For ‘Creative Session 7,’ Tạ Quốc Kỳ Nam shares his passion for book cover design, the process of self-learning, and breaking social stereotypes about a ‘dream career’. Ky Nam believes “Do what you love, success and money will follow”, a perspective he shares with his millennial generation – a community he states, stands out in Vietnam for their experimentation and innovation in use of interdisciplinary ideas and materials.
Tạ Quốc Kỳ Nam studied at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, majoring in Press & Communication, achieving his success in design. Without any formal training, Nam figured out design software by himself, rewarded by the success of his cover-design for the book ‘Xứ Cát’, which won Book Cover of 2009 by Nha Nam Press. He is now the designer behind hundreds of book covers published by Nha Nam, many of which have left great impression on the public, such as ‘The Drifters,’ ‘1Q84’ (Book Cover of 2012 for two volumes), ‘Cold Blood’, or the controversy concerning nude depictions of Kieu on the cover of ‘The tale of Kiều’ (2015). In addition, Kỳ Nam has also produced several creative works that have wielded powerful media influence, such as the comic strip ‘Sói Mặt Đơ và cô Bitch Quàng Khăn Đỏ’ (2014). Kỳ Nam has appeared on HTV, and as public speaker at local universities in Vietnam, to discuss and share his design work and experience.
‘Creative Sessions’ is about sharing the inspiration behind creative thinking as a vocation in Vietnam. Whether you are an artist, architect, chef, fashion designer, illustrator, musician, scientist or writer, these ‘sessions’ seek to demonstrate how passion and creativity is about allowing our minds to open up, that it may be as much about learning a specific discipline as it is about being aware of our everyday local and global environment.
**Participants of the event allow The Factory and co-organizer (if applicable) to use their images and statements as documentary for the program, for non-commercial purposes such as: archive, press, media, promotion on our website, Facebook etc
