/About

I’m Ánh, a designer based in Vietnam, creating delightful interfaces and fulfilling experiences. My work takes form of web design, brand identity design, graphic design, publication design, product design, exhibition design. The list goes on. For a few years, I worked with the team at a Saigon-based design studio to realize well-crafted projects. These days, I work independently as well as alongside other designers and developers with focus on digital-first services.

In art and research, my themes and focus span challenging and expanding the perceived functions of tools, exploring human vulnerability, speculating on consciousness, and performing internet satire. Internet and browser art are the mediums I want to utilize more.

Principles

The bit I wrote about how design should be is a personal belief and a loose guide I hold for myself with regard to my practices. It’s an overly simplified statement—just a starting point to build upon. Here are a few more of what I believe in:

1. Be hyperaware of context and consider the meta.
2. Pleasure is both function and form. Inspired by Charles Eames
3. But when design needs to be uncomfortable, make it painstakingly so.
4. Make space for impulsivity and intuition, governed by good taste.
5. Negligence in your craft is immoral. Inspired by Nam Cao
6. Avoid becoming three design disciplines in a trench coat.
   Care deeply about the matter at hand.
7. Acknowledge the presence of your influences.

Interests

Things I like to research, collect, or practice:

• Fountain pens and inks 
  One of my favorite pens to write with is Lamy CP1 in Italic 1.1, currently inked with Diamine Earl Grey.
• Analog photography
  My first camera was a Canon AE-1 I got when I was 16. Several SLRs and point-and-shoots later, an Olympus 35SP is what I keep as my main camera.
• Backpacks
  And feature-rich tote bags. Eyeing an Aer City Pack Pro.
• EDC and multitools
  Love the design of Leatherman Micra—small but mighty.
• Juggling
  Although I can’t juggle 3-ball cascade perfectly just yet.