Thao Thach Tran
INTERIOR DESIGNER. E X P E R I E N C E C R E AT O R
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The Paris Opera House Hand Sketch Pen & Markers
STATEMENT
Hi! I am Thao Tran. I am a friendly Vietnamese by birth, and a budding interior designer by choice. Before attending Savannah College of Art and Design, I always thought business and communications were for me and thus spent all my time organizing social events and participating in business-related activities, nurturing my dream of becoming an event planner to create positive impacts on the community with the events that I would host.
a core value. In both practices, I can create an atmosphere and an experience that people around me can enjoy. With interior design, that ability is even more powerful and long-lasting. No matter what I do, as long as I can keep this value, I am happy, passionate, and willing to try anything to pursue my dream goals. So, you can call me a passionate interior designer, or sometimes, in a spur of a moment, simply call me an experience creator.
Some people think it is such a big risk to jump from event planning to a totally different field - interior design. However, to me, both event planning and interior design share
As a designer, I have worked within hospitality, residential and retail industries, ranging from small start-up projects to worldwide luxury brand names such as the
Hilton or the Indigo hotel. I am a detail-oriented, ambitious and very practical designer with strong organizational and management skills. To me, good design is not just about the look. It has to base on facts and thorough researches to effectively influence human’s behaviors as well as bring them meaningful and intriguing experiences. After all, design must first be a good problem solution and thus aesthetic aspects must be backed by rational reasons.
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TABLE OF CONTENT 5
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Gen2Gen Town
Scratch
An intergenerational social community center that builds a brigde between the old and the young
A museum that reveals the truth below the surface and brings visitors back to France during the 1700s
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Technical Skills
Hand Skills
A collection of 3D renderings using 3Ds Max, Revit, Sketchup and Adobe Suite Programs
A collection of sketches as I wandered around the world and learnt about building arts
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GEN2GEN TOWN Academic Capstone Project Achievement: Winner | American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Design Excellence Awards 2018 | Student Best Renderings Skills: Revit, 3Ds Max, Photoshop, Indesign, Illustration Gen2Gen Town aims to bring back the intergenerational connections between the young and the old by creating an environment where they can come together and interact on a daily basis. Through direct and indirect intergenerational activities hosted in communal areas, the elderly will have a better life quality, enjoying a happy mind in a healthy body while the children will learn more about Vietnamese culture through the designed activities with the elderly. As such, the two generations will benefit each other mentally and physically.
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What are the problems? Capital City: Hanoi | Vietnam
Rapid Urbanization
Senior citizens experience social isolation, depression, sense of uselessness, and health declines
Intergenerational connections are decreasing
CONCEPT Bamboo has long known as a symbol of longevity and togetherness. In Vietnam, it is also a very traditional tree spiece that appears in many traditional folk tales and represents the connection between different generations: growing together and supporting each other to be stronger. Every Vietnamese people relate bamboo with the peaceful countryside where the young and old are not affected by the hustle city life and can interact with one another on a daily basis.
Proper traditional cultural educations are lacking
With the concept of Bamboo, Gen2Gen Town is the place where everyone will come together to enjoy a sustainable, lively yet still peaceful living environment.
STATISTICS
78%
USERS ANALYSIS Children under 6 years old use digital devices everyday
95%
Senior citizens suffer from at least 1 disease and require special cares
6.14%
Senior citizens live alone without regular contacts with their relatives
SOLUTION PROPOSAL
• 65 years old • Loves children • Knows a lot about traditional cultures • Funny and kind
MEDICAL SUPPORT
• 78 years old • Loves nature • Can only engage in light activities • Calm and considerate
COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES ATRIUM
• 6 years old • Loves lego and drawing • Very energetic and active • Asks many questions
STAFF SUPPORT
An environment for the young and the old to come together, casually interact and benefit one another physically and mentally DESIGN CONSIDERATION The elderly will enjoy their life with a happy mind in a healthy body, thus are less likely to become a burden to their family, the government and the society.
Intergenerational interactions are casual and more frequent, thus bringing back the bonds among generations - baby boomers, gen X, Y, and Z - that are becoming more and more loosened.
Intergenerational Connection Cultural Connection Natural Connection Sense of Usefulness Liveliness Peacefulness
The young Vietnamese generation will learn from experienced people and become good, caring, and responsible citizens. Diverse Vietnamese valuable traditions will also be kept safely in its purest forms. SENIOR’S AREA
KINDERGARTEN
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1. RECEPTION DESK
2. COFFEE SHOP
Circular reception desk and ceiling design invite users to walk around and enjoy the scene outside. By combining the two escalators into one main entrance, Gen2Gen Town can foster unplanned and casual intergenerational interactions between the young and the old, both direct and indirect ones.
The use of same flooring tiles unifies the reception area with the coffee shop. Curved shape design of the coffee shop booth leads users to follow specific path to the dining area nearby, making the circulation path more clear. Here, our users can enjoy traditional breakfasts or snacks together.
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DISPLAY BOOTH DESIGN features displays at children’s height to get them involved in the activities
3. FARMER’S MARKET Change in flooring material in this area suggests the users to stop by and visit the display. The booth layout is specifically designed to suggest them to follow certain paths around the market, making the circulation more clear and easier to navigate.
Normal days: Gallery display
The young and old are invited to come and spend enjoyable time together in this area. On normal days, this space can be used as a gallery display area to showcase artworks by the users. Twice per week, Gen2Gen Town will host farmer’s markets and invite vendors to come display traditional food, clothes or souvenirs. The sandwich generation is also invited and join in our interegenerational activities. Special events: Vendors display
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SEATING HUT DESIGN fosters conversations among users while they can still look at the lively activities around
4. THE BRIDGE This area acts as a transition from the lively areas to the more private and quiet spaces. The cove lighting incorporated on the edge of the bridge and the moon light together make beautiful wayfinding design elements.
Option 1: More cozy and private
The Bridge also brings in a pond, creating a fresh and lively scene in which koi fish swim around as the users feed them. The seating huts are custom pieces specifically designed to target the sandwich generation who is still skeptical about this new type of daycare facility. They can have private conversations with the staffs while looking at the lively activities around and be more persuaded by the positive impacts that Gen2Gen Town brings to its users. Option 2: More visually open
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5. PICNIC PLACE
6. FAMILY SEATING LOUNGE
This area provides a casual seating place for the young and old to mingle, which fosters very casual intergenerational interactions while helping the users engaged more with the nature. Certain noise control elements are designed such as the cotton panels or stone-shape cushions to match with the aesthetic style of an outdoor space..
This space brings back Vietnamese traditional cultures through story-telling sessions. The old can feel the sense of usefulness as they can engage in meaninful activities with the kids. The setting is also more dreamy as if the users are immersing in a real traditional folk tale.
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7 8 7. KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM
8. SENIOR’S NAPPING ROOM
The kindergarten area is a very energetic, lively and colorful space. Many panels and nooks are designed for picaboo or hide-and-seek games. Kids are free to run around and make noise as they need a certain level of noise to grow and learn their best. The materials are safe enough not to hurt the kids.
Understanding that the senior users need a more quiet and calm space to have a rest, heal and take a short nap during the day, Gen2Gen provides an area where they can come and relax in a fresh and cozy atmosphere. Materials are well chosen for effective noise absorption and sunlight control.
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SCRATCH Academic Project Study Abroad Program - France Skills: Revit, Photoshop, Indesign, Illustration, Hand Rendering Built on top of an abandoned quarry, SCRATCH is a museum that brings visitors back to Lacoste during the 1700s when Marquis de Sade, a very notorious man, owned the land. By bringing back Sade’s lifetime experiences, from being a lonely and angry child in a noble family to a scandalous and sickening man, SCRATCH will reveal hidden truths below the surface and help visitors sympathize with what Marquis had gone through.
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Visitors will start their experiences from the highest level and dig down into the ground as a way to reveal the truths hidden underneath the history of the quarry
Axonometric Drawing
The luxury and noble life of Marquis de Sade
1. PREPARATION AREA
2. THE LONELY CHILD EXHIBITION
Welcome to SCRATCH! Visitors will start the journey with a preparation session by our staffs before getting in a luxurious elevator bringing them to the highest floor. There, you will immerse in a luxurious noble life and understand the priviledge of being born in the high-class Sade family.
However, the truth is only revealed when you turn around the corner. You will experience the emptiness of Marquis’ childhood when he was brought up and affected by corrupt adults. De Sade was completely neglected and had no one to look up to and count on. 
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The frightening experiences in the life of Sade a young cavalry
The mazelike tunnel
3. THE NOTORIOUS MAN EXHIBITION
4. PRISON LIFE
After a lonely and neglected childhood, Marquis soon learnt and practiced violence in military at a young age. Visitors will experience the frightening aspects as well as the prides and the victories of Marquis as a young well-achieving cavalry man before coming to the statue displays and read more about his scandals on the blood stains.
This is when Marquis looked at the world in through a hateful lense. To him, everything was inversed. Visitors will get into a darkroom that works like a pinhole camera. Images of life are all upside down and layered, making you frustrated before finding a lonely statue at the end of the corner.
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The New Beginning Installation
5. MEMORIAL GARDEN After getting dizzy, lost and frustrated in our mazelike tunnel, visitors will encounter a relieving and calming memorial garden. Water experiences and vegetation freshness will soothe you down from all of the extreme emotions. You can come to the Southing Souls Memorial and immerse in a surreal 3D experience and surrounded by our special lighting effects, or sit in The New Beginning installation and reflect.
Southing Souls Memorial
Last but not least, stop by our souvenir shop and get some poppies flower as a way to tribute to those victims of Marquis. Memorial Garden
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TECHNICAL SKILLS “Photograph has always been about capturing light.” - Om Malik -
Photograph, Photoshops and Decor
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Photoshop Rendering
3Ds Max Rendering
Photograph and Photoshop
Revit Building and Rendering
Revit Building and Rendering
Photograph and Photoshop Revit Building and Rendering
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HAND SKILLS “It was amazing what an hour with her sketchpad could do for her mood. She was sure that the lines she drew with her black markers were going to save her years of worry lines in the future.� - Victoria Kahler -
The Corte San Pietro Hotel la Amoroso Hand drawing Pen & Markers
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Sketching is my way to analyze buildings and learn from designs all around the world. As I travelled from Asia, to Europe or the America, I always kept a sketchbook by myself to document all my observations as an aspiring designer. Besides, I also love making hand-crafted traditional Vietnamese decorations from rough natural materials.
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Thank you! Thank you so much for spending time walking through this journey with me. It is hard to summarize everything in just one book, but I hope you had an enjoyable experience so far. I would love to know what I can do further to help make your decision easier. Please contact me at thaotran.interiordesign@gmail.com.
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