Formed as an art residency taking place from 28 to 30 November 2024 at Amanaki, 10 Nguyen Dang Giai, Thao Dien, Ho Chi Minh City, the event is a chance for the 16 product designers and architects to collaborate with two Vietnamese artisans: Nguyen Xuan Luc and Nguyen Van Bao, and designer Andrea Mancuso.

During the workshop, designers will be directly guided through the creative process by Andrea Mancuso, complemented by knowledge-sharing sessions from lacquer artist Nguyen Xuan Luc and bamboo weaving artist Nguyen Van Bao. This is a unique opportunity for top product designers working in Vietnam to explore sustainable materials and design solutions.

Product development and story to be told entirely depend on designers' inspiration, understanding, and prior research. At the event, two Vietnamese companies: UpGreen and Bao Lan Textile will participate as material support partners, offering recycled fabric and plastic options for specific designs.

Speaking about the event, designer Andrea Mancuso said, “When we see objects, we only see the final result, and all the process behind it is completely hidden. But the process is the part that excites me the most. I want to express not only a story but the capability of materials to stand out, to talk, to really say something".

About experts

ANDREA MANCUSO is the Creative Director and lead designer of Milan-based Analogia Project. Since its 2011 founding, the studio has focused on furniture design rooted in historical research and creative material interpretation, using narrative-driven practices that challenge spatial perceptions. Their first exhibition at the London Creative Festival attracted international media and curator attention, leading to installations at Hermès stores in Tokyo and Dubai, and Milan Design Week 2012. Mancuso currently collaborates with fashion giants like Fendi, Bulgari, and Etro on window display designs.

NGUYEN XUAN LUC is a lacquer artist living and working in Hanoi. Born in Chuon Ngo, a village with a long history of mother-of-pearl inlay, Luc was drawn to transforming shell inlays in his work. He dedicates most of his energy to learning and reviving traditional materials. Notable awards include First Prize at the Vietnam Fine Arts Association 2021, Third Prize at the Young Fine Arts Festival 2017, and an EDIDA Vietnam 2022 nomination.

NGUYEN VAN BAO is a passionate Vietnamese bamboo weaving artist with extensive experience. Committed to continuous learning and research, Bao aims to create innovative products. With over 4 years of self-taught experience in shaping and perfecting handcrafted bamboo items, his goal is to develop unique bamboo techniques. Standout works include carp lanterns, decorative lights for restaurants, hotels, and cafes, and decorative models. Bao's products have been exhibited at the Vietnam Lifestyle Exhibition 2024 and other showcases.

List of participating Vietnamese Designers:

Dong Minh Anh, Thai Hang, Huy H. Nguyen, Nadya Levina, Vu Dinh Nghiem, Pham Tho Nhan, Vu Hoang Phat, Kieu Thang, Thomas Vincent, Trang Nguyen, Tuan Huynh, Tuan Nguyen (Le Tung), Vo Quang Ty, Nguyen Minh Uyen, Pham Nguyen Quoc Vuong, Nguyen Thi Kim Yen. 

About 'EU-Vietnam Sustainable Design Awards' (EVSDA)

Initiated by the EU Delegation, the EVSDA project is committed to the proliferation of sustainable design practices in Vietnam, and the development of communities around these practices; in doing so, the aim is to ultimately contribute to Vietnam’s sustainable inclusive development – indeed one of the priorities in the EU’s engagement with the country.

Implemented in partnership with Elle Decoration Vietnam, the first phase of the EVSDA project will consist of a series of events and activities between September 2024 and spring 2025, culminating in the inauguration of the Awards in mid-2025. Thereafter, the second phase of the project will be the long-run organisation of the EVSDA on an annual basis.

The EVSDA project consists of four main thematic pillars which correspond to the four categories of the Awards: Architecture, Product Design, Communication Design, and Innovation. Through the cultural and creative dimensions brought about by these pillars, the project aims to highlight how sustainable and innovative design practices can engender concrete and positive experiences in our daily life.

Sharing about the objectives of the EVSDA project, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier said: “The project reflects our ambition to develop an innovative framework to support and facilitate the transformation of our lives in a creative way. With this project, I very much look forward to connecting with Vietnamese architects, designers, artists, engineers, cultural practitioners and innovators who will create a bridge between the world of the arts and culture on one side and that of science and technology on the other, to bring in many inspiring ideas combining sustainability, practicality and aesthetics, for the benefit of our daily life. We need all creative minds to make this project a success.”

Updates on the project can be found at the Facebook page of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, as well as the official EVSDA Facebook group.

The EVSDA project is realised in partnership with and funded by the EU’s Cultural Relations Platform initiative.