This research is set in the context of a collaborative agreement between the Industrial Design
Department, University of Canberra and the Faculty of Applied Art and Design at Ubon
Rajathanee University in the northeast or Isan region of Thailand. In this thesis the textile
production of the region was studied with an objective of evaluating the potential for
product design process to positively influence production outcomes. Traditional textile
production techniques could be lost because these processes are complex and slow, and
the current environment, both physical and operational, is changing rapidly. Product
design and the design process are relevant to the industrial development of Thailand and
village textile production could benefit from structured design and manufacturing
strategies that have a consumer focus and improved production outcomes. From a critical
review of the relevant literature, it was found that village weavers valued the traditions of
their craft and traditional patterns and colours were important in terms of cultural identity and
village social organization. Product design process or more specifically, the Generic Design
Process (GDP) was reviewed and a model developed that adapted the GDP to the prevailing
research environment. The findings led to a program of field research including village
interviews where the major issue of the devaluation of traditional natural material dyeing
techniques was identified. Field experiments tested alternative dyeing techniques which were
evaluated in a survey by village weavers. During the field research care was taken to adapt to
the way in which village weavers lived and worked as the two activities were closely
interrelated. The degree of skill and knowledge residing in the aging women, who constitute
the majority of village weavers, in extensive and profound, and is often described as an
example of local wisdom. The theoretical and experimental work has been related, with
appropriate results and conclusions, to the potential for maintaining traditional natural dyeing
processes albeit with different preservation techniques. The findings from this research
suggests that product design processes are appropriate for village production and that the
tradition of natural material colour dyes will survive, new colours were created and the
potential for new trade in preserved colour dye products. Substantial databases of useful
relevant information have been compiled and recommendations are made for future
research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/258932 |
| Date | January 2009 |
| Creators | Stone, Anasee Pengsaa, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Design |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Anasee Pengsaa Stone |
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