Van Phan

Nhớ, meaning “to miss” and “to remember,” is a collection of projects inspired by my cherished yet limited memories, sights, scents, and flavors of childhood. Each picce is a reconstruction and keepsake of my childhood, allowing them to live on on forever.

Lun, 2025
Gouache and colored pencil
15.8 x 11 inches

Lun, used to affectionately describe a short person in Vietnamese, is my childhood nickname. Lin explores the complex emotions of reaching adulthood and themes of identity and growth. Despite the disconnect I used to feel with my younger self, I have come to realize and appreciate the interconnectedness of my past and present.

Ngọt và chua, 2025-2026
Gouache and colored pencil
3 x 3.25 inches each

Ngọt và chua, meaning sweet and sour, expresses my personal feelings toward various fruits I ate in my childhood using unique facial expressions.

Together Meal, 2025
Packaging design and illustration

The Together Meal reimagines the McDonald’s Happy Meal experience, encapsulating themes of nostalgia, love, and family to reach the hearts of audiences of all ages. I incorporated handmade illustrations of Steven Universe characters, my favorite show as a child, into the packaging design to elevate the experience and encourage audiences to reconnect with their younger selves and the small joys in life.

Lịch, 2026
Calendar design

This calendar is decorated with ornamentation inspired by the floor tiles in various rooms of my home in Vietnam. Since immigrating to the United States two decades ago, I have visited my homeland twice, admiring the floral and geometric tiles beneath my feet each time.