MOST OUTSTANDING Graphic Media NOMINEE
Vietnamese Student Association at Louisiana State University (VSA-LSU)
VSALSU 2025-2026 T-shirt
Name(s) of the designer who created the graphic and their role in your organization (E-Board Member, General Member, etc.)
AnhThu Bach (graphic designer)
Please explain the idea behind this design and how it was executed. How successful does this design get its message across?
As a graphic designer, my perspective on Vietnamese culture is centered on the coffee scene. I love the concept of 'getting coffee'—not just for the drink itself, but for the intention behind it. Regardless of the time of day, Vietnamese people value sitting with family and friends for hours, simply enjoying each other's presence and conversation. This tradition of gathering at a coffee shop is heavily interlaced with my own life; every Sunday, my family meets with my aunts, grandmother, and cousins to settle in. Whether we go at night and stay past closing or visit twice in one day, it is our comfort spot.
I initially thought this was unique to my family, but I found it translated seamlessly when I visited my mother’s hometown, Vung Tau. I saw countless cafes within a mile radius, filled with people and children throughout the day. I wanted to capture this in my design by illustrating a common Vietnamese lifestyle: families living above or within their businesses, often in buildings closely connected to their neighbors. By preserving the architecture of smaller cities, I aimed to highlight the sense of community in our area, using the tiger to represent LSU.
