CMU LeX Camp 2025: A 10-Day International Camp Inspiring Youth Toward a World of Sustainable Innovation

When “learning” extends beyond the classroom and “innovation” arises not only from technology, but from a deep understanding of people and society — that is the essence of CMU LeX Camp 2025.

This international camp, co-organized by Chiang Mai University and Singapore Polytechnic, is an 11-day intensive program designed to empower young people with creativity, a changemaking mindset, and 21st-century skills through the process of Design Thinking x Sustainable Innovation.

Throughout the camp, students from both countries engage in intensive collaboration — from conducting empathy studies to understand real community issues, to ideation, prototyping, and co-creation with local residents — all with the goal of developing innovations that truly address sustainability challenges.

Beyond gaining problem-solving and creative thinking skills, participants also discover friendship, unforgettable experiences, and lasting inspiration that will guide them on their journey as future changemakers for society.

✨ Highlights of This Year’s Camp

• Engaging, easy-to-understand learning sessions on Design Thinking

• Fieldwork in Chiang Mai and Lamphun communities to listen to real stories from people facing real challenges

• Collaboration with international peers to co-create innovative ideas and prototypes

• Gallery Walk presentations showcasing creative concepts to the public

• A warm Farewell Party celebrating friendship, followed by a cultural exploration day of Lanna heritage

💬 Summary

Over the course of 11 immersive days, CMU LeX Camp 2025 proved that true learning begins with an open mind, empathy for others, and the courage to take action.

Even small ideas can grow into impactful innovations when fueled by collaboration between students from two nations — innovations that can make a real difference in communities.

This camp is not merely a holiday activity — it is a platform that ignites the power of youth to think, create, and take action for a more sustainable future. 🌱

CMU LeX Camp 2025 Activity Journal: 11 Days of Inspiration

“11 Days, 11 Inspirations — from Cross-Cultural Friendships to World-Changing Ideas”

A journey of Chiang Mai University students and their peers from Singapore Polytechnic who came together to learn, collaborate, and create sustainable innovations through empathy, creativity, and action across 11 transformative days.

Let’s take a look at some of the highlights!

🩵 Day 1 — The Beginning of Inspiration

Theme: Design Thinking for Sustainable Innovation

The first day began with an introduction to Design Thinking, helping participants understand real-world problems and uncover opportunities to create sustainable innovations.

💬 “Great ideas don’t come by chance — they start with an open mind and a willingness to learn something new every day.”

Day 1 Activity:Learning and practicing Design Thinking for developing sustainable innovation.

This session introduces participants to the Design Thinking process — not through lectures, but through hands-on collaboration, group discussions, and real problem-solving.

Join us to learn, create, and have fun together! You’ll gain valuable insights, practical skills, and plenty of inspiration — all while enjoying every moment of the experience. 🌟

💚 Day 2 — The Bloom of Friendship and the Power of Collaboration

Theme: Icebreaking & Challenge Kick-off

Friends from Singapore arrived in Chiang Mai, marking the beginning of a meaningful connection. The day started with icebreaking activities and moved on to the big global challenge —“How can we create sustainable innovation?”

💬 “Every great innovation begins with a small team that believes in the same vision.”

The first step of new friendship and world-changing ideas began here.With our friends from Singapore joining, we fully embarked on the journey of Design Thinking — ready to open our minds and unleash our creativity!

🌤 Morning Session:

The day began with lively icebreaking games hosted by Thai students — fun and full of laughter!Strangers quickly became teammates, and teammates became friends in no time.

🌿 Afternoon Session:

Time to take on the real challenge!Participants worked in mixed teams to explore the question:“How can we apply Design Thinking to create Sustainable Innovation?”Instead of just listening, they brainstormed, discussed, and took action to solve real problems.

This camp is not only about meeting international friends —it’s about gaining design skills, creative thinking, and true inspiration that lasts beyond the camp. 🌏✨

💙 Day 3 — Understanding the World, Understanding People

Theme: Empathy Study – Learning from Real Communities

Students went into the field to explore the lives, cultures, and challenges of local communities in Chiang Mai and Lamphun, seeking to uncover the true needs of the people they met.

💬 “Before designing for someone, you must first understand their heart.”

To understand the world, we must first understand people — this is the starting point of innovation that shapes the future. 🌏#EmpathyStudy

Today, we stepped beyond the classroom and into the real world —meeting real people, real problems, and real stories that can never be found in textbooks.

🌤 Morning Session:

Field visits to Chang Moi Community (Chiang Mai), Saraphi Buaworapatthana Community (Chiang Mai), and Umong Community (Lamphun).

Students listened deeply to local voices — learning about lifestyles, traditions, challenges, and hopes unique to each community.It wasn’t about simply observing, but about stopping to listen and learning from their lived experiences.

They also joined cultural learning activities, such as making Tung Sai Moo (a traditional Northern-style paper decoration), which they took home as a memorable keepsake. 🎐

🌿 Afternoon Session:

Back from the field, students analyzed their findings together with peers from Singapore Polytechnic, asking the key question:“How can we apply Design Thinking to create truly sustainable innovation?”

The goal was not just to design something beautiful, but something meaningful, relevant, and impactful — because innovation becomes truly sustainable only when it begins with empathy. 💡💙

💛 Day 4 — Listening Beyond What the Eyes Can See

Theme: Empathy Deep Dive

Each team decoded their field data, analyzed real issues, and extracted key insights to uncover the true essence of people’s needs.

💬 “Listening is the most powerful tool a designer can have.”

Stepping into the heart of the community — to discover meaningful stories and understand them more deeply than ever before.#EmpathyStudy

🌤 Morning Session:

Students continued their Empathy Study, engaging directly with community representatives.They listened to stories about daily life, challenges, hopes, and perspectives on the world around them.

It wasn’t just data collection — it was about building genuine connections and learning from the people who live with these challenges every day.We didn’t just see — we understood. ✨

🌿 Afternoon Session:

Back at camp, students worked together to decode, analyze, and reflect on what they had learned from the field.They extracted meaningful insights — the key ideas that would guide their next step: developing Sustainable Innovations that are truly relevant and human-centered.

In the end, the most enduring designs don’t begin with the question “What should we create?”They begin with the deeper questions:“What do people truly need?” and “How can we help them?” 💙

🧡 Day 5 — Learning from the Real World

Theme: Local Immersion & Reflection

Participants joined a local cultural event — the One Stop Shopping Expo Chiang Mai — and reflected on the insights gained from their Empathy Study, preparing to move forward into the ideation phase.

💬 “Inspiration is everywhere, if we open our hearts to see with understanding.”

Today’s activities took the learning process one step deeper — helping participants truly understand local challenges and move closer to creating meaningful, sustainable innovations. 🌏#EmpathyStudy

✨ Special Activity:

Beyond in-depth learning, students had a special opportunity to take part in the One Stop Shopping Expo Chiang Mai, held at Umong Municipality.It was not only fun and engaging, but also an eye-opening experience that connected them to local culture — sparking new ideas and inspiration that enriched their journey in this camp. 🎉

🌿 Afternoon Session:

Returning to their learning space, participants reflected and summarized all the lessons from their Empathy Study.They discussed key findings, shared stories, and prepared for the next exciting phase — developing innovative ideas that can truly respond to community needs. 💡

❤️ Day 6 — From Inspiration to Innovation

Theme: Concept Development & Ideation

Participants entered the ideation and concept development phase, where creativity met purpose. The day featured an Industry Talk from real entrepreneurs who are driving social change through innovation.

💬 “Every idea can start small — but once we dare to act, its growth knows no limits.”

Turning inspiration into innovation — where learning meets real-world experience!#ConceptDevelopment #Ideation

✨ Special Activity:

To spark greater creativity, participants joined an Industry Talk led by guest speakers who have faced real-world challenges and transformed them into opportunities — building businesses that genuinely create social impact.

Their stories and first-hand experiences became a powerful source of inspiration, reminding everyone that true innovation begins with courage and purpose. 💡

🌿 Afternoon Session:

Fueled with fresh energy and ideas, students collaborated in brainstorming sessions to shape their Sustainable Innovation concepts.They presented their ideas to peers, exchanging perspectives and constructive feedback — helping refine and strengthen each concept toward real-world application. 🌱✨

💜 Day 7 — Shaping Ideas into Reality

Theme: Concept Presentation & Feedback

Each team developed their concepts further, began planning their prototypes, and presented their ideas to peers and faculty for constructive feedback.

💬 “Every piece of feedback is the spark that refines innovation and makes it better.”

From ideas to action — today marks a crucial step toward building sustainable innovation prototypes!#ConceptDevelopment #Prototyping

🌤 Morning Session:

The day began with Ideation Preparation, as teams collaborated to organize and refine their ideas before moving into hands-on prototype development.They brainstormed, planned, and structured their concepts to ensure each idea could grow and take shape effectively. 🌱

🌿 Afternoon Session:

After the preparation phase, teams took the stage to present their Ideation Concepts, sharing their innovative ideas with peers and instructors.The feedback they received became valuable fuel — inspiring new perspectives and helping every team move one step closer to realizing their innovation goals. 💡✨

💗 Day 8 — Bringing Ideas to Life

Theme: Prototyping

Participants began transforming their refined ideas into tangible prototypes, receiving guidance and mentorship from the Singapore Polytechnic team and guest facilitators.

💬 “An idea has no value until we dare to build it.”

Turning concepts into creations — today, we make it happen!#Prototyping

🌤 Morning Session:

The day continued with collaborative Ideation Preparation, bringing together insights and creativity from everyone in the camp.Students from Chiang Mai University and Singapore Polytechnic worked side by side — brainstorming, refining, and preparing every detail to bring their prototypes to life. 🤝✨

🌿 Afternoon Session:

After completing their preparation, teams moved on to Prototype Presentations, showcasing the models they had built and sharing the stories behind them.They received valuable feedback from peers and mentors, helping refine their designs and strengthen their ideas in preparation for the upcoming Co-Creation stage. 🌱💡

💖 Day 9 — Co-Creating Innovation with the Community

Theme: Co-Creation with Community

Teams brought their prototypes back to the communities to present, listen to real feedback, and refine their designs to better match the users’ true needs.

💬 “The most sustainable innovations are those that communities truly want and take pride in.”

True collaboration — creating innovation with the community, not just for them.#CoCreation

🌤 Morning Session:

Students from Chiang Mai University and Singapore Polytechnic returned to the local communities to present their prototypes developed from previous days.Hearing feedback directly from community members gave participants new perspectives, helping them improve their ideas and ensure that their innovations aligned with real needs and local context. 🌿

🌿 Afternoon Session:

Back at camp, teams reflected on the community feedback and worked together to revise and enhance their prototypes.Involving the community in the co-creation process not only demonstrated a commitment to listening, but also deepened the meaning and impact of their Sustainable Innovations in real life. 💡🤝

💫Day 10 — Showcasing Innovation and Celebrating Success

Theme: Gallery Walk & Farewell Party

Participants showcased their projects in a Gallery Walk exhibition, followed by a warm and joyful Farewell Party to celebrate both their achievements and the friendships they built throughout the camp.

💬 “What we created may come to an end, but what we’ve learned — and the friendships we’ve made — will stay with us forever.”

Collaboration in action — creative ideas turned into real innovations!#GalleryWalk

🌤 Gallery Walk: Presenting Real-World Innovation

Today marked the culmination of the journey — where students presented the prototypes they had co-created to address real community challenges, refined through local feedback and teamwork between Chiang Mai University and Singapore Polytechnic.

The Gallery Walk was more than just a showcase of projects; it was a celebration of creativity, learning, and collaboration. Visitors from outside the camp had the opportunity to explore new, community-driven innovations and draw inspiration from the students’ work — proof that ideas born from empathy and teamwork can spark real change. 🌱💡

🌙 Farewell Party: A Celebration of Friendship and Memories

After days of hard work, it was finally time to celebrate! The Farewell Party was filled with joy, laughter, and heartfelt gratitude for the incredible collaboration shared by everyone throughout the camp.

Held at the elegant yet cozy Furama Chiang Mai Hotel, the evening featured a delightful buffet dinner and a series of fun, memorable activities — from memory-sharing moments to a lively karaoke session that had everyone singing and laughing the night away. 🎤🎶

But above all, the night was a celebration of true friendship and shared accomplishment.

As the camp came to a close, students expressed gratitude to everyone who made CMU LeX Camp 2025 such a remarkable experience — one that will remain in their hearts for years to come. 💖

“Let’s celebrate together — because the lessons we learned and the friendships we made here will stay with us for life.” 🌟

🤍 Day 11 — A Day of Lasting Memories

Theme: Fun Travel Day

Participants enjoyed a cultural exploration and farewell journey — discovering the beauty of Lanna heritage while cherishing the final moments with their friends from Singapore before parting ways.

💬 “The journey may have ended, but our story continues in our hearts.”

🌿 Final Activity: Fun Travel Day

#FunTravelDay

After days of collaboration, creativity, and challenges, today was all about relaxation, joy, and cultural discovery.Thai and Singaporean students came together one last time to experience the charm of Northern Thai culture, engaging in local activities that reflected the art, lifestyle, and warmth of Chiang Mai.

It was a carefree and happy day — filled with laughter, exploration, and heartfelt goodbyes. Everyone enjoyed the moment to the fullest, creating memories that will stay forever in their hearts before friends from Singapore returned home. 💫

🌸 A Journey to Remember

This final trip marked more than just the end of a camp — it was a celebration of friendship, learning, and shared growth.The experiences gained and the bonds built throughout CMU LeX Camp 2025 will continue to inspire and guide everyone long after the journey has ended.

“Thank you to everyone who made this camp an unforgettable experience —for the knowledge we gained, the laughter we shared, and the friendships we’ll carry for life.” 💖

🤍 The Last Day with Our Lovely Friends from Singapore!

Today was a bittersweet day — the time had come to say goodbye to our wonderful friends from Singapore.It was a day filled with mixed emotions — both sadness and joy — as we reflected on the beautiful memories we shared throughout this unforgettable journey.

Though we may be parting ways for now, we are deeply grateful for every moment we spent together during this special time.

Wishing our friends a safe journey back to Singapore, and we truly hope our paths will cross again soon. 💫💖

🌿 Final Reflection: From One Camp to a Lifetime of Inspiration

Over the past 11 days, CMU LeX Camp 2025 has been more than just an innovative learning experience —it has been a journey within, where every participant learned to listen, understand, and collaborate with others to create something better for the world.

From uncertainty to understanding,from international friends to one family,and from small ideas to boundless inspiration —this journey has shown that growth and creativity know no limits.

🌈 “Because sustainable change doesn’t come from one person —it begins with everyone who dares to think, act, and create together.”

Stay tuned for upcoming activities and the next exciting camp from InnoMind Lab CMU! 💜

InnoMind LAB CMU