Viet Little Ones

UI/UX, illustration, creative direction
Duration: 10 weeks | Spring 2023 Senior Capstone

Viet Little Ones is a language learning experience designed specifically to help Vietnamese children [ages from 5 to 11] living overseas to learn the Vietnamese language.

UNICEF’s sustainability goals:
    04 – education quality
  17 – partnerships for the goal

WHY?
Personal Observation

I was born and raised in Vietnam. I began to have exposure to languages and cultures from a young age; I had little to no problem adjusting to life and people in the United States when I moved here for university.

I have noticed there are families that moved overseas for work, diplomatic reasons, or simply to look for new opportunities. Most families have children who struggle to speak Vietnamese, which is supposed to be their mother tongue. A lot of them only speak English or the language that’s used where they live.

Research 
surveys & interviews

Similar thoughts were raised:

“Vietnamese is not as rich as English in modern concepts, ideas, and vocabulary.”

“So they can maintain a meaningful tie with Vietnam.”

** A LITTLE BIT ABOUT VIETNAM


Vietnam is a small country in Southeast Asia, across the globe from the USA. Due to a long history of war and colonization, Vietnamese culture has been influenced a lot by China, France, and the USA.


It is one of the only countries in Asia that uses roman letters as their official national alphabet. Very similar to English, with a few more special characters and tone marks. 

Viet Little Ones’s goal is to take the stress off the parents by teaching the language with context tailored to the child's interest instead of teaching them with a fixed curriculum.

> Welcome

> Learning Feature 1: 
Alphabet & Numbers

The Vietnamese Alphabet.
How to pronouce the letters, numbers.
How to write the letters and numbers.
An example of how it’s used.

> Learning Feature 2:
Vocabulary

With the setting of a typical house. Children can learn words that they can use on a daily basis. 
Since they can go around the house and enter rooms that they want, they can learn the Vietnamese vocab based on their interest, on there own pace. This will encourage them to use the language more often.

To learn what the word means, the child will be prompt to play 3 comprehensive levels of games that provide indentification, actions and storyline. They will then be awarded with flowers. <Good Baby Ticket>

Well known children stories and fairy tales in Vietnamese and English, translated to the other language. Audio book function is available incase the parents can't be there to read with the child.

Alphabet Poster and Flashcards can enhance learning by providing a sensory experience for children and addressing parents' concerns about screen time, without sacrificing fun visuals.

I want Viet Little Ones to have a bright and friendly feel but still have deeper toned colors to tie back in the culture aspects.

For typography, I chose Tuppence as the decorative, fun factor of the learning process, while monsterrat is used for instructions and straight forward learning materials.

Secondary elements are pulled in from Vietnamese traditional tiles and patterns. With color, they look like confetti.

The illustration is drawn with squared tip brush. Makes each characters and objects have a familiar feel to children.

RESULT/EXHIBITION

As a result, I have created a Vietnamese learning experience that consists of an Application, Alphabet Posters and Flashcards.

I have also designed the display for the project for Penn State Senior Capstone Exhibition 2023. Showcasing all of the products.

     

PERFETTI SCONOSCIUTI

title sequence, motion effects
Duration: 4 weeks | Spring 2022

Graphis New Talent Award 2023 | Silver Award Film/Video Design | Film Title category

A relevant introduction/title sequence to a movie - Perfetti Sconosciuti. Conveying a set mood and the essence of the story.

Perfetti Sconosciuti, or Perfect Strangers, is an Italian movie set at a dinner party with 7 friends. They played a game, and the rules were to share every notification, text, and call to the table, putting their marriages at risk.

STORYBOARD

The plot consists of many dramas and twists, so I was inspired by Saul Bass and decided to use silhouettes and simplified shapes to hint at the story's events. 

The title sequence has successfully introduced the setting and main actors of the movie. It also portrayed the overall mood and captures the mysterious, the drama and the intense  complicated romances that Perfetti Sconosciuti has. I am also honored to receive a Silver Award from Graphis for this project

TUBBYTRONIC

Packaging, UX/UI,
Duration: 5 weeks | Fall 2021

TUBBYTRONIC: Techie Babies is a couture fashion magazine and a trailer for this issue based on the kid’s show Teletubbies. It is ideated from the Teletubbies’ dome grass house “Tubbytronic Superdome." 

Models:
    Min Guen Ju – Tinky Winky  
    Bilal Ahmad – Dipsy
    Vrinda Agarwal – La Laa  
    Nhu Pham – Po

Teletubbies is a show I watched a lot when I was a child. For this magazine, I wanted to keep the story’s originality add my twist to the concept: a human live-action version of Teletubbies with a fashion sense resembling their personalities and characteristics. The magazine shows the world of Teletubbies, the inside and outside of the “Superdome,” what they do, their personalities, and their favorite items. 
 

After finalizing my idea, I made sketches for the magazine's outfits, set, and layout. After multiple trips to Goodwill, I’ve collected second-hand clothing pieces and made body forms of my models with tape to create four outfits efficiently. I have also created a mini version of the set before setting up the background. The photoshoot set comprises a fake grass rug, fake moss, paper, table cloths, and rescue blankets.

I printed the magazine and crafted them. This magazine is an opportunity for me to make my own creative decisions, from casting models to costume making. It is my take on showcasing Teletubbies and their untold stories.

EYES OF THE ARBORETUM

UI/UX, motion effects
Duration: 5 weeks | Fall 2021

Salute Design Competition | Merit Award Interactive/Video/Motion category

A supplement to the experience inside the Arboretum at Penn State to help visitors see and understand the difference between human vision and the vision of creatures in the Arboretum and why they behave in a certain way.

Collaboration:
   William Ren
     Penn State Arboretum

After visiting the Arboretum at Penn State, not many people know how Birds, Butterflies, and Bees see differently than us. My partner and I were very intrigued by this fact and decided to design this experience to show visitors this Hidden World.

We sent out a survey to students on Campus with questions about the Arboretum and Technology. And with the information, we decided on our deliverables and created a user scenario.

Deliverables

Our 8ftx 10ft screen will be located at the entrance of the Pollinator’s Garden. Being this big, visitors can immerse themselves in the vision of the pollinators. They can visualize if the pollinators are human size. That is how the pollinators will see them. The screen will be motion-tracked with gesture-based technology.

Notification can be enabled to let you know when you arrive at a recommended photo spot. The app allows the visitors to “swap eyes” with the pollinators, explore the Arboretum on their own, and share their experiences on social media.

We have created a complete experience utilizing technology as a supplement that can showcase the “Hidden World: The Eyes of the Arboretum.” It was also an excellent opportunity to collaborate with the Arboretum of Penn State. We are also glad to recieve a Merit Award from Salute Design Competition in the Graphic Design: Interactive/Video/Motion category. 

EVANISKO

Poster Series, Illustration, Photography
Duration: 2 weeks | Fall 2021

A surreal poster series with an overall theme of resilience and the tagline “RISE UP.” The posters follow the concept of alien abduction. 

  Collaboration:
    Aeva Roth
    Evanisko Collaboration Grant  

Model:
   Alessandro Ascani Orsini
   
 

This project was made possible by the Evanisko Grant to be displayed at the Penn State Library. The theme of resilience was chosen with the hardships through Covid time. But they want to make it fun to change up the atmosphere in the library; that is why it is surreal.

The 80s theme and HP Lovecraft’s work inspire my partner and me. We decided to incorporate the signature octopus monster into our story.

We made sketches for the setup of the room and the different perspectives we can use to support our narrative better. We then experiment with camera angles and illustrations to add character and engagement.

An experience takes place at Penn State Library. Bringing the space to life, the original posters were then animated.

Utilizing a large space in the library, we projected the animations on this wall. Showcasing more of the story behind these posters.

We have installed a UFO, tentacles taking over the library.

Social media posts grid and countdown to the event date. 
Instagram filter for visitors to further immerse in the story.

A surreal poster with a captivating narrative. They were completed by experiments with set design, camera placement, and incorporation of photography and illustrations.