THE SOUVENIRS DESIGN FROM THE APPEARANCE OF THAI BUFFALOES FOR THE THAI BUFFALO CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Abstract

The objectives of this research were to 1) study the appearance of Thai buffaloes for using in design of souvenir products, 2) design souvenir products for the Thai Buffalo Conservation and Development Center in Udon Thani Province, and 3) evaluate the tourists satisfaction with the prototype souvenir products of the Thai Buffalo Conservation and Development Center in Udon Thani Province. The research employed a mixed methods approach, incorporating qualitative research. The key informants included site experts, the head of the Thai Buffalo Conservation and Development Project in Udon Thani Province, a graphic character design expert, and a souvenir product design expert. The study utilized interviews as well as quantitative research to assess the satisfaction of a target group of 100 participants. The results found that 1) the population of Thai buffaloes, or swamp buffaloes, had significantly declined due to the replacement of animal labor with machines. The Thai Buffalo Conservation and Development Center in Udon Thani Province has been continuously working to conserve the Thai buffalo breed. Swamp buffaloes which have distinctive features, such as spotted eyes, mottled cheeks, a short and stout body, and white ankles. 2) The souvenirs designed from the appearance of swamp buffaloes were: family t-shirts, long pants, bucket hats, insulated water bottles, backpacks, key chains, and shawls. The designs were from the characters of swamp buffaloes, transformed into a flat graphic cartoon style with simple, earthy tones to appeal to tourists of all ages and genders. 3) The satisfaction with the prototype souvenir products, the graphic character design of Thai buffaloes, and the decorative graphics was the highest satisfaction level (mean = 4.50). The appropriateness of the cartoon character design in relation to the Udon Thani Thai Buffalo Conservation Center was the highest satisfaction level (mean = 4.51). The most popular souvenir designs were backpacks, bucket hats and shoulder wraps, insulated water bottles, fabric key chains, long pants, and family t-shirts, respectively