ZHA, Snøhetta, UNStudio and WHY Architecture among the world-renowned names joining a three-day summit exploring and shaping the future of Asian design at QSNCC.
Bangkok is set to become a meeting point for leading figures in global design and architecture as FIND – Design Fair Asia unveils the programme for FIND Global Summit 2026. Held under the theme “Asia, Authored”, the international summit will bring together architects, designers, property developers, hospitality professionals and experts from across industries to exchange perspectives on the future of design in Asia.
The summit will explore how Asia is moving beyond the role of an adopter of international design concepts to become an influential creator and shaper of its own design direction. It will highlight the importance of connecting global expertise with regional cultures, local knowledge and the growing business opportunities across Asia.
Taking place from 26–28 November 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) in Bangkok, FIND Global Summit 2026 will run alongside the fifth edition of FIND – Design Fair Asia. The three-day programme will feature more than 60 speakers from 17 countries across Europe, the Americas and Asia, sharing insights through keynote presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions.
The summit will provide industry professionals and business leaders with opportunities to explore emerging trends and build connections with influential figures in the international design community. Registered trade visitors will be able to attend free of charge. The opening ceremony on 26 November will be presided over by Mr Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok.
Global Design Leaders Explore the Architecture and Spaces of Tomorrow
One of the summit’s key highlights will be the gathering of leading voices from internationally renowned design organisations.
Shao-wei Huang, Associate Director and Head of the Shenzhen Office at ZHA (formerly Zaha Hadid Architects), will open the programme with “Designing Beyond Boundaries”, exploring the future of architecture through the integration of intelligent technologies and human experience.
Richard Wood, Managing Director for Asia at Snøhetta, will present “Liberating Laughter”, examining how design can create joy and shared experiences. Garett Hwang, Director at UNStudio, will explore the role of artificial intelligence in architecture, while Kulapat Yantrasast, Founder of WHY Architecture, will offer perspectives on the future of museum design and how museums can become public spaces that connect people with art and culture.
The programme will also feature experts from Iosa Ghini Associati, ZHA, WATG, Populous and Bangkok Project Studio, alongside executives from the hospitality and property sectors, including Marriott International, Accor, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts, Narai Hospitality Group, 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts, Central Pattana, CBRE and C9 Hotelworks. They will discuss how design can create business value and shape spaces that respond to contemporary lifestyles.
Representatives from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia will also participate, joined by specialists from HBA, Aedas, Fenn Designers, Concept i, greymatters, A Sharma Associates, TROP, HAS design and research, Inverse Lighting Design, EKAR, ENARI Architects, DEESAWAT, C&R Thailand and the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC). Their contributions will broaden the discussion across architecture, interior design and urban development.
Three Key Themes Reflect Asia’s Emerging Role in Global Design
FIND Global Summit 2026 is structured around three central themes connecting architecture, interior design, hospitality and real estate, each reflecting a different dimension of Asia’s evolving design landscape.
- The Asian Design Authority | Beyond the Blueprint
This theme explores Asia’s growing ability to establish its own design identity and influence. It examines how culture, local knowledge and an understanding of regional contexts can be combined with international expertise across architecture, interior design, museums, cultural spaces and large-scale urban development.
- The New Vernacular | Salvaged. Engineered. Reauthored.
This theme explores how local knowledge and heritage can be reinterpreted through contemporary design. It considers the adaptive reuse of architectural heritage and existing buildings, the use of local materials and craftsmanship, and their integration with modern technologies such as AI, advanced materials and circular-economy principles. The aim is to create spaces that meet contemporary needs while preserving the identity and value of what already exists.
- Asia’s Sensory Sanctuaries | A Way of Living
Focusing on experience and wellbeing, this theme examines how design can shape emotions, sensory experiences and quality of life. It explores how expertise from hotels and resorts can be translated into premium residences, holiday homes, healthcare facilities and new forms of living environments through the thoughtful use of lighting, materials and spaces that support long-term wellbeing.
From Global Expertise to Local Authorship
A defining feature of FIND Global Summit 2026 – Bangkok Edition is its integration of global expertise and local knowledge, bringing the two perspectives into one conversation rather than treating them as separate disciplines.
The first day will open with the theme “Authorship, Experience & A New Way of Living”, featuring Shao-wei Huang, Associate Director and Head of the Shenzhen Office at ZHA, who will present “Designing Beyond Boundaries”. The discussion will then explore how design can preserve a sense of place and local identity while responding to international contexts.
On the second day, the programme will broaden its focus from individual buildings to the urban environment, addressing retail design, placemaking, cultural spaces, artificial intelligence and the future of museum design. Richard Wood of Snøhetta and Garett Hwang of UNStudio will share perspectives on how design can shape experiences and influence the future of cities.
The final day will turn the spotlight towards “Asia from Within”, exploring professional practice, cross-border collaboration and the reinterpretation of cultural memory, nature and local ways of living through the perspectives of designers and architects from Thailand and across the region.
Hospitality and Tourism: Beyond the Traditional Definition of a Hotel
Amid the summit’s wider discussions, the changing meaning of hospitality and luxury will feature prominently, reflecting how these concepts are evolving in response to contemporary expectations.
The programme will examine the new landscape of wellbeing through “Beyond Wellness: The Rise of the Longevity Economy”. Nida Wongpanlerd and Lydia Tiasiri, Director of Design & Chief Sustainability Officer at Fenn Designers, together with Viona Zhang of C9 Hotelworks, will explore how hotels, residences and mixed-use developments can create meaningful value through wellness, while considering the future direction of the market.
The discussion will be complemented by the parallel session “Where Hospitality Meets Healthcare: Designing for Care and Longevity”, led by Diana Kraemer, Chief Wellness Officer of The Longevity Suite Asia and Founder of DK Wellness. The session will examine visitor experiences in healthcare and wellness environments.
Another key discussion, “The Luxury of Constraint”, will bring together design leaders Stéphane Lombard of Accor, Alan Barr, Founder of greymatters, Francisco Nicolas, Design Director of Aedas Hospitality, and Lionel Teh of WATG, in a conversation moderated by Sanjog Modgil, Managing Director – Asia Pacific of SNS Group. The panel will examine how constraints such as budgets, brand standards, existing buildings and local contexts are reshaping design thinking and influencing what is ultimately built.
In “What Makes a Journey Worth Retelling?”, Stefan Bruns, General Manager of DTH Travel Thailand / Blue Jasmine, Woraphan Klamphaiboon, Founder of Supergreen Studio, and Chalida Sirikhunwong, Founder and Owner of Baan Chomprang, will share how culture and design can transform a stay into a lasting memory.
The fireside conversation “When Wellness Moves In”, featuring Viri Kaur Chopra of Six Senses and Shuchita Gupta, Brand, PR and Communications Lead at Kristina Zanic Consultants, will explore how principles originally developed in the hospitality industry are increasingly finding their way into private residences and gradually changing people’s expectations of everyday living.
From Building Design to the Urban Context
The second day will expand the discussion from individual buildings to the broader urban environment.
Richard Wood will explore how design can create conditions for spontaneity, curiosity and shared experiences. This will be followed by “Can Retail Design the Next Cultural District?”, featuring Ian Hendricks of Central Pattana and Natalie Chelliah, Associate Director (Interior) at Concept i. The discussion will consider how commercial developments can move beyond retail transactions to create cultural and civic value, examining the roles of retail mix, placemaking and experience.
In “Designing with AI to What (Long-Term) Depth”, Garett Hwang of UNStudio will look beyond the speed and efficiency of artificial intelligence to consider where AI can create genuine long-term value for architecture and where human judgement will remain essential.
The afternoon will focus on cultural spaces through “Culture as Infrastructure: Designing Cultural Spaces That Shape the City”. Stefano Rabolli Pansera, Founder of Bangkok Kunsthalle and Khao Yai Art Forest; Ermanno Cirillo, Co-Founder & Principal Architect of ENARI Architects; and Keat Ong, Founder of Keat Ong Design, will join a discussion moderated by Suneet Zishan Langar of Epistle. The panel will explore how cultural projects can become enduring urban infrastructure rather than isolated destinations.
The day will conclude with “The Future of Museum Design”, presented by Kulapat Yantrasast in collaboration with the Thailand Interior Design and Art Association (TIDA).
The creative process of making will also take centre stage. “Furniture Made in Asia: Rethinking the Materials Behind It” will feature Jirawat Tangkitngamwong, President of the Thai Furniture Association (TFA) and an executive of DEESAWAT Industries Co., Ltd., together with designer Eugenio Hendro. They will examine how material choices influence furniture design, durability and environmental impact across the region.
“Active Spaces: How Design Shapes Performance and Wellbeing at Work”, presented by Deni Davis, General Manager of C&R Thailand, will explore the evolving design of contemporary workplaces.
Meanwhile, “Beyond the Horizon: How Experiential Design Is Shaping the Future” will bring together Krid Kusumawalee of Seibu Prince Hotels & Resorts and Arunwan Chanthanawit of Narai Hospitality Group, in a discussion moderated by Khajornsak Tantisuk of Kristina Zanic Consultants. The session will explore how destination hotels can create a distinctive sense of place, even in locations that may not previously have been recognised as destinations.
In “Built for the Site, Not the Brand”, Anil Sharma, Principal of A Sharma Associates; Mandar Zaware of Marriott International; Atthaporn Kobkongsanti, Founder and Landscape Architect of TROP: terrains + open space; and Monika Choudhary of ZHCollective | Habitat Architects will join a discussion moderated by Shuchita Gupta of Kristina Zanic Consultants. They will examine how the expectations of global brands can coexist with architecture that responds sensitively to its local setting.
The day will close with the TIDA session “The 50% Architect: Building With What’s Already There”, featuring Boonserm Premthada, whose approach to architecture reflects the idea that nature, context and communities should be allowed to shape the other half of a project.
Reflecting Asia Through Local Perspectives
The final day will take a closer look at the region’s identity and professional landscape. It will begin with the TIDA Thesis Awards 2026, celebrating emerging Thai interior designers, followed by a presentation from IDCEC on the importance of continuing education and recognised qualifications as Asian designers increasingly work across international borders.
The session “One Profession, Many Rulebooks: Practising Architecture Across Asia”, presented by AIA Hong Kong and AIA Southeast Asia, will feature Ed Gaskin of ZHA, J Lee Rofkind, Cathy Saldaña and Manon Koestoer. The discussion will examine the challenges of architectural practice across a region with widely differing markets, cultures and client expectations.
The summit will conclude with “Beyond the Blueprint: Future Nostalgia in Architecture”, featuring Professor Kulthida Songkittipakdee, Vice President of the Association of Siamese Architects under Royal Patronage (ASA), and Jenchieh Hung, both Co-founders of HAS design and research. They will explore how architecture can reinterpret cultural memory, nature and traditional ways of living for contemporary life.
Thai creative talent will also be prominently represented throughout the final day. The TIDA panel “Crafting Spaces, Threading Narratives” will feature Nichapak Torsutthikanok of ease studio and Charif Lona of Studio Act of Kindness.
The session “Form, Light & Emotion: Sculpting Sensory Atmospheres” will bring together Nattapol Techopich of Looklen Architects, Ekkaphap Duangkaew of EKAR and Bernhard Bstieler of Inverse Lighting Design. Participants can also attend “Architecture from Within: Crafting Mindful Spaces & Sensory Sanctuaries”, presented by Somchai Jongsang of DECA Atelier.
A cross-industry discussion, “Design Forecast 2027: What’s Next for the Places We Live, Work, Shop & Play”, will feature Saran Yen Panya of 56thStudio and Marina Almeida of Populous, moderated by Haziq Ariffin of ING Media, offering an overview of emerging trends that may shape the places where people live, work, shop and play in the coming year.
This exchange between international and Thai perspectives lies at the heart of FIND Global Summit 2026 – Bangkok Edition. Rather than creating a divide between global and local approaches, the programme is designed to bring both together on one platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.
Bangkok: An Emerging Meeting Point for Asian Design
Bringing FIND Global Summit 2026 to Bangkok forms part of the relocation of the fifth edition of FIND – Design Fair Asia to Thailand. As one of Southeast Asia’s key markets, Thailand connects the hospitality, real estate, retail, architecture and interior design industries, while offering opportunities for business networking and regional collaboration.
Carl Press, General Manager of Fiera Milano Asia Pacific, said: “Asia has long been playing an active role in shaping its own design direction, with many design studios in Thailand contributing to this movement. FIND Global Summit brings together speakers from 17 countries to connect with architects, designers, property developers and hospitality professionals, creating opportunities to exchange ideas that can be translated into real projects and business applications amid changing lifestyles, travel patterns and urban development.
“The strength of the summit lies in creating a platform where experts from different disciplines can exchange perspectives. This may involve global hotel designers working alongside Thai architects, property developers connecting with emerging studios, or international organisations engaging with specialists who understand local cultures. These exchanges can generate new ideas and create genuine value for projects.”
FIND Global Summit 2026 will feature three days of keynote presentations, panel discussions, expert conversations and activities organised in collaboration with the Thailand Interior Design and Art Association (TIDA), alongside the FIND – Design Fair Asia exhibition.
Further speaker announcements and programme details will be made available through the event website. Interested visitors can register in advance to attend the exhibition, summit sessions and special activities free of charge. On-site registration will be available at a ticket price of THB 500.
Event Details
- Event: FIND Global Summit 2026 – Bangkok Edition, alongside FIND – Design Fair Asia
- Dates: 26–28 November 2026
- Venue: Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), Bangkok
- Opening hours: 26–27 November, 10.00am–6.00pm; 28 November, 10.00am–5.00pm
- Admission: Free for visitors who register in advance; THB 500 for on-site registration
- Registration: www.gevme.com/designfairasia2026
- More information: www.designfairasia.com
