In the GS611 Design Thinking course, Ratchathewi was selected as a field site because it reflects the complexity of urban life in Bangkok. As a central district shaped by migration and rapid urban change, the area brings together Burmese migrant workers and long-term Thai residents who share housing, streets, and public spaces, making it a meaningful context for studying everyday coexistence.
Data from Thailand’s migrant workforce registration underscores why this context matters. Out of approximately 3.95 million registered migrant workers nationwide, workers from Myanmar account for nearly 2.94 million, forming the clear majority of the migrant labor force. These workers play a critical role across construction, manufacturing, services, agriculture, and fisheries—sectors that sustain Thailand’s economy and supply chains. Yet the data also reveals persistent structural challenges. Large numbers of Burmese workers remain in temporary or transitional legal statuses, including those awaiting nationality verification, working under special cabinet resolutions, or navigating complex MoU systems. This legal precarity, combined with language barriers, limited access to information, and uneven protection mechanisms, continues to restrict access to public services and increase vulnerability to exploitation.
Within this context, GS611 introduces design thinking as a human-centered and iterative approach to understanding complex social issues. Instead of starting with solutions, the course emphasizes empathy, observation, and problem framing, encouraging direct engagement with lived experiences.
During the first field visit, students conducted interviews and ethnographic observations with migrant workers and local residents. Tools such as empathy mapping, personas, and user journey mapping were used to capture daily routines and challenges and translate them into structured insights.
The second field visit focused on convergence. Students returned to the community to test assumptions, refine problem statements, and gather feedback on early ideas or prototypes, reinforcing the importance of iteration and learning from users.
Together, these field visits demonstrated how design thinking connects academic learning with real-world engagement and supports the development of responsible, human-centered social innovation.
📏 1st Round of Admission Period: February 2026
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