Dung Ngo is a Multidisciplinary Designer based in HCMC, Vietnam.

Fueled by pop culture, design thinking, and extensive research, Dung is into crafting sophisticated concepts with an eye for detail and an experimental mindset. His motto is to realise visual solutions that strike a balance between artistic and commercial goals.















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Project 11



Year
2022
Art Direction
Dung Ngo
LookDev & 3D Animation
Dung Ngo
Editorial Design
Dung Ngo
Supervisor
Giang Nguyen
Scope of Work
Art Direction, LookDev, 3D Animation, Interactive, Typography, Editorial

Metamorphosis: Mementos


“Mementos” is a typographic exploration that transforms “Metamorphosis” from a novel into an experience. Beyond presenting the text as a static medium, with influence from German Expressionism, this project reimagines typography as a living entity, mirroring the grotesque physical and psychological changes that the main character endures. At the core of this transformation is the novel’s system of symbols—the bug, the clock, the apple, and the violin—each marking key phases of the main character’s deterioration. Through this immersive reimagining, Mementos blurs the boundary between literature, design, and sensory experience.






Big Idea

To trick the players into believing that they are present in a perfect heaven-like neighbourhood, pastel colours are implemented for a sweet and soft mood. In addition, the 3D graphics are designed to be blocky and rounded to enhance friendly, innocent values. This is to create a vivid contrast between the utopian camouflage and the mechanical details of the dystopian side. As a result, it becomes more disturbing and uneasy on the players when they discover the underlying truth.

Art Direction

I decided to employ the medium of 3D since it could enhance the effect, turning the letters and symbol into organic, breathing, moving, living creatures.



Sketches

After deciding to focus on the metaphorical aspect of the novel, I move on to analyse symbols from the novel to pick out the most significant ones.

Although Metamorphosis is packed with metaphorical imageries, I shortlisted them down to 4 symbols: the bug, the clock, the apple, and the violin since they are most prominant imageries that mark the main phases of the story.



Book Layout Design



AR Card Design



3D Morphing Animation

The treatment for the 3D material and the animation aimed to embody the notion of transition, transformation, or to be exact, deformation. As the symbols and letters morph, they emphasize the deformation process of the story.


AR Experience Demonstration

As the viewers scan the memento card, they will experience the morphing of the words into symbols. To make it even more interactive, the viewers could freeze and continue the morphing transformation at any moment by tapping on the screen. This allows them to inspect the morphing more thoroughly and thus, engage with the project better.

The AR Experience is demonstrated in the video below.


Exhibition Booth




Reflection

This project was an opportunity for me to explore a more experimental territory of typography. Although there were technical challenges in using 3D programs, this encourages me to continue experimenting with typography and 3D animation. If I had more time on this project, I would develop more approaches with 3D forms, and tie them with the symbols in the novel to provide a more complete experience.





©2025 Dũng Ngô.