Hey, I’m Huy and it’s an unimaginable honor to be featured right here on Codrops! I run MONOLOG, a design studio that helps founder-led manufacturers construct digital experiences that transfer folks and remodel 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 should 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 variety of tales begin for teenagers in Asian households. You examine laborious. You go to school. You get the protected job. That was the script my dad and mom labored endlessly to carve out for me, and it got here from a spot of actual love and sacrifice.
However I bought fortunate with timing. I had a 6-month hole earlier than college gave me simply sufficient house to start out exploring by myself. I picked up Udemy programs in digital advertising and marketing, video enhancing, and frontend improvement. Funnily sufficient, I selected them as a result of I heard you would make financial institution with these abilities.
Out of the three, frontend improvement was the one which caught. Surprisingly not due to the cash nevertheless it genuinely felt good constructing one thing cool from scratch by your self.
Then one night I found the Prometheus Fuels website by Lively Concept. I keep in mind simply sitting there, scrolling via this totally immersive, WebGL-driven story expertise and pondering: wait, you may construct this on the net?
It didn’t really feel like a web 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. A complete new dimension of what was potential simply unlocked in my head. I began diving deeper into artistic improvement, interactive design, movement, all of it.
Every part I used to be studying, I used to be educating myself via 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 bought to school, I began sharing my studying journey on YouTube and likewise explored designing web sites additional.
I’d all the time been impressed by creators on YouTube who documented their course of and struggles brazenly. I assumed, I wish to put my story via a digicam too and I wish to inform my story via the issues I’m making.
What began as a pastime changed into one thing I didn’t anticipate. Purchasers began reaching out and each hour I spent in a lecture, I felt extra disconnected from the standard 9-5 path I used to be presupposed to be on.
So in my remaining yr of uni, I dropped out, packed my luggage 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 one of the best determination of my life.
As we speak I run MONOLOG from Vietnam, working with formidable manufacturers who care deeply about story and craft. And I get to share all the things I’ve discovered with a neighborhood 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 pondering behind it. Let’s get into it.
Featured work
OH structure
One among my all-time favorites. This mission was deeply private for me as a result of I’ve all the time had a eager curiosity in structure, so with the ability to assist OH Structure refresh their id and redesign their web site felt like an unimaginable alternative.
Plenty of native structure web sites in Brisbane really feel virtually interchangeable, so we pushed for one thing rather more distinct and in keeping with the high-end work the agency really produces. By means of intentional transitions and animations, we crafted an expertise that feels calming, clean, and premium.
The most effective half is that the location helped them shut $2M+ in tasks 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 artistic companies, so serving to the Supersolid workforce convey their digital expertise to life was a real pleasure.
The temporary was particular and enjoyable: visually translate the “supersolid” quantum state via shaders, chromatic aberration, and flowmap distortion.
However the different half of the problem was making it really feel digital analog. We spent a variety of time within the small particulars, from design via to improvement, speaking that stress via CMYK colours, intentional transitions, blurs, and grain.
Mammoth Murals
Mammoth Murals is an area legend in Alabama, identified 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 complete visible id and web site from scratch to hold that very same “mammoth” weight.
We leaned closely into playful particulars on this one. The distinction between large 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 tasks that I’m happy with lately
Inventive Net Handbook — an superior mission 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 current small launch we’ve accomplished in 4 days with very neat particulars and shader work.
A bit bit extra about me
Tech stack that I take advantage of for my work
I attempt to preserve my instruments and tech stack as lean as potential so I can maximize the artistic output with out friction:
- Figma (for designing)
- Webflow (for frontend)
- Slater/Cursor.ai (for customized code)
- Claude (for all the things)
Inspiration
My inspiration is scattered all over the place. I attempt to keep observant of all the things round me whether or not that’s nature, bodily mediums like books, posters, and vinyl covers, or the work of different designers, creatives, and companies who’re continually pushing boundaries and sharing their craft on-line.
Inspiration often strikes if you least anticipate it so I attempt to preserve myself surrounded by nice work always. That means when a second of readability hits for an ongoing mission, the references are already there on my feed or in my setting.
Future Objectives
There are some things I’m trying ahead to.
One is doing extra work that feels deeply fulfilling. I wish to be selective with the tasks I tackle and go deeper with manufacturers that genuinely care about craft, story, and making one thing that strikes folks. The type of tasks the place I stroll away feeling happy with what we constructed collectively, not simply relieved it’s completed.
The opposite half is increasing past the online. I’m continually 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 wish to spend extra of my time on sooner or later.
And actually, even when internet design isn’t a factor in 20 years, I do know I’ll nonetheless be creating. Whether or not that’s via VR, spatial design, or one thing that doesn’t exist but. My life mission is to by no means cease making issues. Even after I’m 80, I wish to be constructing one thing.
I additionally wish to preserve 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 value the entire effort.
Ultimate Ideas
By no means cease creating. Find it irresistible. Breathe it. And when you might want to, relaxation.
There’s a Japanese saying I carry with me: 一生懸命 (Isshoukenmei). It means to present your self totally to one thing with all of your would possibly. That’s how I attempt to strategy my craft and my life, and I hope you may too : )
Cheers,
Huy
