“Smart and bold” - that is the comment of Master Hoang Viet Quoc, head of the graphic design department and reviewer, about the culturally rich topic called Faifo Gift by Nguyen Ngoc Minh Trang, a student of the Faculty of Applied Fine Arts, Duy Tan University, Da Nang.
The teachers in the council also compared the practical presentation to "calling for capital" to invest in this gift shop. In addition, the color scheme in the brand's identity, from the logo, packaging to posters, is notable for its research effectiveness.
The logo "The Four Harmonies" is the main idea of the bow-tied cube perspective, the ancient town architecture reflects on the Hoai River, like a four-season gift package representing the four colors of the old Faifo trading port: vermillion pink, faded orange, light brown, and deep blue, corresponding to spring, summer, autumn and winter.
It is the lotus color in pagodas and assembly halls, the orange color of the old town walls, the brown tile color, the green moss color in the alleys, or the deep blue of the Hoai River.
Thousands of seasons have passed through the streets, walls, and Faifo tiled roofs, transforming the streets into more and more ancient ones. Today, their colors are distilled into the colors of the four seasons, into a set of 4 Posters - Concept, Greeting, 4 groups of gift products, and farewells like the feelings of visitors to Faifo Gift - a gift shop rich in ideas of the young future owner - the author of the project - clearly Hoi An: open, friendly, tolerant, warm.
Born and raised in Hoi An ancient town, Nguyen Ngoc Minh Trang had a childhood associated with sparkling lanterns and small, pretty souvenirs. Since her teenage years, she both innocently strolled around the ancient town and diligently helped her mother – nurturing a deep love for Hoi An culture.
So choosing the topic of Designing an identity for the Faifo Gift brand was a natural thing. Likewise, like her personality, Trang researched fiercely, persistently, and to the end for the article, naturally.
Because before that, when she was a third-year student, she won 2 awards in the UK and the US with just one logo, from her course project.
Along with preserving the spirit of "Old Hoi An gifts", Minh Trang's greater aspiration is to create a new tradition in gifts, through ancient and neo-classical designs.
Faifo Gift may be the brand design of the Faculty of Applied Fine Arts, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, which was discussed, analyzed, presented and debated the longest in the recent graduation defense.
Not only because of the incomplete packaging errors, the project is also noteworthy for the richness and diversity of the combination of ideas, for the way of solving the new gift concept, and especially, for the color palette of Faifo Gift.
Is it the color of Hue, Hoi An, Champa, or the color scheme of the ancient Faifo trading port? It could be all of those! First of all, it is the color of Trang Faifo.
From her final project as a student, this Hoi An girl has learned many valuable lessons, experiencing both successes and challenges. That will be a solid foundation, helping her prepare for a new journey of creativity and success.
(Article from the Central Highlands Spring Labor publication - 2025)
