“Passion must be paired with hard work, but don’t forget to have fun.”

— VIET NGUYEN

How did you first get into design?

When I was 10, I was so compelled by the Nintendo64’s 3D offering I had to have it. Consoles weren’t cheap and with 4 kids and an elderly grandma, mum and dad just couldn’t afford it… I understood the situation but still believed I would somehow own one.

In the evenings, I’d cutout Mario64 and console clippings from BIGW and KMART catalogues, scrap-booking them into layouts with illustrations. I’d also sketch plans on how I would fix my scrappy BMX, and anything in the garage we didn’t use to then sell at a garage sale to raise necessary funds. I showed my dad the scrapbook every night after dinner so he could see how I would achieve this near impossible feat, I was pumped just talking about it. We found ourselves in KMART one day and he suprised me with a purchase I could not even believe.

I later found out many years later that he put it on credit and worked overtime to pay it off. At 10 I had crafted a publication to sell a vision.

What project are you most proud of? 
This is a hard one as I’m mostly displeased with my past work.

Advice for TAFE’s current students? 
Passion must be paired with hard work but don’t forget to have fun.

What is Perth design in need of most? 
Pair design skills with web, motion or UI/UX. There’s a huge demand for designers in these areas.

In terms of finding your first job after graduating, what worked best for you? 
I was referred to studio’s and new clients from industry designers and mentors at the time. I was also able to get exposure from self driven side projects. When you’re a self starter you’re showing you have drive, independence, ability to learn fast, self teach and problem solve. These are some of the skills that businesses look for when investing in new designers.