Pornprapha Phatanateacha

Education

• MFA Virginia Commonwealth University
• BFA University of Utah

Biography

Most recently Ms Pornprapha Phatanateacha was the conceptual leader and co-chair of the Tasmeem Doha International Design Conference 2011, and creator of the conference concept: to demonstrate and explore the expanding role of design and designers as a link across disciplines, ideas, and culture, and between the past, present and future.

Throughout her career as a designer and educator she has worked to expand the role of design toward a more interdisciplinary paradigm by focusing on design thinking and strategy development. Originally from Thailand, Assistant Professor Phatanateacha has been teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar since 2002.

She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Utah, and a Master of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She began her career working with the international architecture firm RTKL where she worked on numerous national and international design projects. Her professional design work spans a variety of disciplines including environmental design, exhibition design, branding, publication design and design strategy development. As an educator she has taught a wide range of courses, and she recently conceived and implemented a design studio course with three main goals: creating a transition to professional practice for students; educating clients within the Gulf region to the potential of design thinking and the value of design; and expanding projects beyond commercial service to include local social and cultural issues and student initiated entrepreneurial projects.

She has presented at a number of conferences including the Aspen Design Summit, and FLUX: Design Education in a Changing World, DEFSA International Design Education Conference. She was awarded a faculty research grant to investigate cultural patterns within a global context, and her work has appeared in several exhibitions and publications.

Research Interests

Her current research interests concern the transitional period from academic environment to professional environment. She is working on the development of a model for the organizational structure for design studio that will be implemented in design curricula.

As a result of her research interest, Ms Phatanateacha has been involved in the development of the design curriculum for VCUQatar.

Publications

DesignSchool Confidential: Extraordinary Class Projects From the International Design Schools, Colleges, and Institutes
Published by Rockport Publishers (October 1, 2009) Author: Steven Heller and Lita Talarico
Featured piece: VCUQatar 10th Anniversary Publication Project with Law Alsobrook

Charm of the City, Photography book about Qatari national heritage
Published in 2007 (self-published) Co-authored with Hani Nakib, Photographer

Passage Through Qatar, Photography book about Qatar natural environment
Published in 2005, (self-published) Co-authored with Hani Nakib,

Photographer

Color Management by John T. Drew and Sarah A. Meyer
Published by Rotovision in 2005 Work published.

Revival of the Fittest: Digital Versions of Classic Typefaces
Published by RC Publications, Inc. in 1999
Co-authored and design of the Clarendon Chapter.
Edited by Professor Phil Meggs and Associate Professor Roy McKelvey