After conducting my publication design course twice at RMIT Vietnam, I decided to initiate a publication on book design, more specifically, a presentation of students’ works from 2017 and 2018 to consolidate the idea of: “Print is not dead”. The book – supported by the School of Communication & Design and the Beanland Library, Saigon South Campus – has been published in March 2019. “I used to leave books in my motorbike trunk. But now, since I partly understand how much love writers and designers put into, I hold, open and read them with all my respect. Gaining knowledge in a course is its obvious goal. But changing attitudes towards things around is definitely not something many courses can achieve.”Nguyen Ha Giang, student & book award winner 2018 Project: Publication “Print is not dead”Contribution: Editor, author, concept & creative directionUniversity: School of Communication & Design, RMIT VietnamYear: 2019 (ISBN: 978-1-922016-48-5)
Signs of Saigon
Signs of Saigon is documenting and investigating on urban typography in Saigon and beyond. When working at RMIT Vietnam, Saigon South Campus, I had the chance to turn my passion into an academic research project, focussing on the „visual identity of the city“. Visit the project website: signsofsaigon.com Hand painted signs are an important part in the development of our visual culture, but almost extinct in European city centres. They are on the list of endangered species in many countries around the world, replaced by digitally manufactured and often globally standardised signs. This also applies to Vietnam and even more to it’s economic power center Ho Chi Minh City – former Saigon. I want to take you on a journey to your own history and Saigons’ in particular. I have identified a unique cultural treasure and have documented local handwriting and hand painted signs on the streets of Vietnam, Saigon – but also in local markets outside the beaten track of tourism or romantic Indochine pictures. With my careful approach of these everyday signs, I want to reveal their artistic power and beauty. Within my research project I investigated on their style, identifying the Graphic DNA that unites them. And my academic approach takes you even further. I am honouring these pieces of art and cultural heritage by paying a visit to the unknown artists in their late years. My discussions and findings preserve a part of the beauty of Vietnam that is vanishing on a daily basis. This picture was taken at Bình Tây Market, Chợ Lớn, District 6 in Saigon, Vietnam on November 10, 2016, a few days before the market closed for renovation. The signage no longer exists today. Project: Signs of Saigon, documenting and investigating on urban typographyContribution: Field trips, photography, interviews, literature researchYears: 2016 – ongoingPartially funded by RMIT Vietnam, Saigon South Campus
Teaching: Publication Design
Print is not dead – in this project, students had the opportunity to explore the book as a medium that offers multiple design possibilities, satisfying human needs while nourishing several of our senses. A medium that can provide an unparalleled immersive experience. In addition, students were tasked with developing a concept for how a publication could be enriched or enhanced using digital technology, such as augmented reality. The students took the opportunity to explore the medium and – by freely choosing their topic – themselves: their origins and cultural backgrounds, ideas they hold dear, messages and experiences they want to share. Storytelling was an important part of the curriculum and some had their first experience as an author, illustrator or both in this project. A pile of books presented after the first course in January 2017 How to „go green“, live a more sustainable live, why not getting inspirations from ants? Giang Nguyen Ha gave a lot of recommendations and showed for example how to make your own paper from trash (January 2018). Using her grandfather’s poems, Le Hoang Huong Nhi shows how to live a life to fullest, even in your late years: „Loving the salt & pepper life“. „The method of Heaven & Earth to restore lost Qi“ is an inspiration for young people to mind traditional medicine. More images of Ta Quang Huy‘s book can be found on his Behance profile Thinking about enhancing a printed matter with digital technology, Tran Nu Hoang Kim developed an Augmented Reality App showcasing mythical creatures of Native American culture for her book: „The realms of spirit“. „Superstrings to the rescue“ is a scientific art book about string theory, a contemporary idea in theoretical physics. The book becomes Nguyen Ngoc Tuong Minh‘s personal aesthetic translation of the string theory language. About the courseStudents learned not only in the classroom, but also through various activities, field trips, exhibition visits, or in the library. I worked with Clare O’Dwyer, the director of the Beanland Library on campus, to develop a Book Award that could be won each semester, paired with an exhibit in the library. In addition, the books of the award winners were added to the library’s collection. I invited Long Dang, the founder of the Saigon Art Book project, and Giang Nguyen Hung, the designer of the latest book, to talk about contemporary Vietnamese book design. We took field trips to an offset printing company and to the Type Directors Club exhibition organised by the German Goethe-Institut in Ho Chi Minh City. Visiting an offset printing house Type Directors Club exhibition, organised by the Goethe Institute More examples of student work: Course: ProjectContribution: Idea, course design, teachingProgram: Bachelor of Design (Digital Media) University: School of Communication & Design, RMIT VietnamYear: 2016 – 2018
Teaching: Typography
How do basic letterforms differ? What relationships arise, depending on their position in two-dimensional space? How can we promote and prevent legibility? How do “construction and deconstruction” affect basic letterforms? – These were simple research questions the students, began to work on in my typography class at RMIT Vietnam. By hand and on paper. Within the second step, they used the results in their digital work to convey a strong message in a poster series. The topics were free to choose: human rights, social issues, health, environmental protection, … Nguyen Chanh Minh’s interactive poster series is visualising recommendations of the “Ministry of Social Wellbeing”, but not without questioning them by adding a second layer that can be revealed on pressing a button. Nguyen Thai Ha reminds us that we are responsible for saving endangered animals. Le Hoang Minh Nhat introduces three attractions from his hometown in the Mekong Delta, using what he has identified as „Vietnamese Style“. Tran Hanh Vy about confidence Nguyen Ngoc Tra My about drug addiction Hand made typography labThe students worked with basic letterforms printed on paper, to explore their shape, relationships and experiment. The exercises built upon each other and each student submitted a second set of posters made by hand. Exemplary results from different students. Course: TypographyContribution: Course design, teachingProgram: Bachelor of Design (Digital Media)University: School of Communication & Design, RMIT VietnamYear: 2017
Urban Typography in Saigon
Saigon is a mega city with probably 10 million people, the economic center of a socialist republic with a capitalist market economy, formerly French colonialised. Saigon is a city of contrasts, a city with a moving history and a city that is almost overtaking itself on the way to the future. All this can be seen in the cityscape, in the architecture, in the markets, but also in the typography in the urban space. Project: Documentation of typographical events in urban spaceDiscoveries and investigations on the topic of „handwriting“ Contribution: Idea, field trips, photography, Instagram AccountYear: 2015, ongoing
trytype – experiments in typography
Imitation strongly encouraged! The results of the students’ “Experimental Typography” seminar were presented in a book – designed by the students themselves and published by Linotype Library, Bad Homburg. After a theoretical introduction to the historical development and significance of experimental typography, the theme of the seminar and the making of of the works were presented. Each piece is accompanied by playful instructions and documentation of the typeface used to inspire the community of readers to imitate, experiment with, and integrate experimental typography into their daily work. AwardsSilver medal at the Printers Club Award by M-Real, 2005, HamburgSilber medal at the CCD competition „Kommunikation vernetzt“ 2005, Frankfurt am Main Project: “trytype – experiments in typography”Mergenthaler Edition Linotype Library, Bad HomburgISBN 3-9810-319-1-1 Authors: Professor Guido Ludes, Steffi W. NeukirchenContribution: Concept, design, creative directionUniversity: RheinMain University of Applied Sciences, WiesbadenCooperation partner: Linotype Library, Bad Homburg, GermanyYear: 2005
Experimental Typography
“Typography can be art under certain circumstances” – this claim comes from Kurt Schwitters, the German artist, painter, poet and commercial artist, co-founder of the Merz art movement, later known as Dada – even, or perhaps especially, when you can no longer read it. Among other things, we followed in Schwitters’ footsteps in the “Experimental Typography” seminar at RheinMain University. Course: Experimental typographyContribution: Teaching together with Professor Guido Ludes, own experimental typography workFieldtrip to the Gutenberg Museum, Mainz, workshop in their letterpress studio University: RheinMain University, WiesbadenYear: 2003 and 2004