Today we’d like to introduce you to Phuong Do.
Hi Phuong, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Born and raised in Vietnam, then moving to Orange County at 17, I have always had a rocky relationship with where I call home. Home has been where I feel the most comfortable, now I understand. During the pandemic, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue higher education. Currently, I am an architecture student at SCI-Arc, as I was a student at Orange Coast College before. Since I was a child, I have always been sketching whenever I could. I was known as the artsy kid in class. However, not until I started thinking about college I realized architecture and design were my passion.
Even though I study architecture full-time, I always love interior design and pay close attention to the little sensory details in my projects. Being in LA allows me to understand what I truly want in life and how lively the LA’s art & design scene is. It is such a joy to be able to attend art galleries every other week and learn more about the local artists. Besides all of this, I like to host dinner parties and make candles as a hobby. I also make social media content for SCI-Arc.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I grew up in a country where there was little regard in design or art, or the definition of art/design was immensely limited. Looking back, I had a hard time growing my own sense of self and finding solace in the need to be creative. I felt alienated and lonely most of the time, thinking I was the only one striving for my own space to be creative. I was told I would not succeed if I were to follow my dreams, and it was very discouraging. It was a different time when I grew up. I think Vietnam is very different in 2023, which I greatly appreciate for its growth and how there are so many Vietnamese creatives now.
In addition, my family did not have much when I was growing up. While we had a roof over our heads, my sisters and I knew we were different from our peers in school. Because of this, I always had this urge to do better, to make better things, to be independent, and to create a better life for myself. This urge is present everywhere I go and in everything I do. In fact, my first job was being a waitress at my aunt’s restaurant at 12 years old – and I never stop working since. Realizing a lot of my peers have backing and connections from their parents caused me a lot of anguish and sadness for a long. My mother has been very supportive as much as she could, but I had to figure out life by myself and make connections by myself. The journey so far has been difficult, I appreciate the adventure I’ve had and how resilient I have become. I have also made friends with a lot of people going through the same struggles as me, so it wasn’t so lonely after all!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do a lot of things! My main focus at the moment is my education of architecture. My approach to design is focusing on how one can experience architecture and the space differently. My first built project was my childhood apartment in Ho Chi Minh City, in which my mother asked me to design the renovation last summer. It was a full-circle moment because she was the one to encourage me to study architecture at the first place. The lot was a small and narrow, so I wanted to highlight the interior of the space as much as possible. The project incorporates colors, utilizing all the space we have and bringing in light inside. The apartment is now full of sunlight, air, and space that allows my family to live comfortably. There was something so special about growing up in that space, understanding its strength and weaknesses, and crafting an approach to such an interesting project. I’d like to think I try to contribute to the local Saigon architecture vernacular. Besides, the renovation brought a lot of pride to my mom specifically. I think it is my very personal way of repaying her for all of her time and effort of raising me in that tiny apartment.
While I study architecture at SCI-Arc, I, too, work for their Communications Office to make social media content. During the pandemic, I created animation and Instagram filters for the school events. At the moment, I cover live events at school and make short-formed videos focusing on the student and staff community. My work for SCI-Arc is often mixed with humor, and it reflects my appreciation for the school and the student body. This job allows me to talk to highly talented and motivated students, and I really like what I do.
When I have free time, I make nature-inspired candles for my friends, which I called Doem (@doem_official). The candles are my way to relief the stress of my everyday life, creating an artificial nature within our home but also enjoying the ephemerality of a sustainable material. The process of learning how to make candles and designing candles have been challenging me in the best way possible. It forces me to relearn and come back to my old sense of self, as I used to draw and make things with my hands a lot. Doem is a very cathartic hobby, it is truly an educational experience.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am always open to collaboration with the like-minded creatives. Email me at phuongdoo97@gmail.com
