately 400,000 visitors annually from both Thailand and abroad. Beyond its cultural significance, BKKDW serves as a powerful catalyst for economic growth, supporting Thailand’s creative industries in multiple ways.

More than just a celebration of design, the event serves as a catalyst for innovation and economic growth. By bringing together designers, industry leaders, and creative communities, Bangkok Design Week fosters collaboration, reimagines urban spaces, and highlights the transformative power of design in shaping the city’s future. This year’s program showcases a diverse mix of exhibitions, talks, workshops, live performances, guided tours, design markets, and urban activities, alongside special promotions from local businesses.

Diving Into “Design Up+Rising: Facing Challenges With A Positive Twist”

Over the past seven years, Bangkok Design Week (BKKDW) has played a pivotal role in shaping the city’s creative landscape. Attracting over 2.51 million visitors and generating more than 3.198 billion baht in economic value, the festival has revitalized urban areas such as Talat Noi, Charoenkrung, and Pak Khlong Talat. By transforming these once-declining neighborhoods into thriving creative hubs, BKKDW aligns with the Creative Economy Agency (CEA)’s mission to use design as a tool for urban renewal, economic growth, and community empowerment.

As it enters its eighth edition, BKKDW 2025 expands its reach with an extended program across multiple districts in Bangkok. From February 8 through 16, activities will take place in Charoenkrung – Talat Noi, Yaowarat – Song Wat, Pak Khlong Talat, and nearby areas. The following week, from February 15 through 23, the festival will move to Phra Nakhon, Bang Lamphu – Khao San, and surrounding districts. Additionally, special programs will be hosted at Hua Lamphong and Bang Pho on select weekends, ensuring a broader and more immersive experience for visitors.

Design Up+Rising: Facing Challenges with a Positive Twist explores five key dimensions of design, each highlighting its transformative potential. First, Optimism embraces the power of positive thinking in design, encouraging innovation and new ways of improving everyday life. Meanwhile, Cross-disciplinarity emphasizes the role of design as a bridge between various fields, from technology and business to science and social development.

The festival also highlights Positive Force, showcasing how design can empower individuals and communities to overcome challenges and drive social change. Disruption challenges conventional approaches, fostering groundbreaking creativity that reshapes industries and cultural landscapes. Finally, Power of Design explores how design extends beyond aesthetics, influencing lifestyles, shaping environments, and creating meaningful societal impact.

With an expanded program and a focus on design’s ability to inspire change, Bangkok Design Week 2025 continues to be a driving force in Bangkok’s cultural evolution. By bringing together designers, industry leaders, and creative communities, the festival fosters collaboration, reimagines urban spaces, and reinforces the city’s position as a dynamic hub of creativity and innovation.

A Glimpse Of The Festivities

The festival not only highlights cutting-edge creative businesses and design innovations but also enhances industry competitiveness and facilitates networking between local and international entrepreneurs. Its impact extends beyond the design sector, driving economic momentum for businesses in marketing, printing, media, galleries, hospitality, tourism, and transportation. As a platform for creative exchange and business development, Bangkok Design Week continues to shape Thailand’s creative landscape while strengthening its position on the global stage.

Tune in to Bangkok Design Week’s Instagram for more information regarding their events!

Want to dive more into design and illustrations? Check out our Creative Spotlight on zine-making here!