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Interview with Hanh Truong |
Home > Designer Interviews > Hanh Truong |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Hanh Truong (HT) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Hanh Truong by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
HT: With a background in architecture from Hanoi University of Architecture, I was trained in the art of precision, structural integrity, and balanced proportions—skills deeply rooted in both industrial aesthetics and fine arts that continue to shape my design philosophy today. The seed of jewelry design was first planted in my mind 17 years ago when I selected the first piece of jewelry I ever gifted to my wife. That experience sparked a latent passion, but it wasn't until about five years ago, during the COVID pandemic, that this interest truly blossomed. The unexpected gift of time during lockdowns allowed me to fully immerse myself in this art form—researching, exploring, and teaching myself the craft of jewelry making. This period of dedicated self-education became transformative—from freehand sketching and conceptual design to CAD modeling and hands-on metalwork. I created my first true jewelry designs during this intense period of discovery. Along this journey, I became particularly captivated by the mesmerizing beauty of Opals. The way they capture and transform light, revealing an ever-shifting play of colors and patterns from every angle, perfectly embodies what I strive for in my designs. Opals became the catalyst that helped me refine my artistic voice, elevating my work to a distinctive fusion of architectural rigor and emotional storytelling. This unique approach—combining precise structural elements with deeply personal resonance—has become my professional signature in the world of jewelry design, born from a seed planted long ago but truly flourishing during a time when the world stood still.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
HT: My studio is nestled in the heart of Hanoi, Vietnam, where I've created a sanctuary for bespoke jewelry design that bridges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary vision. I specialize exclusively in creating one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story—each a unique work of art rather than simply an accessory. At the center of my creative approach is an unwavering commitment to Australian Opals. I've chosen these extraordinary gemstones as my signature element because their captivating play of color and light perfectly embodies the transformative nature of fine jewelry—revealing different facets of beauty depending on how they're viewed and worn. What distinguishes my studio is the intimately personal nature of our process. Each creation is meticulously crafted from inception to completion—from carefully selecting the perfect stone and developing initial sketches to refining designs through CAD technology and applying the final polish. Nothing is mass-produced; everything is born from deliberate artistry. I personally oversee every aspect of this journey, meeting with each client to understand their vision, developing designs that reflect their individuality, and managing the craftsmanship to ensure exceptional quality. This hands-on approach allows me to infuse each piece with both technical precision inherited from my architectural background and the emotional resonance that makes jewelry truly meaningful to its wearer.
FS: What is "design" for you?
HT: For me, design is the sacred bridge between object and emotion—the point where precision meets poetry. It exists in that perfect balance between technical mastery—the exacting measurements and harmonious proportions I learned as an architect—and artistic intuition that speaks to something deeper within us. When I design, I'm not just creating jewelry; I'm crafting a visual language that tells each wearer's personal story through the interplay of line, light, and color. The way an opal catches sunlight differently with each movement becomes a metaphor for how we reveal different facets of ourselves to the world. At its essence, design is the art of transformation—applying aesthetic principles and creative vision to reshape raw materials and abstract ideas into something that resonates on a human level. When done right, it doesn't just adorn the body; it extends the wearer's identity and amplifies their voice without saying a word.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
HT: I'm passionate about creating statement jewelry that transcends mere accessories—pieces where architectural precision meets nature's artistry. Working primarily with opals, I'm captivated by their ability to transform with every movement, revealing new colors and patterns that mirror the multifaceted nature of the wearer. My architectural background infuses each design with balanced structure and clean lines, creating the perfect framework to showcase the dynamic beauty of these exceptional gemstones. Whether crafting a radiant opal ring that captures sunlight like a prism or an elegant necklace that frames the face with subtle iridescence, I strive to create pieces that become extensions of the wearer's identity. What truly excites me is the creative dialogue between metal and stone—how the precise angles of metalwork can enhance the fluid, unpredictable beauty of opals and other high-end gemstones. Each piece tells a unique story through this interplay, transforming technical craftsmanship into emotional resonance. This is where my passion lies: in creating wearable art that speaks to both the eye and the heart, celebrating the wearer's individuality through exceptional materials and thoughtful design.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
HT: Nothing captivates me more than Opals—a gemstone where nature choreographs an ever-changing dance of color and light. Working with these extraordinary stones requires more than traditional techniques; it demands a specialized approach that honors their intrinsic, magical qualities. My design philosophy revolves around revealing the stone's living essence. I begin with hand sketches that capture the raw emotional potential, then transition to CAD software to refine structural precision—much like an architect plotting the skeleton of a building. The final stage returns to time-honored metalworking techniques, where human hands add those nuanced touches that transform a design from merely beautiful to truly extraordinary. This synthesis—blending cutting-edge digital tools with traditional craftsmanship—mirrors the Opal itself: complex, multilayered, revealing different facets of beauty depending on how light touches it. Each piece becomes a narrative, not just of technical skill, but of the profound dialogue between material, maker, and wearer.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
HT: I feel most creative in two profound moments: when clients share their stories and when Opals reveal their hidden light. During conversations, each client's narrative becomes a living blueprint—their joys, experiences, and aesthetic values transforming into potential design languages. It's an intimate cartography of personal expression, where every shared detail could spark the genesis of a unique piece of jewelry. Then there are those meditative moments with Opals, studied under natural light. Each stone is a miniature universe, unfolding its own "story of light"—revealing unexpected galaxies of color that challenge me to capture their ephemeral beauty. These rough stones whisper design possibilities, their internal landscapes shifting like dreams caught between reality and imagination. In both instances, creativity emerges not from grand gestures, but from careful, almost reverential observation—listening to the subtle nuances that most would overlook, and transforming those whispers into tangible art.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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