Review Saigon Creative May event

This month we had a visit from the multi-talented Thai Nguyen who currently owns L'Usine, the fashionable coffeeshop on Dong Khoi street. Today, he talked about his career which rose from a background in design into the film industry into fashion and finally into venture capitalism. The casual dialogue he lead opened up into a discussion about how do you introduce a new product into the market and how one can steer one's creative energies and goals amidst the sea of circumstances one is bound to meet in one's career. Yet another interesting talk at Saigon Creative and an interesting group of people as always


Anh-Minh Do

Saigon Creative May speaker: Nguyen Quang Thai

Entrepreneur + Creative & Strategic Director

Over 17 years of world-class experience in Graphic Design, Art Direction, Branding, Marketing and Entrepreneurship.

Personal Ventures 2009-present: Open a restaurant in nyc called “An Choi NYC”. Open retail/café in HCMC called Lusine. Open a product/design lifestyle brand called Sweet&Sour (Bakery, Cupcakes, Candles)

2010-2012: Became partner at IMS marketing, an event / PR / activation agency.

2010-present: Marketing Director for IDGVV, a Venture Capital company. Work with start-up companies like YanTV, SaigonHeat, Subway, WebTreTho, etc….

2006-2009: Started a digital marketing studio called “Liquidline” and produce a social networking website “yobanbe.com”. Sold to Vinagame in 2008. Created the Zing Brand and platform for VNG. 

2004-2005: Executive Producer of the feature movie “1735km” produced by Ky Dong Productions

2001-2004: Art Director at JWT Vietnam & Deutsch, Inc NYC; 

1999-2000: Co-Founder of a NYC web agency called “Office for    Fun & Profit”

1995-1999: Designer/Art Director for Red Sky/BMA associates NYC.

Thai has designed, directed, managed and produce untold numbers of projects for clients such as Unilever, Altoids, News Corporation, PaineWebber, Reebok, Neiman Marcus, PlayStation, Nickelodeon DowJones to name a few. 

His work has been awarded and published by the AIGA, Communication Arts, Print, The AR100, Mead Annual Report Show, Type Director's Club and Graphics. 

Thai holds a BA in Fine and Applied Art major in graphic design at the University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

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Review: Yves' photographic journey

Yves before kicking off the lecture

Photography being a passion of mine, I was looking forward to Yves presentation. He attended the previous month and gracefully agreed to do a presentation himself.

I noticed Yves' work long before I had the chance to meet him in person. His photography evokes wonders and feelings, taking you away from the road of glossy and airbrushed perfectionist treatment.

For those who attended, we all got a glimpse into the working methods behind Yves' stunning images and for those of you who missed out, please sign up on for the email letter and receive notifications straight to your inbox and join us next time.

It is well worth checking out his book, you can follow this link here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/2419570

Colour distortion by the projector

Unfortunately, we had to borrow a new projector and it did not do the images justice as the capture came out all wrong. Yves has kindly sent a few of his samples from the session for us to display here as well as sending his best regards to everyone that came.

Saigon Creative April Event – Yves Schiepek

"Yves' journey to Vietnam really began when he was inspired by scenes of Vietnam in a film. The landscape and the entwining stories of Vietnamese and water buffalos moved him. He traveled from the North to the South and back.

Half of the distance Southwards, he traveled by bicycle, at times on bumpy roads and upward inclines. Traveling by bicycle allowed him to "take in" his landscape - houses, trees fields, sky, people. He kept an eye out for the magical scene of a water buffalo submerged in water."

– from Yves' book

Yves will start his talk with a brief introduction to his journey in Vietnam in 2009 and then talk about his photos and the technics he uses to create some of them.

Join us for the conversation on Friday the 20th April, see you all there!

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March event pulled off by the help of Sandrine

Sandrine pulled it off. One day to prepare and she stepped up to the challenge. Well done.

As always, new motivational tidbits was posted around the office...

...and new faces joined the Friday morning crowd.

Artwork was viewed by both printed samples and projections.

Until next month, enjoy the end of the month holiday!

The show must go on – Friday is still on!

Our original speaker line up had to cancel in the last minute due to the loss of a family member. We all feel sympathy for the unforeseen and tragic circumstances and are sending our condolences to the family.

After an internal discussion, we decided to let "the show go on" and be true to our aspirations of providing a monthly get together, but with a different speaker, this time our own Sandrine Llouquet.

We hope to see you all on coming Friday!

Sergueï Constantinovitch Pankejeff

Pencil, China ink, watercolor on paper (70 x 50cm), 2012

courtesy Galerie Quynh

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Talk postponed

Sorry, sorry... we have to postpone Tereza and Charles Gallavardin's talk. We will keep you inform as soon as possible!