From childhood toys to upcycled designs, Pae has changed the ordinary into the extraordinary, making sustainability both creative and inspiring.
Think you’ve seen it all? Wait until you see what Pae does with discarded materials. For this week’s Friday Future List, we introduce you to a creative genius who’s turning discarded bits and bobs into eye-catching art: Thanawat “Pae” Maneenawa.
From a young age, Pae’s journey began with a simple joy—crafting his own toys from household items, long before recycling became a popular concept. His passion for inventing inspired him to create TAM:DA, where his home/workshop serves as the space to turn visions into reality.
He recalls turning a mango into a makeshift Ultraman figure by adding eyes, demonstrating his early passion for reimagining objects. This playful spirit evolved into a professional career as an artist, inventor, and designer, where he applied his creativity to a broader audience.
Circular Economy and Creative Reuse
For Pae, the circular economy started as a personal enjoyment rather than an environmental mission.
“At first, I didn’t think about saving the world,”
he explains.
“I just enjoyed being creative.”
His approach was to repurpose items rather than discard them. This mindset led to the creation of the “PET Bottle T-shirt” and the “Canoe – Can DO,” a project showcased at the Earth Manual Project Exhibition by Design for Disasters in 2013, in response to the 2011 Japan tsunami.
“I work full time and like to pick up pens or objects and make them into something else, always focusing on function since I work in the creative event area. I made a page to share my work, and it gained popularity. Organisations started reaching out, asking if I could help them with similar projects. Back then, the trend of sustainability wasn’t a big thing. I just found it interesting to reuse items instead of throwing them away. Organisations gave us leftover items to work with. Over time, I realised how beneficial this approach was. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
The increasing popularity of Pae’s upcycled designs highlights how this personal interest has blossomed into a professional passion.
Despite the positive impact, advocating for environmental issues through art has not been without challenges. Pae’s primary difficulty lies in the ideation phase of his projects.
“The challenges are pretty varied, mostly about coming up with fresh ideas. For TAM:DA, we often work on client projects that already have a concept but need ideas.
So, the main obstacle is coming up with suggestions that meet customer needs. The first challenge is always the idea. The smaller problems that follow are minor and basic.”
While the practical issues are manageable, the creative process remains the most demanding aspect of his work. The key, according to Pae, is to focus on developing strong and creative concepts.
Exciting Future Projects
Looking ahead, Pae is excited about ongoing and future projects. His work continues to grow as he teams up with new factories and organisations.
Pae’s excitement is evident as he describes his interactions with new partners.
“I’m developing my own work based on tasks from customers, and the projects keep getting bigger. What excites me most is meeting factories or organisations we haven’t worked with yet. I want to connect with anyone who has leftover materials or problems we can help solve. This can lead to many new ideas. For example, meeting with different clothes hanger manufacturers and seeing what unique materials or challenges they have,”
he says.
Pride in Impactful Projects
Reflecting on his career, Pae is most proud of a project he worked on about eight years ago. This initiative involved creating affordable aids for disabled children in collaboration with the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Creative Citizen, and a disabled children’s foundation.
“I’ve worked on many large projects, but the one I’m most proud of is a small project that had a big impact. The challenge was to create affordable aids for children with muscle problems, who often couldn’t access equipment. While similar DIY aids are available abroad, the equipment is often expensive, so we aimed to make something affordable here in Thailand. I designed a simple aid using a hose and common Thai water pipe connectors. It was inexpensive and effective.”
The result was an affordable and effective solution that brought joy to the children who used it.
“When we tested it with the kids, their joy in using the new tool brought tears to my eyes. Seeing 50 volunteers come together to help make these aids, and receiving thanks from the families, was incredibly rewarding.
It showed me that even small things, when combined with creativity and supported by a network of people, can make a massive difference,”
he recalls.
Balancing Roles and Influences
Pae’s roles as an artist, inventor, and designer are deeply intertwined. He views himself as a creative individual whose skills flow between these areas. Rather than cycling through each role separately, he allows this process to influence and enhance all aspects of his work.
“My creative ideas flow into all areas,”
Pae explains.
“Each role influences and supports the others.”
This helps him keep his artistic vision, inventive spirit, and design skills all in sync.
