This research looks at a specific example of economic activity that has evolved within the urban economic environment: the low-wage micro mobile businesses that operate on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand. This short documentary was researched and produced to capture the essence and story of the mobile street vendor culture.

This project explores the situation through design in order to identify potential innovations within the Micro Mobile Business phenomenon. We began with the question: How can we use design to understand the value of these practices as part of the urban culture in Bangkok?

A collaborative research project with the Qatari architect Ibrahim Jaidah studying the impact of the massive country-wide construction efforts in Qatar on the well being of its citizens. 

We began by asking the question: How can citizens manage their lives in an environment that is constantly being re-invented? The research project was then formulated into a workshop with undergraduate design students who were asked to propose design interventions that could address some of the issues.

An international conference co-chaired and designed by Mixed Methods founder Pornprapha Phatanateacha. In order to fully explore the topic, Pornprapha worked closely with design researcher Munera Spence, a specialist in collaborative practices. The event was organized in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar and Qatar Foundation.

The conference was proposed as an exploration of the ways that designers can act as links bringing together a range of different groups and demographics (businesses and communities, designers and craftsman, teachers and students, etc.).

The knowledge generated from the conference was gathered and published into a book with writing edited by renowned design critic Alice Twemlow.

Using design to improve the lives of the migrant laborer community in the gulf region.

This project engaged a class of undergraduate design students to explore the topic.