Tra Giang Nguyen | Communication Arts

gydient.com

Duration: Three years.

Location: Hamburg, Germany.

Education: BA in communication design, Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg (HAW Hamburg), Hamburg, Germany.

Career path: In 2017, I cofounded Fustic.Studio with my four other team members Trung Bao, Hai Doan, Nam Le and Hieu Vu—all of whom I met in an art class we attended in Vietnam. We initially created a virtual space where we could learn, share and explore the world of design, but we eventually developed it into a studio that combines design with technology and motion graphics. As part of Fustic, I’ve worked with several international artists and clients like Adobe, adidas, Adult Swim, Billie Eilish, Facebook, Pull&Bear and Uniqlo.

In 2019, I started my first semester at HAW Hamburg’s department of design, where I got the chance to take a typography class. I fell deeply in love with designing letters and kinetic typography.

By having skills across a wide variety of media, I can bring out different methods in my design practice.”

Artistic influences: I draw inspiration from Bauhaus and how it associates beauty with function and personal artistic vision. My love of Bauhaus is also why I chose to continue my eduction in Germany.

Being born and raised in Vietnam, I am influenced by my hometown of Hanoi in the way I think and create. Unlike Bauhaus, Vietnam constantly mixes old and new aesthetics in something I like to call “the beauty of clutter.” With so many colors, sounds, activities and changes on the bustling streets of Hanoi, my hometown has influenced my creative process to become more diverse and messy.

Favorite projects: In 2020, I had the opportunity to work with designer Duy Dao to redesign the branding for Gatheround, which included the creation of a custom typeface. This project laid the groundwork for my career, combining my brand design knowledge with my type design skills. We engaged users more fully with a playful, whimsical brand, which are the traits the founders wanted to embody.

Approach: Calling myself a multidisciplinary designer gives me more freedom to explore. My skills range from motion design to 2-D and 3-D visual design, but my strengths are in kinetic typography and branding. Playfulness and diversity also play important roles in my work. By having skills across a wide variety of media, I can bring out different methods in my design practice.

Aspirations: Personally, I’m interested in typography and technology, so I’m eager to learn how to combine type design and branding with creative coding. I’d love to do exciting projects for tech companies with creative coding as the hero of my toolbox.

In terms of contributing something back to the community, I’m looking forward to creating more socially and environmentally oriented design. I’d like to focus on real issues that greatly impact our future livelihoods.

Philosophy: Always move forward. Above all, be nice and kind to others. And ask yourself what you are good at. It’s easy to learn skills, but learning to develop your true self is far more challenging. However, it could give you more awareness on how you design and solve problems.