View VAST Data
Ibis in the Willows
Brand identity · Web design
About · CV
Hugh Tran
Brand, type and web designer
Designer and independent scholar. I run HTD Studio from Seattle.
Seattle, WA · studio.hughtranstudio.com/about · linkedin.com/in/hugh-tran/
Open to new projects and roles
- Focus
- Brand identity, typeface design and web
- Most recent
- Brand designer, VAST Data
- Education
- BFA Graphic Design, University of Utah
- Based in
- Seattle, WA
01
Profile
I trained in graphic design at the University of Utah, with a minor in Classics focused on Latin. The two never separated: my work lives where letterforms meet their history.
Before going independent I worked in-house and at agencies, most recently as the brand designer at VAST Data, one of the fastest-growing companies in data infrastructure. I also spent more than two years as design director and a board member of the Association for Young Astrologers.
Outside client work I research the restored pronunciation of Latin, Ancient Greek and Egyptian, along with paleography and poetic meter. I design type, including Physis, an astrological typeface, now used by working astrologers and in the CUSP app.
02
Experience
Where the work has been.
2024 – now
Founder and designer
HTD Studio
Brand identity, type and web for clients and the studio’s own projects.
2022 – 2024
Brand designer
VAST Data
Brand design for one of the fastest-growing companies in data infrastructure.
Jan – Apr 2022
Graphic designer
Declarative
Apr – Jul 2021
Graphic designer
modern8
2019 – 2020
Graphic designer
University of Utah
Design director and board member
Association for Young Astrologers
More than two years leading the association’s design.
03
Selected work
A few projects, start to finish.
All projects →
- VAST Data · Brand identity · Corporate · studio.hughtranstudio.com/work/vast-data
- Ibis in the Willows · Brand identity · Web design · studio.hughtranstudio.com/work/ibis-in-the-willows
- HTD Studio · Brand identity · Self-initiated · studio.hughtranstudio.com/work/htd-studio
- DracoLabs · Brand identity · Apparel · studio.hughtranstudio.com/work/dracolabs
04
Skills and capabilities
Strategy to final file.
Brand identity
- Brand strategy and positioning
- Logos, monograms and seals
- Identity systems and guidelines
- Packaging, print and merchandise
- Editorial and layout design
- Art direction
Type & lettering
- Custom lettering
- Typeface design and mastering
- Historical and blackletter forms
- Glyph and symbol sets
- Font licensing and delivery
Web
- Website design
- UX and UI design
- Design systems in Figma
- Webflow development
- Astro, HTML and CSS builds
- Content management set-up
- Performance and accessibility
Motion & presentation
- Motion graphics
- Presentation design
Tools
- Figma
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe InDesign
- Glyphs
- Webflow
- Astro
Languages
- English (native)
- Vietnamese (native)
- Latin (professional working)
- Chinese (limited working)
05
Education
2016 – 2020
University of Utah
BFA in Graphic Design, minor in Classics
Recognition
Physis typeface in use in the CUSP app
06
How a project runs
Know it, name it, make it, ship it.
01
Know
Interviews, audits and a hard look at what the brand actually is.
02
Name
A written position and the one line the identity has to prove.
03
Make
Mark, type, colour and rules, tested on real applications.
04
Ship
Files, guidelines and a site you own, on your own domain.
What to expect
One designer, start to finish
You work with me directly. No hand-offs to juniors, no account managers in between.
Fixed scope, clear fee
A written proposal with phases, deliverables and a fixed fee before any work starts.
Files you own
Every master file, font licence and guideline handed over at the end, yours outright.
A weekly rhythm
A short update every week and a review at the end of each phase, so nothing drifts.
Start a project