Creative Minds: Vũ Đăng Khoa is fuelled by chaos and curiosity

Name: Vũ Đăng Khoa

Place of origin: Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam

Places lived and worked: Vietnam

Pronouns: He/him

CV:

• Senior art director, Dentsu Creative, Vietnam (2025 - Present)
• Art director, Dentsu Creative, Vietnam (2023-2025)
• Art Director, MullenLowe Mishra, Vietnam (2021-2023)
• Designer, MullenLowe Mishra, Vietnam (2018-2021)
• Designer and motion graphic designer, Utopia Studio, Vietnam (2017-2018)

1. How did you end up being a creative?

I’ve always been that wild, curious kid—the one who couldn’t sit still and had to question everything. That is, until secondary school when I found the first creative outlet for all that chaos: graffiti. One of my clearest early memories from my creative journey is my high school textbooks, which had more graffiti scribbles than actual study notes. By the end of school reality hit and I found myself wandering through all kinds of creative paths, totally lost in career tests and courses.

I dipped into architecture, typography, and even photography, all while juggling business school. It wasn’t until 2015 when I found myself dabbling in Photoshop to make posters with song lyrics for fun and felt that much needed creative *click*. So, I dropped two years of my business admin degree on a whim, submitted a handful of my experimental posters to RMIT’s multidisciplinary design program, and at the admission interview, I told the principal, "I am here because I finally know what I want to do."

Honestly, if I weren’t as chaotic and curious as I am, I never would’ve spent two years trying and failing. I definitely wouldn’t have taken the leap to chase my passion. So, I guess no matter what, I was always going to end up in this crazy, creative space.

Here is an over-simplified graphic of my creative journey: 

2. What’s your favourite piece of work in your portfolio?

Every creative dreams of working with a legendary brand, having the freedom to bring their vision to life, contributing to a great cause, and watching their work go viral. I was lucky enough to experience all of that. Seeing my animated endangered animals running around, urging people to “bring back their home” by planting trees, was such a proud moment—especially when it inspired people to join in and plant nearly 30,000 trees!

3. What’s your favourite piece of work created by someone else?

Asking a creative to pick their favourite ad is like asking a filmmaker to choose a favourite movie—pure agony! But if I had to pick one, it would be ‘Crocodile Inside’ for Lacoste from BETC, directed by Megaforce.

The visuals and storytelling are just *chef’s kiss*. As a visual person, it’s my dream to craft a story in an ad without a single word needed. I love those moments when I’m working on a silent edit, letting the story do all the talking without a peep of voiceover or dialogue. There’s just something special about it.

4. Who's on your dream dinner guest list (alive or dead)?

Hans Zimmer, Robin Williams, Muhammad Ali, Albert Einstein, Ho Chi Minh, Vincent van Gogh, Eminem, and Paula Scher. I don't really know why, but the conversation will be wild and mind-blowing.

5. Do you work best under pressure, or when things are calm?

I love working when things are calm, but I really shine under pressure—thanks to my quick wit and a lifetime of professional procrastination! Stressful situations don’t faze me; I’ve become pretty good at staying resilient. But when I have the time and the right vibe, I really enjoy the process and create some of my best, most in-depth work. I can handle both, but prefer a more chill setting.

6. Tell us about an artist (any medium) that we’ve never probably heard of?

I really want to put the spotlight on a band called Oliver Riot. Their music has totally been a lifesaver on my bad days. Part of me wants them to blow up and get all the recognition, but another part selfishly wants to keep them as my personal secret. If you’re already into their music, we may vibe.

7. What's your guilty pleasure?

There’s just something about getting completely lost in a game for 12+ hours—total bliss!  I’m a gamer at heart, and I think it all started with my early obsession with Jackie Chan Stuntmaster on PS1.

That game opened my mind to storytelling, gamification, and design in ways I didn’t even know were possible. These days, between being an art director and a family guy, my gaming marathons are few and far between, but if the stars align and I get a chance? You bet I’m diving right back in!

8. Tell us about your tattoo(s).

I’ve only got one tattoo so far, and it’s a hyper-realistic whiskey glass, spilling near my right ear. Funnily enough, I wasn’t really into alcohol until I entered the creative agency world and began exploring life a bit more. People usually see me as an outgoing, extroverted guy with a signature loud laugh, but not many know about my more reserved, quieter side that only shows up after a good drink. When I fell in love with whiskey, I realised that a smooth single malt helps me relax and open up, giving me the “liquid courage” to really express myself. That’s why I named my tattoo 'Listen to your liquor'.

9. Do you have any recurring dreams?

I’ve had this weird dream probably a dozen times: I’m falling off a never-ending spiral staircase, and I always wake up with cold feet. It’s the strangest thing, and I still have no clue what it means. If anyone can crack the code, I’m down to discuss it over a steaming bowl of Phở!

10. Analogue or digital?

I’m all about that wireless life—keyboard, headphones, mouse, you name it, I’ve ditched the cords. The freedom and seamlessness of digital wins over any nostalgia I have for analogue. Sure, there are moments when I appreciate the reliability of a wired connection, but in my day-to-day life (and even at work), digital has come so far, that I have fully embraced it!

11. Any regrets?

Regret usually hits immediately after something happens. For instance, I felt pretty depressed when I didn’t snag a scholarship to study in the US—lots of guilt and “what ifs.” But as time went by, and the pieces started to fall in the right places, I realised I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything happens for a reason, right? Que sera, sera!