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Published on August 21, 2007

It will also spend more than Bt10 million to construct a new building for its institute, design centre and outlet. The building will occupy about 3 rai and be 3,000 square metres in size.

CIDI president Sakorn Suksriwong yesterday said the institute was testing its operation system before an official launch of its Lunar brand. Many works by its students on two main courses - product and interior design and fashion design - will be sold under the brand under the names Lunar Interior by Chanapatana, Lunar Product by Chanapatana and Lunar Fashion by Chanapatana.

Currently, the CIDI allocates about Bt1 million for marketing. Its design centre was started two years ago and accepts assignments from corporate customers.

The institute was established in 2000 by Wat Thammongkol's abbot, with the objective of helping Thailand become competitive in the global design market. It takes in 120 students a year.

Sakorn said he had witnessed a change in students applying for its courses this year. Usually, its fashion course would be fully booked before the product- and interior-design course, but the situation had reversed.

He said the economic situation was the main factor. Most people applying for fashion courses are usually first-jobbers or people wanting to change careers, while those applying for product and interior design are usually business-owners.

The CIDI is adjusting to the situation by teaching commercial skills as well as design. In addition, it has teamed up with Chulalongkorn University to provide a 30-hour micro-MBA marketing course for its students. Sakorn said Thailand had a shortage of designers, particularly fashion designers. The Kingdom needs about 6,000 designers, but there are only hundreds of new designers each year.

Sakorn expects the government to continue supporting the fashion industry even though the Bangkok Fashion City project has ended. He wants the government to support what organisations in the private sector cannot do rather than initiate and control projects.

Sakorn said trade exhibitions in Thailand should be expanded to a more international scale and that an information centre should be established. He expects the government to continue operating the Thailand Creative and Design Centre.

Nitida Asawanipont

The Nation