Hey, I’m Huy and it’s an unbelievable honor to be featured right here on Codrops! I run MONOLOG, a design studio that helps founder-led manufacturers construct digital experiences that transfer individuals and rework how they’re perceived.
I additionally share what I’ve discovered constructing a studio with 50,000+ designers and freelancers on my socials throughout YouTube and LinkedIn. And in case you got here from any of the platforms to learn this text, you’re an OG 🫡
If not, no worries! I’d like to introduce you to my world and present you extra about who I’m and what I do.
My Story
My story begins the best way a whole lot of tales begin for teenagers in Asian households. You research exhausting. You go to school. You get the protected job. That was the script my mother and father labored endlessly to carve out for me, and it got here from a spot of actual love and sacrifice.
However I acquired fortunate with timing. I had a 6-month hole earlier than college gave me simply sufficient house to start out exploring alone. I picked up Udemy programs in digital advertising and marketing, video modifying, and frontend improvement. Funnily sufficient, I selected them as a result of I heard you might make financial institution with these abilities.
Out of the three, frontend improvement was the one which caught. Surprisingly not due to the cash however it genuinely felt good constructing one thing cool from scratch by your self.
Then one night I discovered the Prometheus Fuels website by Energetic Principle. I bear in mind simply sitting there, scrolling by means of this absolutely immersive, WebGL-driven story expertise and considering: wait, you’ll be able to construct this on the net?
It didn’t really feel like an internet site. It felt like stepping right into a world somebody had crafted body by body and it gave me a sense I couldn’t clarify. An entire new dimension of what was potential simply unlocked in my head. I began diving deeper into inventive improvement, interactive design, movement, all of it.
All the pieces I used to be studying, I used to be educating myself by means of YouTube tutorials, documentation, and simply breaking issues till they labored. That curiosity by no means stopped and I used to be HOOKED.
As soon as I acquired to school, I began sharing my studying journey on YouTube and in addition explored designing web sites additional.
I’d at all times been impressed by creators on YouTube who documented their course of and struggles brazenly. I believed, I need to put my story by means of a digital camera too and I need to inform my story by means of the issues I’m making.
What began as a passion become one thing I didn’t anticipate. Shoppers began reaching out and each hour I spent in a lecture, I felt extra disconnected from the normal 9-5 path I used to be purported to be on.
So in my closing yr of uni, I dropped out, packed my baggage and booked a one-way flight again to Vietnam.
I went all in on the one factor I couldn’t cease doing and it was the perfect choice of my life.
At the moment I run MONOLOG from Vietnam, working with bold manufacturers who care deeply about story and craft. And I get to share every little thing I’ve discovered with a group of creators who’re on the identical path I used to be on not that way back.
This text is a glance contained in the work, the method, and the considering behind it. Let’s get into it.
Featured work
OH structure
One among my all-time favorites. This venture was deeply private for me as a result of I’ve at all times had a eager curiosity in structure, so having the ability to assist OH Structure refresh their identification and redesign their web site felt like an unbelievable alternative.
A whole lot of native structure web sites in Brisbane really feel virtually interchangeable, so we pushed for one thing way more distinct and according to the high-end work the agency really produces. Via intentional transitions and animations, we crafted an expertise that feels calming, clean, and premium.
The very best half is that the location helped them shut $2M+ in initiatives inside 3 months of launching, saved them 20 hours a month filtering leads, and received a number of Website of the Day awards on Awwwards, The FWA, and CSSDA.
Supersolid
I like collaborating with inventive businesses, so serving to the Supersolid crew carry their digital expertise to life was a real pleasure.
The transient was particular and enjoyable: visually translate the “supersolid” quantum state by means of shaders, chromatic aberration, and flowmap distortion.
However the different half of the problem was making it really feel digital analog. We spent a whole lot of time within the small particulars, from design by means of to improvement, speaking that rigidity by means of CMYK colours, intentional transitions, blurs, and grain.
Mammoth Murals
Mammoth Murals is a neighborhood legend in Alabama, recognized for his or her excellent large-scale murals throughout the world. Their digital presence didn’t match the power of their work, so we rebuilt their whole visible identification and web site from scratch to hold that very same “mammoth” weight.
We leaned closely into playful particulars on this one. The distinction between huge typography and spray-paint cease movement units the tone, and from there it’s layered with small interactive moments all through that reward curiosity.
Another initiatives that I’m pleased with lately
Inventive Internet Handbook — an superior venture in collaboration with Ivor. We had 2 weeks for the Contra x Webflow problem so we went all out as quick as we may.
Backhouse — A latest small launch we’ve accomplished in 4 days with very neat particulars and shader work.
Somewhat bit extra about me
Tech stack that I exploit for my work
I attempt to maintain my instruments and tech stack as lean as potential so I can maximize the inventive output with out friction:
- Figma (for designing)
- Webflow (for frontend)
- Slater/Cursor.ai (for customized code)
- Claude (for every little thing)
Inspiration
My inspiration is scattered in all places. I attempt to keep observant of every little thing round me whether or not that’s nature, bodily mediums like books, posters, and vinyl covers, or the work of different designers, creatives, and businesses who’re always pushing boundaries and sharing their craft on-line.
Inspiration often strikes while you least anticipate it so I attempt to maintain myself surrounded by nice work always. That manner when a second of readability hits for an ongoing venture, the references are already there on my feed or in my surroundings.
Future Targets
There are some things I’m wanting ahead to.
One is doing extra work that feels deeply fulfilling. I need to be selective with the initiatives I tackle and go deeper with manufacturers that genuinely care about craft, story, and making one thing that strikes individuals. The sort of initiatives the place I stroll away feeling pleased with what we constructed collectively, not simply relieved it’s finished.
The opposite half is increasing past the net. I’m always fascinated by how manufacturers are constructed from the larger image. Not simply web sites, however the full ecosystem of how a model feels and communicates throughout each touchpoint. That pull between technique and emotion is the place I need to spend extra of my time on sooner or later.
And truthfully, even when net design isn’t a factor in 20 years, I do know I’ll nonetheless be creating. Whether or not that’s by means of VR, spatial design, or one thing that doesn’t exist but. My life mission is to by no means cease making issues. Even once I’m 80, I need to be constructing one thing.
I additionally need to maintain sharing what I’ve discovered alongside the best way with different self-taught creatives who’re on the identical path I used to be on a number of years in the past. If my journey can provide somebody the boldness to wager on themselves, that’s price all the effort.
Closing Ideas
By no means cease creating. Find it irresistible. Breathe it. And when it’s essential, relaxation.
There’s a Japanese saying I carry with me: 一生懸命 (Isshoukenmei). It means to offer your self absolutely to one thing with all of your may. That’s how I attempt to strategy my craft and my life, and I hope you’ll be able to too : )
Cheers,
Huy
