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Honourable Prize: Cai Then by Nguyen Van Dang
and Hoang Thi Anh Thu
The design duo from Hanoi Architectural University says of
their ‘Cai Then’ table, “Childhood is always the most beautiful

memory for us. The idea of the table was sparked by the
thought of a child playing chess with his grandfather. Those
memories are priceless for our age group that perhaps children
in modern society rarely experience. With the purpose of
connecting generations in the family through traditional games,
we designed chess and Chinese chess boards with flexible
functions and shaped like a ‘then cai’.”
In Vietnamese, "then cai" is a means of connecting two
The legs of the stained American red oak cabinet mimic parts of a door together, similar to a door lock but in a simpler

the sturdy bridge piers, the doors are symbolic of the spans form and usually made from wood.
of the bridge. The red stain is evocative of the bridge itself, “As the name suggests, that latch is part of the puzzle that
as are the metal details on each door of the cabinet. connects modern families through direct interaction between
She says of the Vietnamese design industry: “Vietnamese generations in the family” the pair explain.
design often reflects a blend of tradition and modernity. The
most significant difference may lie in the way traditional cultural Honourable Prize: C-Smart-1.0 by Tran Huu Khoa
elements are subtly integrated into the design, from architecture Khoa was motivated by the concept of circular design in the

to fashion and graphics. While design in other countries may creation of the C-Smart-1.0 table.
focus more on trends and technology, Vietnamese design Frustrated by the ease with which people dispose
often emphasises preserving and promoting cultural values. of furniture which is only slightly damaged, Khoa
This creates a unique and recognisable identity for Vietnamese considered the role of design in enabling repair and
design on the international stage.” reuse of furniture.
“The goal is to reduce waste and energy consumption for
Honourable Prize: Nego Cabinet by Nguyen Hoang entire life of the product” he says. A sentiment that aligns
Oanh with the core sustainability credentials of American hardwood
Inspired by a love of colour, Hoang Oanh took advantage of species.

the ability of American red oak to accept stain and colour
given its porous cell structure. Honourable Prize: Nhánh by Luu Nhu Ngoc
Inspired by Lego, the Nego Cabinet balances simplicity Ngoc describes herself as a ‘newbie’ in the design community.
with vibrant colour blocking. Curious and eager to learn, her design ‘Nhánh’ takes its
She says of the material “After participating in the contest inspiration from the electricity poles of Saigon. Its minimalist
and using American red oak in the design, I realised that the design is adaptable to different purposes, making it both
more evenly grained the wood is, the less defects it has, which convenient but also requires minimal production time. FDM

saves cost and brings high product quality.” ENQUIRY NO. 3301