BANGKOK DESIGN WEEK 2025, 8 –23 FEB

Mayday!

Songthaew Evolve Design Solution Exhibition

In the past, the local public transportation system has not received adequate support from the government and relevant agencies, leading to numerous issues. One significant problem is the modification of private cars into songthaews (converted pick-up trucks or larger trucks with two rows of back benches for passengers), which often lack safety features and can be inconvenient to use. There have been frequent reports of people falling off songthaews, and their design is not suitable for everyone. The Songthaew Transformation Exhibition will present design solutions for the development of songthaews, showcasing potential new forms while maintaining their original size, capacity, and usability. The presentation is divided into two parts: ‘Problems’, which highlights the issues with songthaews in both urban and rural areas, including user feedback, and ‘Solutions’, which offers ideas for addressing these problems, from minor to major improvements. The goal is to create a driving force for change, enabling Thai people to have a safer and more functional public transportation system at the district level.