Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Annie Nguyen now lives and works in Los Angeles. While she started off in graphic/web design, her interests in music and fashion is what led her to photography and film. Her self starter attitude and obsessive habits are what motivates her to create endless projects on top of her 9–5. But she very rarely ever creates without applying a marketing lens to her work. Those projects are not so much personal to her as they are R&D on how to get to the next. It is this work process that has led her to work with clients like Nike, B&O Play, COS, Fritz Hansen, Oliver Peoples, NYLON, 686 Technical Apparel, AÃRK Collective, and Linkin Park among others. She’s currently working a fashion film for a fashion brand as well as working to launch an online publication aimed at connecting Hawaiian ex-pats with home and keeping the dialogue going.
Where in the world are you right now? Where will you be next?
I’m currently in Los Angeles. I was just in Hawaii and I’ll be in Palm Springs for half R&R have R&D for other projects. (I have a problem where I can never fully be in R&R mode. It’s annoying.) I’m planning a trip to NY and back to Hawaii again. This is all subject to change if projects come up!
What does “education” mean to you? How would you define it?
Education to me is the act of obtaining new information in order to better oneself. I consider myself a lifelong student. I constantly strive to learn and am always open for new information. I believe it only can benefit you in your professional and personal life. An individual can contribute so much more when they are informed and well rounded rather than just good at a skill/field. The knowledge from various experiences is what gives you unorthodox solutions.
Where do you think education is headed? Where will it be in 10 years? 100?
I notice a lot of development in VR field with regards to education. It’s now becoming more immersive and interactive. I’m very excited to see this as it is inclusive and takes into account everyone’s different learning style. I would hope that it’s less based on tests and memorization and more on experience and application.
I believe in 10 to 100 years it won’t just be I imagine something like a piece that can be inserted within us or that we can wear that allows us to digest information quickly. This would also allows us to walk into spaces and project our learnings and teach/share with others easily. (Similarly to Black Mirror, only on less bleak/a positive tip.)
Most frequently received (advice related) question?
“How did you get to where you are?” or “How do you get clients?”
Why did you join th-oughts?
I joined th-oughts because I believe the platform is genius. I wish there was a resource such as th-oughts when I was starting my career. I also want to be a part of the greater dialogue. Creatives need discourse, it’s the only way to progress.
