In early 2024, Van Lang University buzzed with graduation project defenses in multiple majors. Last week, students in Digital Art & Design, Civil Engineering, and Fashion Design had successful project defenses, marking numerous noteworthy achievements.

DIGITAL ART & DESIGN: Embedding the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Graduation Projects.

On January 5, 2024, the Faculty of Art and Design held graduation project defenses for the Digital Art & Design students of Course 25. In addition to entertainment product projects, many others were noted for their creativity and educational value, addressing social and environmental issues, and contributing to practical needs.

Given the ongoing curriculum enhancements, hands-on learning opportunities, student networking, and job placements, the Digital Art & Design program is dedicated to training top-tier human resources for the fields of advertising, gaming, and Vietnamese cinema. Unlike previous years, the 2024 graduation project defenses now encompass topics addressing the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals alongside industry-specific themes.

Using 2D and 3D graphics to design video game assets, VR books, TV commercials, and animated films, Digital Art Design students successfully conveyed meaningful messages, offering new perspectives and raising community awareness about the planet, living environments, and the need to find solutions to critical educational and social issues.

Inspired by the "cookie-cutter education" in society, student Le Ngoc Anh Lam impressed the committee with a detailed, sharp graphic system, a tight layout, and a meaningful message conveyed through the 2D animated movie trailer design project “Framed”. With the highest 9.2 points, Anh Lam happily shared: “I began with just a basic idea about cookie-cutter education. As I progressed, thanks to the encouragement from my teachers and friends, and fortunately receiving abundant inspiration, I gradually developed a complete story. My secret to handling a project with a heavy workload and limited time is to give it my all and rely on strong support from my friends, which helps overcome challenges throughout the process from the initial phase to the completion.”

As one of the Committee members, designer Pham Thai shared some tips to help students develop in the fields of design and digital communication, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning, self-improvement, and teamwork skills. He advised: "Students need to learn to adapt quickly to societal changes because the real-world production environment is very different from the academic setting. Also, seek out many opportunities to work in teams to develop together, build the most refined product ideas, collaborate, and learn more from your peers."

CIVIL ENGINEERING: Cambodian Students Receive Praise from the Graduation Projects Committee

On January 5, 2024, the VLU Faculty of Civil Engineering held a graduation project defense for Civil Engineering students after months of intensive research and implementation.

Among the 42 topics reviewed, several stood out for their meticulous preparation and innovative use of technology, earning high praise from the Committee. Notably, Sok Heang, a student from Cambodia, received a commendation for his project titled "Design of Ha Dong Transportation Company's High-Rise Apartment in Hanoi City." Despite the language barrier, Sok Heang successfully defended his project, earning  praise from the committee for his confidence, thorough preparation, and unwavering commitment to the project.

Sok Heang shared: “Despite facing many challenges during the project, such as accessing design software and particularly language barriers, I got support from my lecturers and fellow students over the two months of implementation. After completing the project, I plan to continue my studies with a Master's degree at Van Lang University to enhance my knowledge and skills for my future career.”

Regarding the overall quality of the graduation projects, Dr. Tu Dong Xuan stated: “Overall, the quality of the Civil Engineering students' projects was quite consistent this year. The students all had a good attitude towards their studies. Additionally, they effectively applied technology in their designs to minimize manual calculations, which is very commendable.”

The graduation project defense for the Civil Engineering Faculty was successfully completed, with 42 students confidently finishing their final academic phase at Van Lang University and stepping into their future career journeys.

FASHION DESIGN: A Multicolored Prism Through an Artistic Lens

On January 5, 2024, VLU Course 25 students of Fashion Design successfully defended their graduation projects. Many projects impressed the audience by integrating aesthetics and fashion into everyday life.

15 collections showcased unique, colorful ideas inspired by everyday life and human experiences, such as human muscles, coffee plants, tulips, traditional rice paper villages, and the panther chameleon, etc. Others focused on exploring the nation's cultural heritage, aiming to raise community awareness on issues like environmental protection and the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural elements. Notably, some students researched and invested in utilizing new and eco-friendly materials.

Inspired by his passion for traditional culture, after watching a documentary about the last artisan of Hang Trong folk paintings, Nguyen Ta Duc Phu aimed to capture the beauty of Vietnamese women through the Ca Tru singing (ceremonial singing) and Hang Trong paintings. Through his project "Ả Đào Thị," the kitsch and the classy go hand in hand, creating the beauty. Duc Phu changed the perspectives and perceptions of audiences by maximizing his strengths in color mixing, transforming traditional art into modern, relatable for the younger generation while preserving its identity and core beauty.

During the January 2024 graduation project defenses, fashion design students showcased consistently high-quality work. Some projects stood out by conveying deep messages while maintaining practicality in clothing design. “In a machine age, dressmaking is one of the last refuges of the human, the personal, the inimitable.” (Christian Dior). We hope that Van Lang students will continue to embrace their unique and innovative creative approaches, striving for continual self-improvement and professional growth.

News: Minh Khang, Thanh Phuc, Hong Thanh
Photos: Dang Anh, Dac Khanh, Khanh Dang, Trung Tin