In early February 2023, I had the opportunity to attend an insightful UX talk Beyond Designing: The Journey to Great Product Design, hosted by FPT Software. There were many interesting discussions, but my favorite was Storytelling in UX Design by Heilyn Nguyễn. I was inspired by the metaphors she used to illustrate the connections between […]
I recently attended the online exhibition “City” by photographer Christian Berg, hosted by the Goethe-Institut HCMC. The exhibition showcased urban life across various cities in Vietnam, highlighting both their unique qualities and the connections between them. I was inspired by the techniques he used to capture the vibrancy of city life. Takeaways Multiple Exposure My […]
I’ve always loved doodling geometric patterns, and one day I decided to take that hobby digital. During the COVID lockdown, it became a small daily ritual. I spent about 30 minutes sketching, with just an Apple Magic Mouse. Most of these sketches draw inspiration from the clean lines and bold shapes of Southern Vietnam’s modernist […]
When I first thought about the term “data visualization,” the two things that immediately came to mind were charts and colorful infographics. But after listening to the podcast How Do Designers Use Data Visualization to Take the Numb Out of Numbers, hosted by In the Making, I’ve realized there’s so much more to it. It really […]
It’s been about 14 years since my last school project, which was all about ‘Mapping the Invisible’. Honestly, I don’t remember much about how I developed that project using mapping techniques. But recently, I had the opportunity to attend a really interesting talk on Circulative Mapping, hosted by Hanoi Ad Hoc and RMIT Vietnam. The […]
I met this young lady at an art workshop. While we were all waiting for it to begin, I heard a soft voice from behind me. “Hey sis, do you want to draw on your shoebox? I have lots of pencils”. I turned around and saw her sitting in a corner, pencil in hand, completely […]
I had the chance to join Noirfoto for a 3-hour photowalk around the Chợ Lớn area, inspired by the street photography style of Fan Ho. While walking through the narrow streets and observing the rhythm of daily life, I found it challenging to blend into the surroundings and capture meaningful moments in such a short […]
I first heard about pinhole cameras from my former colleague – Jon, in late 2019. He shared his memories of making cameras with cans. As living in the digital era, I was curious about these handmade cameras and wanted to try making one myself. 2 years later, I got the chance to attend a small […]
Back in 2019, I was dealing with some serious work burnout, which really affected both my physical health and mental well-being. I spent most of my days in bed, focusing on taking care of my basic self-care needs (sleeping, eating, drinking water) and recovering. At the same time, my neighbor started rebuilding her house, and […]
My last visit to Thảo Cầm Viên (Saigon Zoo & Botanical Gardens) was when I was around 10 or 11 years old. I don’t remember much from that time, just that we walked around the zoo, and my mom bought us ice-cream. This time, I’m back at the zoo on my own, doing the same […]
I visited the ‘Nát Giỏ Còn Bờ Tre’ exhibition by Trung Nghĩa, and it was touching. The title means that even if the basket is torn, the bamboo hedge still remains. To me, it was a strong reminder that even when things change or break, our roots and traditions stay with us. The bamboo in […]
republi.sh is such a cool project by Behalf Studio. The team restored and digitized typefaces from Southern Vietnam in the 20th century. These typefaces were used on hand-painted signs, colonial buildings, and old newspaper and book headlines. I love how they preserve the history of these fonts. They turn them into unique designs that feel fresh […]
I recently visited the installation art piece “Sài Gòn Phẳng” (Saigon, Flat View) hosted by Monosketch Art Space, The exhibition presented a simulation map of Saigon showcasing its rivers, canals, and districts. I really liked the concept. It offered a fresh way of seeing the city by focusing on its complex river system, with 110 […]