Travel By Design

How Traveling Influences Design

BY: BEVERLEY HUYNH

Icome from a family of travelers. An annual road trip through the Rocky Mountains sparked a source of wonder for me growing up. A trip to Vietnam after high school changed it all. It felt like home. The culture that shaped who I was to be front and center and meeting family members I never met left the travel bug and inspired me to continue traveling.

London, England always called my name. So, after a two year move to the UK, it changed the course of my career as a Costume Designer. To be in a part of the world where dress was considered an art form taught me to think differently at how I approached creating characters. London always has workshops, classes, and lectures available most of the time free of charge, including its museums and art galleries. Japan also offers classes on traditional indigo dying, Kawashimi and the art of Kasuri. Italy has an incredible ability to mix patterns in a way that always feels elegant and rich, and the outdoor watercolor artists always create palettes that I don't always think of. So are their windows and windows of colorful gelatos... which no matter where you go, you can't go wrong.

Shanghai gave me a lot of inspiration for "The Perfection". I was in the art district of Shanghai near Moganshan Road where a hand painted dress with a cello on it became a key piece of inspiration for Alison William's green dress. It's street fashion, of mixing and matching of designer with vintage was a key in creating the space of the theatre.

Next stop in my travel plans is Africa and India. I've always been intrigued by these cultures but with very little understanding of them I want to fully immerse myself into it.