Pawena spent her childhood in the countryside of Thailand surrounded by nature. Her usual day when not in school was playing with the materials she found in nature around her: wooden sticks, clay and mud.
Growing up on a farm, Pawena would often help her mother make things by hand, and it was here that she first learned to crochet, sew and embroider. For Pawena, the feeling of working with her hands still transports her back to that time and brings her comfort.
Pawena began her career studying Industrial Design with a major in Ceramics at KMITL in Bangkok, Thailand. She then moved to the United States and completed an additional undergraduate degree in Graphic Design at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.
Since graduating 15 years ago, Pawena has been working full time in the design industry, but has always made sure to find time to make things by hand outside of work to keep her true passion alive, and she has recently had the opportunity to return to her first love of ceramic design with the founding of Pawena Studio in 2015.
Pawena lives and works in Los Angeles with her husband, also a graphic designer, and her two boys.
