Graphic Design for Cultural Identity

This study aims to develop a brand identity for Mahasarakham’s pottery community, focusing on Ban Mo Village, located in Khwao Sub-district. With a tradition spanning approximately two hundred years, Ban Mo Pottery has yet to establish an official brand. The project involved collaboration between third-year graphic design students at Mahasarakham University and local artisans, aiming to create a brand that embodies their unique heritage and enhances market reach. Twenty-two logo prototypes were designed based on participatory input from forty community members, evaluating elements such as typography, imagery, color, and ability to communicate the community’s artisanal identity. Results identified Logo No. 9 as the most preferred, due to its depiction of two hands molding clay, symbolizing the craft’s manual nature. Further assessment with 475 consumers revealed five preferred logos (Nos. 12, 20, 3, 19, and 15), each effectively conveying the community’s cultural essence. The project demonstrates how collaborative design processes can foster community-led branding, strengthening local products’ visibility and competitiveness both domestically and internationally. This initiative highlights the importance of collaborative design approaches in cultural branding and offers a model for integrating academic expertise with community heritage to support economic development, while crucially raising awareness of the Ban Mo Pottery community and its local wisdom through collaborative practices.