Peam’s Pathway

Peam has always seen the world a little differently, not just for what it is, but for what it could become. Where others saw empty rooms, he imagined possibility. Where others walked through buildings, he paused to notice light, texture and the way a space made you feel. “I’ve always wanted to design places that speak to people,” he says. “Spaces that make you stop, look around and feel something.” That quiet passion has grown into a clear purpose: to transform the everyday into the extraordinary through design.

Now, as he prepares to study Interior Design at the University of the Arts London, Peam reflects on the ideas, experiences and decisions that brought him here.

At Bangkok Patana School, where Peam has studied since Foundation Stage, his journey began not in a design lab, but with a sketchpad. “I was always doodling, even on airplanes,” he laughs. “When I was younger, I just liked to draw. As I got older, I noticed I preferred sketching objects over people, furniture, rooms, buildings. It became clear that I enjoyed thinking in terms of space and structure.”

This hands-on curiosity found momentum in the IB programme, where Peam chose Higher Level Art, Business and Design Technology. “Art helped me be more creative, trying out different media and ideas. I didn’t take Art for IGCSE, so IB was really my first time exploring what I could do artistically.” Design Technology, he explains, gave him the technical grounding. “It’s where you learn how to take a concept and actually build it, measuring, scaling, problem-solving. It complemented my artistic side perfectly.”

Beyond the classroom, internships helped him clarify his vision. “I tried three internships,” he says. “At first, I thought I wanted to go into architecture. But once I tried it, I realised it wasn’t for me.” A turning point came when he interned at an interior design firm. “That experience helped me understand what I was really drawn to, how you shape a space from the inside out, not just how it looks from outside.”

Peam’s design sensibilities are deeply influenced by his travels. “Japanese design really fascinates me,” he says, “The way doors don’t just open and shut traditionally, how people sit on the floor, it’s all connected to their culture. In the UK, there’s this clean, linear quality in buildings. Every country brings something different to design.” In Bangkok, his favourite building is the MahaNakhon. “It looks almost broken, but that’s why it stands out. It challenges what we think buildings should look like.” He also mentions the White Temple in Chiang Rai, “It’s unlike any other temple. The sculptures, the creativity, it’s so unique.”

His most personal project so far was part of the IB Visual Arts exhibition. “I created a chandelier out of trash and old fishing nets,” he says. “It had a whale theme, to show the impact of ocean waste.” The piece was auctioned for charity, raising over THB 200,000. “It was amazing to see my art make a difference,” he says. “That gave me a whole new sense of what design could do.”

Outside of design, Peam has always stayed active. “I’ve played Basketball since Primary and made it to Varsity,” he says. “We finished fourth in SEASAC recently.” But his fondest school memories come from the Senior Studies building. “It’s a small space, but I got really close to my friends there. That’s where I felt most connected.”

Looking ahead, Peam is excited about the new challenges that university will bring. “I’ve never changed schools before, so moving to London will be a big shift. But I’m looking forward to it, finding new friends, learning how they teach and being in a completely new environment.”

As someone who’s always taken a thoughtful, forward-looking approach, Peam leaves this advice for younger students: “Enjoy your time. It might feel slow in the moment, but when you look back, it flies by. I only started really appreciating the memories in Senior Studies, I wish I’d done that earlier.” With a strong foundation in both creative exploration and technical thinking, Peam is heading into the future with confidence—and a clear vision of the spaces he hopes to shape.