RUNIVERSE BKK 2592

Behind the Running Mission to Save Bangkok 30 Years in the Future

For most, running is the first form of exercise chosen when looking to get into fitness, as it doesn’t demand any particular skills or equipment. Beginners need only a good pair of shoes and the willpower. Thanapong ‘Fiat’ Panichob, a founder of YIMSAMER, the design studio specializing in incorporating technology into art, is one such person who gradually took up running and eventually became serious about the sport. That devotion led to RUNIVERSE BKK 2592, a program motivating everyone to run during this year’s Bangkok Design Week.  

More than just a fun run, however, the event took participants on a jog through Bangkok 30 years in the future. Manifested through multimedia technology, runners were given the role of environmental protectors working with Bangkok Risk Zero, dispatched to Bangkok in 2049 AD to find missing research needed to stop the city’s environmental crises, ranging from overcrowding and climate change to PM 2.5 pollution and even major flooding – all triggered by actions here in the present.

The Designer Running for Physical and Mental Health

“I used to work very hard, and it took a toll on my physical and mental health. About three years ago, a friend of mine invited me for a run. That first time, I only ran about 2 km. with the pace set at 8 or 9, which is a speed most people can walk. I kept at it, however, and got more serious, until about a year ago, I began running trails and discovered it really recharges you in many ways. I wanted to take the opportunity of this event to encourage my fellow artists and designers to pay more attention to their health.

“At first, I wanted to stage a run through Charoenkrung that everyone could join in, but a city run didn’t make sense with the PM2.5 pollution. That gave me the idea of tackling environmental issues and incorporating running into an immersive experience with moving images and multimedia. I found research by the Urban Futures and Policy office of Thammasart University predicting what Bangkok would look like in 30 years and the office’s director, Asst. Prof. Wijitbusaba Marome, was eager to provide us with the data we needed to construct our experience.”

Partnering to Run Farther

“The program’s full name is ‘RUNIVERSE – IMMERSIVE RUNNING EXPERIENCE Powered by Amino Vital’ as we were sponsored by the energy gel producer. They picked us up immediately after our pitch and they genuinely wanted this project to be realized because they wanted the new generation and its designers to understand the importance of fitness.

“Our next major sponsor was Fitness First, who dedicated treadmills to us as soon as they heard our idea. They noted that designers and artists are a particularly difficult group to reach and they are very difficult to attract to physical activity without an incentive. This is why the activity was presented in the format of a ‘fitness theater’ tying together exercise and a narrative. The Virtual Media Lab at CEA has a huge screen and top-shelf light and sound system, we put the treadmills there and had professional trainers from Fitness First leading participants on how fast to run and at what incline.

 “Making the role of environmental protector even more real, I invited Ratchai ‘Nging’ Rujiwipatna from Babymime to serve as an acting coach for the trainers, giving them a better grasp on communicating from the stage. We then had support from AssetWise in terms of funding for the imagery we used to populate our scene.”

A RUNIVERSE of Possibilities

“The project was conceptualized in October 2023 and realized in January 2024, a very short period of time. Without the help of all our sponsors and a strong team, it would have been difficult to blend an immersive experience with both sports and theater. What I’d like to share as a designer is that this undertaking led me to know a much larger network that will extend the potential of newer designers. I am very happy that this took place.

“I had the chance to talk with some of our sponsors on the direction moving forward for this project. It might become an application for immersive experiences or evolve into a fitness course. Most of our conversations focused on the tools without limiting the content to BKK 2592 because the RUNIVERSE could be in the stone age, among dinosaurs, or in any reality.”

See more at www.facebook.com/yimsamer

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Bangkok Design Week 2024

Livable Scape

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27 Jan – 4 Feb 2024

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