Under a people-centred approach to justice, Asst Prof Dr Rittirong Chutapruttikorn, a lecturer in Research and Educational Innovation Development Division at Bangkok University, has initiated and developed the ‘Where the Silence Speaks’ project – a groundbreaking initiative aimed at improving the quality of life for vulnerable female inmates, particularly pregnant women and mothers with young children.
The project integrates research, teaching, exhibitions, art, and policy collaboration to bring together diverse perspectives and create meaningful change within Thailand’s correctional system. One of its central principles is empowering inmates to express their opinions safely and fully, despite the constraints of incarceration. It focuses on developing accessible, user-friendly tools for data collection and creating psychologically safe environments that allow women to share their experiences and needs openly.
‘The critical challenge isn’t just gaining access to prisons, but breaking down the ‘architecture of silence’ deeply embedded in these women’s minds – women who feel they have no right to speak or imagine a better life,’ said Dr Rittirong. ‘The research team works with corrections officers, students, designers, formerly incarcerated women, and human rights experts. Initial tools were tested with former inmates before being implemented with pregnant women and mothers of infants in prison. All research is conducted under strict human ethics standards, with special emphasis on mental well-being, voluntary participation, and privacy.’
Co-Designing Change in Restricted Environments
The project led to the creation of a prototype Mother and Child Centre at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution, Khlong Prem. The design was based on the innovative concept of ‘Creative Pragmatic Co-Design,’ a methodology developed by Dr Rittirong specifically for use in highly restrictive environments such as prisons.
The success of the project has influenced real policy change. The Director of the Central Women’s Correctional Institution invited the research team to present their designs for budget planning and future construction – a rare example of participatory design directly shaping infrastructure in controlled spaces.
Beyond the physical transformation, the project challenges the traditional notion of prison space. It redefines prisons as environments not only of control, but of understanding, healing, and the restoration of human dignity for some of the most vulnerable individuals in the justice system.
Expanding Impact Through Education and Design
The project’s data collection tools have since been adapted for use in post-release detention facilities and public exhibitions such as ‘Walls to Welcome’ and ‘Luen-Jum (Fading Memories).’ They have also been integrated into real-world problem-based university curricula and adapted for work with other vulnerable populations, including ex-offenders, children, and the elderly.
These innovations have earned national recognition, receiving the ASAIHL Thailand Outstanding Achievement Award 2024 (Social Engagement category) and the Distinguished Academic Award in the Social Sciences 2024 (Merit level). Both accolades highlight the project’s continuity, academic merit, and social impact in using design as a tangible instrument of justice.
By combining education, empathy, and participatory design, ‘Where the Silence Speaks’ stands as a powerful example of how academic innovation can transform public policy – turning silence into a voice for human dignity.