English 
Thai 
简体中文 
PKRU EXPERT : Asst.Prof. Ruethamrong Paladsongkram, the Package Designer of Andaman
(PRPKRU) Designing beautiful and functional packages is the fundamental work of the big businesses; but it is a big matter for the local business like OTOP, SMEs, or community enterprises, to have attractive package for their products. To solve this problem, Phuket Rajabhat University has been working with Phuket Provincial Community Development, and other related organizations in sending team of lecturers and researchers to work on packaging design for local entrepreneurs Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi for many years with the intention to promote the local products to international trade generating income and business channel to people in Andaman provinces.
Asst. Prof. Ruethamrong Paladsongkram or Ajarn Bao, the lecturer in Packaging Design Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Phuket Rajabhat University, is the product designer who has been working along with the villagers in designing unique and functional packages for local Andaman products.
Problem: Carrying a pineapple on a plane
Pineapple is the well-known product of Phuket grown and distributed by Phuket Pineapple Farmer Enterprise in Sisoontorn Sub -district, Thalang District. Ajarn Bao was assigned by Phuket Provincial Agricultural Office to design the pineapple package that is not only easy to carry but also looks unique and attractive. The package designed by him added value to the golden yellow Phuket pineapple. It has been used in many special events of the province.
Ajarn Bao show us the pineapple package which is the long and easy to carry box made of white paper and explain about it.
“I was assigned by Phuket Provincial Agricultural Office to design the package for Phuket Pineapple. The main objective of this job is to design a package that promotes the sales and adds value to the pineapple. The package I created is the box for 2 pineapples weighting not more than 3 KG.; the box is easy to carry everywhere even on a plane. On the box is the story of the pineapple farming area, product standard and uniqueness, and directions to peel the pineapple. The box is made of the corrugated paper to reduces ethylene which helps to slow down fruit ripening.”
Product design for Andaman local development
As Phuket Rajabhat University has been driven the 20 Year Local Development Plan under the royal policy of H.M. the King Rama 10th in enhance the quality and value of local products; Ajarn Bao in the position of the Deputy Director of Research and Development Institute has been working with the team from Faculty of Science and Technology in product development and packaging designs for 9 local products including:
- Woman bag made of Pandanus tectorius, a product of Wang Hin Toey Panan Crafting Local Enterprise in Klong Tom Tai Sub – district, Klong Tom District, Krabi Province,
- Takola Snack, a snack product manufactured by Takola Female Farmer Cluster and Enterprise located at Village No.8, Rong Phra Alley, Takua Pa Sub – district, Takau Pa District, Phang Nga.
- Sweet condensed goat milk and goat milk manufactured by Maneerat Goat Farm Cluster and Homestay in Pa Klok Sub -district, Thalang District, Phuket,
- Fermented mushroom, produced by Na Faek Mushroom Farming and Enterprise in Baan Na Faek, Na Toey Sub – district, Tai Muang District, Phang Nga,
- Duang Rat Chinese Pastry, Takua Pa Sub -district, Takau Pa District, Phang Nga,
- Goat chili paste produced by Sane Pho Farm and Enterprise, Thep Krasatri Sub -district, Thalang District, Phuket,
- Phuket Pineapple grown by Phuket Pineapple Community Enterprise, Pa Klok Sub – district, Thalang District, Phuket,
- Phu Tan Glass, glasses made of sugar palm wood by Phu Tan Community Enterprise, Kok Kloy Sub – district, Takua Toong District, Phang Nga, and
- Goat Milk Soap produced by Barokat Enterprise, Thep Krasattri Sub – district, Thalang District, Phuket.
“All of the team products are derived from the ability of the researchers in various fields with the strong intention to help the locals to present the uniqueness of their products. The Research and Development Institute has been working with provincial community development offices in Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi to enhance the overall quality of the local products by using the body of knowledge from the lecturers in many fields. Apart from packaging, the university has been working on promoting product quality, storage, appearance, product presentation based on the study and analysis in materials, manufacturing places, and cost following the goal of enhancing the local products to reach the Community Product Standard and OTOP fair or online distribution that would generate more income to the locals.”
Exchanging knowledge with the locals
The products and packages created by Ajarn Bao always reflect the local identities which is the desires of local product manufacturers. Not only creating the works which meet the needs of entrepreneurs, he also works with local government agents in training people in the communities.
“Lecturers in the program and I has been training the locals in product design from thinking process, designing, to amending appearance the products to be more attractive. This does not only help in creating the good image and selling potential of products; it also give us the opportunity to learn and exchange the concepts, methods, and wisdoms from the locals. It is valuable for me as I can see more ideas and ways of packaging design that truly promote the identity of each community. Moreover, I can use this experience in providing instruction to my students.”
“Knowledge” is the essential part for the university to provide education for local community, at the same time, ‘Experts’ also play important role in educating local people. We are not only responsible for educating students in the university, we also have to provide educational services for the local residents in our service area, Andaman Provinces. That is why Phuket Rajabhat University has been supporting our experts to serve the local community; and Asst. Prof. Ruethamrong Paladsongkram is one of them.
The entrepreneurs who want to work with Phuket Rajabhat University can contact Product Design Program, Faculty of Science and Technology for more information via 0 7652 3094-7 ext. 4000.
