Upper North Eastern prehistoric motifs as implications for product design

Abstract

This research aims to study the motifs in the northern Isaan region in a prehistoric period that has a particular style of motifs in order to obtain new ones for designing brand-new products conforming to lifestyle of people nowadays, which there is more material development than mental development. Besides that, a researcher realized the importance and value of the heritage of motifs in this region. The research has studied the works of various designers, sculptors and artists. For example, Neil Lampeth, Richard & Robin Sanchez, Ca Nova Design, Ron Arad, Burkina Faso, Judy Watson, Galeria Anlela and Manta James Nagala who created three-dimensional products, in-spired from Spiral motif and Local motif. Furthermore, there are several designers, e.g., Jaga and Joris Laarman, Tapio Wirkkala, Le Klint, Erik Bagger, Hari Koskinen, Jen Quistgaard, Mitsuru Koga and Isamu Noguchi who applied the movements, rhythms and harmony of nature for designing products. This matches the reseacher’s design concepts which have taken inspiration from Snake-curl motif, Kan Khod (Wave) motif, Palm motif and Animal motif. Designing the four collections is like maintaining the data of motifs in the prehistoric period enable descendants to recognize their own spirit through design. The results of this study can be summarized as follows: 1. Obtain a new wisdom of particular form of motifs. 2.Utilize two dimensional motifs for three-dimensional product design. 3. Apply traditional painting techniques for sketching the motifs onto the products. 4. Preserve the motifs in the prehistoric period to use as the future prototype 5. Acquire guidelines for the development of continuous research by making local community follow the procedures and guidelines for product design to build a sustainable community. The researcher has presented the difference in symbolic meaning which can design the products in a whole new dimension but in the same context that is “Belief and faith owns spirit of which reflects itself”. The researcher hopes that this study will be helpful for designers, students and individuals who are interested in finding new aspects to obtain a variety of valuable designs with the purpose of maintaining their humanness in the rapidly changing society due to rapid technological and environmental changes.