បទសម្ភាសន៍ជាមួយ Nhi Ton

Back in Vietnam, I studied business management and got a job in the hospitality field as my parents wanted me to. Yet I did not feel fulfilling, the creative side of me was yearning for more. I came to the US to pursue Art and Design study. I was in Delaware County Community College for two years learning all the Art and Design fundamental classes and then went to The University of the Arts for Master in Product Design. Art and Design help me observe every single object around me more closely and appreciate the beauty in places I did not see before. This new perspective really motivates me to learn how to make this world more enjoyable for others. I love what I am doing and I feel blessed that I found what I love to do. Design has always been my dream.

Sketching, Prototyping, User Testing

Curious, excited, frustrated, excited, surprise, happy. That's why I love design process :)

It is a blessing that I grew up in Asia where I can absorb the historical culture as well as surrounded by various philosophies. Combining that with the knowledge and experiences that I gained during my study in the US, it created so much character in my personality and inform the depth in my designs.

Also, coming from a Business Management background, it helped me to be able to work well in a team and to balance my creative side with reality.

This design was inspired by origami fundamental which transforms from a single piece of paper and creates more than what the material could offer by simple folds.

By study the basic mountain and valley folds, I focus on its ability to create structure, flexibility, and aesthetics. The goal was using this fold, apply it to a bigger scale for a lean, minimal waste manufacturing process.

I hope I can get this design manufactured. Also, I hope to study more about the possibility that origami can offer us.

I spend 3 months for learning about mountain and valley folds by running a lot of weight and pattern tests to know the constraints of this fold in comparison with material thickness. The application exploration phase took longer time as I want to create a product which could showcase the structure of the fold as well as how the flexibility of the fold could benefit the product.

This is my graduate thesis. I chose this concept since I have a very strong interest in Origami and would like to apply it to the Product Design level instead of just craft.

My interest in culture and holistic design motivates me to explore and design this work. There is so much beauty in culture. My lamp design made out of a single piece of paper, a very ordinary material, but it would give a "wow" moment by knowing the material and apply origami fundamentals into it instead of complicated hardware. I think it is fascinating.

During this process of design, I got inspired a lot from other scientists and physicists such as Robert Lang, Paul Jackson, Mike Tannis, and engineers who have been studying origami and find the application for what they learned.

This design used a single piece of folded material to create such a flexible structure. The mechanism was made for disassembling and offer the reconfiguration to users.

Because it simply has the shape of a Mobius strip especially when you twist the disc to reconfigure the lamp, it switches its surfaces.

A lot of prototyping, user testings, 3D rendering, working with the manufacturer.

I collaborated with Weber Packaging Design in Philadelphia to learn about the scoring process for folding as well as material testings. After several rounds of prototyping, they also gave me the costing for the production.

I think the most difficult thing is to ask the right questions for the design process and what is that that you want your product to be or tell?

Back in Vietnam, I studied business management and got a job in the hospitality field as my parents wanted me to. Yet I did not feel fulfilling, the creative side of me was yearning for more. I came to the US to pursue Art and Design study. I was in Delaware County Community College for two years learning all the Art and Design fundamental classes and then went to The University of the Arts for Master in Product Design. Art and Design help me observe every single object around me more closely and appreciate the beauty in places I did not see before. This new perspective really motivates me to learn how to make this world more enjoyable for others. I love what I am doing and I feel blessed that I found what I love to do. Design has always been my dream.

To me "Design" is to bring something to the users. It could be a functional purpose or it could be an emotional purpose. Design and Product Design in particular to me is a “Cross-pollination” between all disciplines. Wherever you find your curiosity, dive in, and stay longer with your curiosity, the result will be blooming.

I like material or methodology design where I could explore a certain material or cultural method of making things to learn and evolve it from my understanding to apply to make new products.

I like natural or self-growing materials. It is fascinating to allow nature to the design process. As a person who appreciates cultures, I also enjoy studying cultural material and craft and how to apply it to a design level.

When I wander around.

function, aesthetic, usability

Curious, excited, frustrated, excited, surprise, happy. That's why I love design process :)

The ultimate goal as a designer is to have more people who enjoy using my products as possible. When my design is realized, I am happy because I know that my design values somehow were seen and what I wanted to deliver through my design was accepted.

If a design can make people's daily life better through its functions or can positively emotionally affect users or simply users enjoy using the products.

"what does that design speak to me?"

Designers have the ability to create products based on their value systems. We, designers, get to decide how to make things or systems to encourage people and change their behaviors, simply choosing the materials, consider product after-life, what to make and what not.

I think it is a very interesting time to see two parallel directions where the design field is evolving: Sci-Fi High-tech, and back to nature. Also, as we are going through a Covid-19 pandemic, we, designers, get to reflect and think where the design will switch the direction after this to be more responsive to what we are designing.

My last exhibition was at the AIA center in Philadelphia for my thesis graduation.

Nature, culture, people. I walk around to see things that I am interested in, and I question, and then find answers through design.

Minimal. I stick to the basics and develop by finding a surprise moment.

I am living in Seoul, South Korea. It is a blessing that I grew up in Asia where I can absorb the historical culture as well as surrounded by various philosophies. Combining that with the knowledge and experiences that I gained during my study in the US, it created so much character in my personality and inform the depth in my designs.

"Don't be overcomplicated."

Observation and asking the right questions to find solutions.

Balance is key. I make sure to take 15 mins to eat and go out for a walk every day. Sometimes in a project, my thoughts just pouring out when I tried to sleep, I wrote them all down, otherwise, I would stay up all night.

It depends on the timeline.

"Why should this product exist?"

Research and experimentation

I just moved to South Korea so I am hopeful to get a job in the Design field where I can apply what I learned and grow more in design.

I do both. I had several team projects and I learned a lot from my teammates as well as team management skill. Although I enjoy develop design myself, I usually discuss with my peers for feedback or opinions. Design does not happen in a vacuum.

Email: nhiton163@gmail.com