Surpassing thousands of entries from leading design institutions worldwide, Phan Thi Thanh Truc – a Cohort K28 student of the Multimedia Communications program, University of Languages and Social Sciences (LHSS), Duy Tan University – has excellently won an Honorable Mention at the Graphis New Talent Awards 2026. This is a significant milestone, affirming the creative capabilities of Duy Tan students on the international graphic design map.

The Award-Winning Design Exhibition of Thanh Truc

Founded in 1944 in New York, Graphis Inc. is not merely a competition organizer but is also renowned as one of the most prestigious and long-standing fine-art publishing systems in the design industry. Within it, the New Talent Awards is a category dedicated exclusively to students and emerging talents, focusing purely on the field of Graphic Design & Branding.

Within the ecosystem of design competitions for students, Graphis is ranked among the "Elite" group – standing alongside prestigious awards such as D&AD New Blood (UK), Young Ones ADC, and Communication Arts (USA). What sets Graphis apart is the rigorous standard of its jury – composed of industry leaders in advertising and visual communication – as well as its global scale of competition without geographical distinction.

In the 2026 season, Graphis received entries from 113 reputable training institutions worldwide. Phan Thi Thanh Truc's achievement of an Honorable Mention (an official recognition by the Jury) carries profound professional significance. Winning an Honorable Mention means that Thanh Truc's work was selected to be featured on Graphis's global Portfolio system, promoted through professional media channels, and crucially, included in the annual Graphis publication. This is not merely an award but also a "certificate" of competence with exceptional weight in a young designer's portfolio, opening opportunities for exposure within the international professional community.

Illustration of the Logo on Various Publications

The work that brought Thanh Truc international glory is her brand identity design project for Bau Truc Pottery Village. This is a meticulous project, exploring the depth of Cham culture through a modern visual language. Sharing about the core idea, Thanh Truc explained: "The logo for Bau Truc Pottery Village draws on the characteristic Cham handcrafted technique of 'making by hand, turning with the hip.' The asymmetrical, rustic yet deeply emotive quality of the pottery was transformed into a cultural tourism identity symbol. For me, Bau Truc Pottery is not just a traditional craft; it is a living heritage that needs to be continued through contemporary design language, helping to commercialize products professionally while preserving their original values."

To achieve brushstrokes that meet international standards, Thanh Truc dedicated months of painstaking work, from researching materials and developing concepts to detailed execution. This success stems not only from individual effort but also from the systematic guidance of dedicated experts and faculty members.

Thanh Truc (in red) in a Logo Design Class

Thanh Truc's success is not only a source of personal pride but also evidence of the effectiveness of the training orientation of the Multimedia Communications program at the University of Languages and Social Sciences. Here, students are encouraged to think beyond the boundaries of the classroom, accessing international professional standards while still at university.

For a Cohort K28 student like Thanh Truc, having her university's name included in Graphis's School Directory alongside world-renowned design academies is a tremendous source of encouragement. This award not only affirms sharp branding thinking but also serves as motivation for subsequent generations of students to confidently bring Vietnamese identity to compete on international playgrounds.