We’re happy to feature Huy Phan in this edition of the Designer Spotlight. His work speaks for itself—refined, expressive, and full of character—but it’s the journey behind it that really stuck with us. It’s a story of risk, persistence, and creative growth—one we think many will connect with and find inspiring. Here’s Huy, in his own words.
Hey Codrops community! I’m Huy Phan, an Independent Designer and Art Director based in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. I’m passionate about crafting unforgettable and visually stunning digital experiences.
Featured work
Huy Phan’s Portfolio (2022)
My portfolio was the first official project I released after becoming a freelancer—and without a doubt, it was a life-changing one. Winning multiple SOTDs and, most importantly, a Site of the Month on CSSDA remains my greatest achievement to date.
One of the biggest challenges I set for myself with this project was working with a new junior developer—someone I had never collaborated with before. I wanted to prove that a good designer can create a great website regardless of the developer. Adaptability is key because, in this industry, you won’t always get to work with the developer of your choice.
More than two years later, my portfolio is still going strong. It continues to bring in new inquiries, inspire other designers, and has even been mentioned in a few design courses here in Vietnam.
Serious.Business (2024)
This is my favorite project by far. It was an honor to be part of such a great team, where everything came together perfectly—strong collaboration, clear communication, and well-crafted execution down to the smallest details. From branding to animation, 3D, micro-interactions, and transitions, every aspect was thoughtfully designed. I truly love everything about this project.
My responsibility on this project was to design a new UI and experience for their rebranded website. Huge thanks to the Serious.Business team for giving me the opportunity to bring this vision to life.
Eislab (2025)
As a food lover—especially when it comes to ice cream—I’ve always dreamed of designing a website in the F&B industry, and I finally got the chance to design a website for Eislab, a premium ice cream brand from Germany.
For this project, I didn’t just design the new UI; I also helped define the brand’s direction by selecting fonts, curating the color palette, and shaping the overall visual identity for their rebranding.
Mat Voyce (2025)
A portfolio for the type animation legend, Mat Voyce. Like Mat’s work, this site is full of surprises, unexpected twists, and seamless interactions. Meticulous attention to detail—custom cursors, smooth transitions, and tailored animations—creates a cohesive and engaging user experience.
Each section features a unique layout, most notably in the Work pages, which highlight the distinctiveness of each project. The Personal section takes inspiration from his Instagram grid, offering an infinite canvas for free expression. Collabs showcases looping animations incorporating other artists, while Commercial presents long-form case studies, providing deeper insight into the work done for major clients.
Mathijs Hanenkamp Photography (2023)
I consider this one of the best websites I’ve ever done. Designing a portfolio for a photographer, I drew inspiration from the UI system of a camera, and his beautiful photos inspired me a lot as well. The result is a website where transitions take center stage—from the loading sequence to the familiar focus effect seen in cameras, seamlessly leading into the gallery and fluidly switching between collections.
Background
I fell in love with coding in high school, which led me to study Software Engineering in Finland. One course required me to create a personal website, and in the process of finding inspiration and designing before coding, I realized I loved design more. With some Photoshop skills from my photography days, I designed my first website. The more I practiced, the more I immersed myself in UI design, learning tools like Sketch.
At the time, studying software was too challenging. I made the tough decision to drop out and return to Vietnam to pursue design. It was a difficult time—my parents had invested a lot in my education abroad, and no one except my girlfriend (now my wife) supported my decision. Back home, I tried graphic design and animation courses but wasn’t passionate about them. I focused on UI/website design, spending hours on personal projects since I had no clients. Fortunately, one of my projects got featured on Behance, leading to my first official job as a UI designer in 2018. There, I learned from my Art Director and gained my first freelance clients. That was when I grew the most.
In 2019, I won my first Awwwards Site of the Day, confirming that UI/visual website design was my true passion—despite limited opportunities in Vietnam. After two years, I moved to a product company as a digital product designer while continuing to freelance. However, balancing a full-time job and freelancing at night became exhausting, so I made another major decision: becoming a full-time freelancer.
Since July 2022, I’ve been freelancing full-time. Fortunately, my portfolio gained more attention than I expected, earning major awards like Awwwards SOTD and FWA of the Day. More people recognized my work, leading to collaborations with international clients and agencies.
Philosophy
To be honest, I don’t have an exact philosophy. I simply love design—purely and deeply. I enjoy creating unique experiences for my clients, and I believe that’s why people seek me out. Because of that, I always give my best in every project.
I also set personal challenges for myself on each project. One is to push my developer by designing something they’ve never built before—it could be a small effect or a complex technical challenge. Another is to use a font I’ve never worked with before. I’m not sure if these challenges make a huge difference, but for me, they’ve been my guiding philosophy since day one. They help me grow as a designer and ensure I’m constantly evolving, staying competitive with the best in the industry.
Tools and Techniques
I primarily use Figma for design, occasionally working with After Effects and Photoshop, though not often. However, I believe the most important tool for a successful project isn’t software—it’s communication. Clear and effective communication is something anyone can master, and it makes all the difference in bringing great ideas to life.
Inspiration
I mostly draw inspiration from observing design in all its forms—posters, graphics, motion, websites—anywhere I can find it. I follow many designers and design teams from around the world on social media, so whenever I open my phone or laptop, fresh ideas pop up right in front of me. I also find motion inspiration in movies, music videos, and commercials—they’re trusted sources of creative ideas.
Another source of inspiration for me is the older work of established designers and teams I admire. While it may be considered old by them, I see it as timeless. For the next generation of designers, including myself, it’s a treasure trove of value and insight.
My future goals
I don’t set any huge goals for myself. I simply hope to continue nurturing my passion for design, keep creating, and evolve as I have over the past few years. I aim to earn more awards and recognition, while taking on bigger, more challenging projects and working with exciting clients.
One thing I do want to focus on this year is sharing more about my design process, experiences, and personal views on design.
Final thoughts
After years of hard work, I feel truly happy and proud when I look back at the challenges I faced in the beginning. What means the most to me is hearing from new designers—especially in Vietnam—who tell me I’ve inspired them.
I know I’m still far from the best and have a lot to improve, but I hope to keep the momentum going and inspire even more people. Becoming a creative website designer, especially in Vietnam, is tough. Many people are passionate about it, but the industry is still growing. Through my story and experiences, I hope to see more Vietnamese designers making their mark in the creative website industry—just as we have in graphic design.
