Change itself is an eternal and perpetual thing. Designers thrive on a world that is constantly changing as we respond to changes in technology, trends and ideas. As we wrap our minds around these ideas of social, political and economic change, designers also have to consider the time—moving, changing, and waiting for no one.
I am a graphic designer, changing with time. My evolving personal style has been shaped and defined by my surroundings. Similar to the changing seasons, my style changes to reflect my mood, taste and ambition. While I still have a lot to learn I am ready to embrace and accept change with an open mind.
PEST: 100 IDEAS
Editorial
Inspired by Peace: 100 Ideas, Pest: 100 Ideas is a book that examines and visualizes the different possible ways to annoy a person. The book strives to redefine readers’ perception of this word by juxtaposing bold imagery with thought provoking and humorous ideas. Pest: 100 Ideas also attempts to make readers more aware of the pests in our lives and in turn, teach them to be less of a nuisance to society.
1st place winner in the UC Davis Design by Design 2008 student competition.
EXPLORIT
Identity
Explorit is a science center whose main mission is to “involve people in science experiences that touch our lives.” The logo plays on the idea of exploration by using a magnifying glass as its main element. This idea of exploration is carried onto the business system through the interaction with the pieces as viewers are encouraged to flip them over to discover new information.
JOURNEY FROM THE FALL
Movie Posters
Two different approaches for “Journey from the Fall,” a movie that embodies the migration of many first generation Vietnamese Americans during the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The posters were created through various hands-on techniques and mediums in order to reflect the nature of the film.
IMMIGRATION
Interactive Flash Site
A personal project that chronicles my family’s history and migration from Vietnam to America. Through the use of an interactive map, users were able to click on each circle to reveal pieces of the story.
COLD SPRING HARBOR WHALING MUSEUM
Identity
A museum that showcases and documents the rich whaling history of Cold Spring Harbor. The identity reflects their maritime history by implementing soft, subdued colors with a vintage whale motif.
MONDAY, SUNDAY
14-Page Book
A personal project that expresses my feelings about each day of the week through the juxtaposition of imagery and poetry. Spreads flowed within one another to represent the movement and fluidity of time.
ENTERTAINMENT COUNCIL
Posters
Part of a series of posters done for Entertainment Council, a student-run group on the UC Davis campus that host many shows and events for the campus. The posters depict the musicality and liveliness of the events through the abstract representation of the artists. Objects such as a microphone and guitar were chosen to accentuate the diverse performers without highlighting one particular artist.
Integrated Identity Program
The main objective of the one-half campaign is to raise awareness of food waste in America. The identity and name of the campaign was shaped around one simple fact—one-half of our food produced in America is eventually thrown away. This idea of taking our food for granted is translated onto the slogan and concept of the campaign, which warns viewers to not play with their food.
The identity of the campaign was transferred to various promotional items such as: a take-out box, postcards, and buttons.
ECO-FASHION
Website
A website that addresses the issue of sustainability through the topic of eco-friendly clothing. The website provides users with information on the importance of sustainable clothing and what they can do to help. Hanging elements are dispersed throughout each page to give users the sense of rummaging through a closet.
Cow Crank 2007
Identity
Logo design for an annual rock-climbing competition at UC Davis.
LIFE IS LIKE A ROSE GARDEN...
Posters
Part of a series of hand-on projects that drew inspiration from one word—pest. These posters integrated a form of the word pest (junk mail) and a quote which contains the word.
PEST
Typeface
A typographic interpretation of the word pest; this typeface was created with a mixture of Indian ink and dead bugs.
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© 2008 Kien Nguyen. All Rights Reserved.