Vy Voi founder Steffany Tran mines Vietnamese craft for contemporary design objects

Steffany Tran, a Vietnamese-American and the founder of New York's Vy Voi studio, focuses on handmade pieces that give a fresh take on traditional Vietnamese art. Her 'Re Cây' lighting collection features ceramic bases with shades crafted from dó paper, a material that has its roots in Vietnam for over 800 years. Raised in both San José, California, and Saigon as a refugee’s child, Tran studied industrial design in the Bay Area before moving to New York. She worked with firms like Lippincott and Smart Design, later exploring ceramics at a community center, learning Vietnamese glazing techniques. Her recent work is inspired by 17th-century lacquer methods from Vietnam, aiming to enhance cultural appreciation and share Vietnamese design stories. This article appears in Wallpaper*'s August 2026 edition, published on July 2.