With his creative design for a 3D gaming environment using lots of new technologies, Pham Tan Phu, a student of Graphic Design at the Duy Tan University (DTU) School of Engineering & Technology (SET), was awarded the Innovative Technology Application award at the national science conference on Applied Arts Education in the Context of Cultural Industry Development on September 12, 2024, at the Hanoi University of Architecture.
The national science conference on Applied Arts Education in the Context of Cultural Industry Development was organized by the Club of Applied Fine Arts Training Institutions, under the Association of Vietnam Universities and Colleges. The conference gathered people from a great many different universities offering Applied Arts across the country along with top experts in the field.
Recognizing the growing role of the applied arts in economic development and social life, the experts at the conference had in-depth discussions on fields like graphic design, applied arts, and interior design, divided into three main topics:
? AI and cultural industries,
? traditional culture, and
? cultural industries in Applied Arts training.
Head of the Faculty of Applied Arts of the DTU School of Engineering & Technology MA Tran Thanh Binh (far right)
and other DTU lecturers with Club of Applied Fine Arts Training Institutions Head Assoc.Prof. Dr Dang Mai Anh (second from left)
“Specialized conferences where we can discuss the future directions in applied arts education are absolutely necessary,” Head of the Faculty of Applied Arts of the DTU School of Engineering & Technology MA Tran Thanh Binh said at the conference. “Through mutual exchange, universities can review whether their current training practices are going the right way and identify areas for improvement, especially with the current rapid development of the cultural industries. The graduation projects by DTU students on display here are completely on par with those from Northern and Southern Vietnam. I’ve spent a lot of time working with DTU students, whom I’ve found to be very passionate about their work and creative.”
Pham Tan Phu, valedictorian of the Graduation Project in Graphic Design for DTU class K24
The exhibition of graduation projects featured twenty outstanding projects by students in Graphic Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Pottery, Lacquer Painting, Jewelry, etc. from different universities offering Applied Arts across the country.
Two DTU students had been selected to exhibit their graduation projects, which outstandingly were the highest scoring from the Faculty of Applied Arts at the DTU School of Engineering & Technology:
? the 3D game environment design project “Extrusion: A Cardinal Sin Tale” by Pham Tan Phu and
? the evening gown design “Four Sacred Spirits” by Nguyen Phuong Linh.
The graduation project “Extrusion: A Cardinal Sin Tale” by Pham Tan Phu was awarded the Innovative Technology Application award
There were seven award categories at the conference. Pham Tan Phu from DTU outstandingly won the Innovative Technology Application award for his 3D game environment design project “Extrusion: A Cardinal Sin Tale”.
The aim of the project “Extrusion: A Cardinal Sin Tale” was to design a 3D game environment with fully graphic and animated imagery and lively, captivating sound. To create his very special design, Pham Tan Phu used Unreal Engine 5, currently the latest animation tool for projects of this type. When it was only just finished, his project was highly praised by lecturers and classmates, and it earned him a top score of 9.6/10, making him the valedictorian of DTU’s Graphic Design class K24.
Nguyen Phuong Linh (holding flowers on right) at the Fashion Design Graduation Project presentation at DTU
Pham Tan Phu currently works as an image technician at DTU’s Silver Swallows Studio (SSS). His dream for the future is to design games rooted in a Vietnamese identity, inspired by local fairy tales and legends. “For me, game design is an art form, a bridge, and a universal language connecting different generations and bringing them together. I hope to create a game about Vietnam - a Vietnamese game for both domestic and international markets. Choosing Graphic Design at DTU was the right decision, and I won’t ever regret that I took it,” he says with determination in his eyes.
Meanwhile, the evening gown design “Four Sacred Spirits” that Nguyen Phuong Linh presented at the exhibition and which was inspired by the Four Holy Beasts (dragon, qilin, turtle, and phoenix) representing luck, fortune, and prosperity, also left a strong impression. Using intricate 3D shaping techniques, traditional hand embroidery, and drawing, and delicately putting everything together with meticulousness and great patience, Phuong Linh created a collection that is both elegant and refined, in agreement with modern fashion trends, and imbued with Vietnamese cultural identity.
The evening gown collection “Four Sacred Spirits” at the exhibition
Phuong Linh has a strong personality and a distinctive style. Already when in her second year, she has had opportunities to participate in major contests and fashion events, such as Thailand Fashion Week 2022, where she could show her impressive designs. “When I heard I’d been selected for an exhibition at the national applied arts conference, I was very happy and proud with the recognition of my hard work,” she explains. “I’m always grateful to my family, friends, and the lecturers at my beloved DTU, who always supported and encouraged me to complete this collection and throughout my studies.”
Phuong Linh currently works as a designer and drawer for the brand Tam design by LeDoanHung. Her early work in and exposure to the world of professional fashion has equipped her with invaluable practical knowledge and experience for her work. During her studies and her work, she has been nurturing the dream of establishing her own fashion brand that embodies her personal style and the Vietnamese spirit.
The evening gown collection “Four Sacred Spirits” for Nguyen Phuong Linh’s graduation project
The organizers awarded the following prizes to the most outstanding projects:
? Panel’s Choice award: Matrix Bar Lounge by Nguyen Huynh Ngoc Diep (Nguyen Tat Thanh University), and the decorative sculpture design for Shikoku Mura architecture museum in Takamatsu, Japan, by Le Hoang Hiep (University of Industrial Fine Arts).
? Innovative Technology Application award: 3D game environment design “Extrusion: A Cardinal Sin Tale” by Pham Tan Phu (DTU).
? Preservation of Cultural Heritage & Tradition award: 2025 calendar design “Dai Cat Thanh Mau” by Vi Thi Anh Trang (Thai Nguyen University).
? Creative award: evening gown collection for ages 25 to 30 by Dang Thi Linh (Hanoi Architectural University).
? Talent award: comic illustration “Frog Petitions the Heavens” by Pham Thi (Danang Architecture University).
? Breakthrough award: interior design for Sadhu vegetarian restaurant by Le Tinh (Yersin University, Dalat).
(Media Center)