Comet wins for Thai designer

       Achic martini glass named "Comet" by young Thai designer Ekarin Khunapinya won the unanimous approval of the judging committee who awarded it first prize in this year's Bombay Sapphire Glass Competition Thailand. The competition was organised by Bombay Sapphire premium gin in cooperation with the Export Promotion Department's Office of Product Value Development for Export.
       As well as a cash prize of 200,000 baht, Ekarin will represent Thailand in the world glass design competition at the London Design Festival in September this year. The judging committee is confident that his creative work will win Thailand the world title once again.Last year, Thai designer Amorn Thongsa-ard won the first prize at the world's competition in London with his "Ramify" glass, thus putting Thailand on the world map of international designer arena.
       This year, Ekarin, a graduate of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Lad Krabang now working as a designer at Object & Thinks Design Studio, has high hopes of following in his predecessor's successful footsteps.
       "I chose a comet as my concept in designing the glass, because Bombay Sapphire is an international brand with a unique personality of luxury, glitter dignity and elegance.
       "A comet moves round the sun and looks like a bright star with a tail, and it is very beautiful whenever it appears with its shining light. I designed my glass to be cone-shaped, at an angle of 60 degree from the base so that it looked like a comet. The body of the glass is made of crystal to reflect the light beautifully.
       "I imagined it like a passing comet through the horizontal line of the sky.I intended it to make anyone who holds the glass feel more graceful and more confident.
       To prepare for the world-class competition in London, Ekarin said,"I shall probably modify the design a little bit according to comments from the judges to reflect a clearer concept, and will do my very best to win the first prize for Thailand again."
       This year's first and second runners-up are Apirat Boonruangthaworn with his "Ice Cube" glass, and Saran Youkhongdee with his "Double" glass. Each received a certificate and 20,000 and 10,000 baht cash prize award, respectively.
       The judging committee consists of professionals in the design field, namely ML Kathathong Thongyai, director of the Office of Product Value Development for Export; Supatra Srisook, former assistant director-general of the Department of Export Promotion; Thitipat Supapattranont, chairman of Designs & Objects Association; designer Napapadol Paholayothin; Hataitip Devakul,managing director of T-Positif; and Rungsima Kasigranunt, editor of Elle Decoration magazine.