ABOUT
The term ‘curbside’ refers to spaces where Vietnamese people hang out casually – whether to grab a snack, or catch up with friends over an iced beverage.
Upon wondering what it would be like to open my own pop-up cafe, I decided to actually do it and see it for myself.
Eating yassified snacks on a vibey stall where people have to squat uncomfortably to take candid shots for IG? Yup, that is what a Vietnamese Designer/Illustrator owned cafe would look like. The highlight will be in the food we’d serve – in this case are illustrated snacks and beverages inspired by the chronicles of Vietnamese agriculture.
TEAM
Designer and Illustrator: Emmy Truong
Set Design: Emmy Truong, Tu Anh Ha
Photography: @vidua.studio
CONCEPT
The goal is to re-create a scene from the past, not plagiarizing. I was inspired to design graphic assets that seemed more playful, hence the comical food package.
ILLUSTRATION
Each illustration is a re-interpretation of the produce’s origin story. From freshly grown tomatoes in Da Lat mountains, to sweet corns from Dak Lak mountain province. You basically get a quick scan of Vietnamese natural landscape – which to me is as mystical as any fairy tale could be.
The crab chip design, for example, illustrates a custom tradition of “King’s Day” in Northern Vietnam. You pick a figure of choice to re-enact a ceremony to salute to the ‘king’ – a symbol for our ancestors. Yet sadly, there not enough work done on preserving these types of spiritual traditions. My goal is to continue a line of narrative that is much overdue on getting an update …
Final
Tomato Chips
Crab Chips
Chili Shrimp
Vanilla Chips
Corn Chips
