solving business challenges, pixel by pixel
Vivian Hui is a founding partner of Function – visit studiofunction.com to see more recent work (71% of work completed sans pants).
web design
PostageApp
web app email management tool
The playful illustrations and overall art direction of PostageApp lend personality and an approachable quality to an otherwise very utilitarian developer tool.
Completed at The Working Group.
www.postageapp.com
/ scroll to related identity
/ scroll to related illustration
Cicada Design Inc.
architectural design visualization
Cicada’s extensive portfolio is showcased in a manageable way on one page with additional content hidden in carousels or external project pages.
A sticky navigation allows for easy browsing and the peekaboo effect creates an engaging tension.
Design & Development.
Sklar Furnishings
contemporary furniture store
Sklar’s online experience mimics the range of looks and products available in the retail space.
HTML emails were also designed to contact customers about seasonal events and promotions.
Completed at Evoke Solutions.
www.sklarfurnishings.com
Rebecca Baran Photography
portrait photography
A simple thumbnail gallery and large image display help to keep this photography site clean and contemporary. Transparent overlays help display caption information.
Design & Development.
www.rebeccabaran.com
architectsAlliance
architecture firm
aA’s portfolio website has very large impactful images. The supporting text and navigation are very subdued and can even be hidden for just an image slideshow. Related work: regionalArchitects
Completed at Evoke Solutions.
www.architectsalliance.com
Audability Inc.
collaborative meeting solutions
Simple page templates are brought to life with custom diagrams that reflect Audability’s user-friendly approach to audio, web, and video conferencing. Transparent nav structure highlights their integrated services to cross-sell.
Completed at Evoke Solutions.
www.audability.com
Cozimo
image & video collab app
Cozimo required a new GUI for their online collaboration tool. User experience and workflow played a major role in the redesign. Custom tool palettes were designed to match the application interface.
Completed at Evoke Solutions.
www.cozimo.com
Sklar Furnishings
brand collateral, corporate literature & advertising for furniture store
Sklar’s extensive brand has been carried through to all customer touchpoints – with ample white space to help emphasize their sleek and contemporary look.
Completed at Evoke Solutions.
Business Cards ⁄
various clients
restaurateurs, photographers, accountants, webapps
Practical considerations are paramount when designing cards and stationery suites.
Caplansky’s Delicatessen
Rebecca Baran Photography
Cunningham Accountants
Jobteria.com
PostageApp.com
Viscera typeface
unicase blackletter typeface with alternate character set
If I won the lottery, I would spend my days designing typefaces. (I’d also buy a Damien Hirst sculpture.)
Allusive to how the word ‘viscera’ sounds rolling off your tongue, this typeface is a juxtaposition and integration of sharp and bold strokes, and round and soft edges.
Felix Wedgwood Photography
promotional mailers
Distributed as sets of three, these understated series create interest through stark juxtapositions and crops. Related work: www.felixwedgwood.com
Completed at Evoke Solutions.
about me
Vivian has a Bachelor of Design from York U / Sheridan College Joint Program in Design. She has an affinity for black and white patterns, medical paraphernalia, anthropomorphic food and bicycles.
In 2011, she launched Studio Function with her bearded partner Frank.
Working Together
“Kiddies, what makes good design is good clients. It’s as simple as that. Look at CBS–the eye. Genius. But Frank Stanton, the head of the network, deserves as much credit as Bill Golden, who actually designed it. If the sumvabitch paying the bills isn’t on your bus, you ain’t going anywhere. But if he really lets you drive, you can gun it to the moon.” (from The Learners, by designer Chip Kidd).
I like working with clients that have great visual taste, and give me the creative freedom to create awesome things for them. Come to me with your business problems and objectives, and let me read between the lines to uncover your most suitable solution. Let’s work together and do something great; let’s work together and get to the moon.
TL;DR: clients should like nice things, let me do my job, want to collaborate to find the best possible solution
FYI
- I’m teaching myself to unicycle in the alley behind my house... I can go about 15 feet somewhat consistently now.
- I visited Antarctica in 2008 and rubbed shoulders with penguins and whales.
- Hear about those Rats Feasting at Dumpling House? I am responsible for the photo seen in the National Post, Toronto Star, Global TV, and others.
- Though primarily trained in print design, I have architected and designed over 50 websites/web apps in the past 5 years.
- I am learning how to read/write chinese with a conversational Cantonese book and internet help.
- I read a lot of sci fi / speculative fiction, comics / manga, and failblog.
- In university I once "modeled" with a fake gun for book covers (brace yourself): Yowza and not my legs?
- This past winter 2010/11 was the first time I’ve biked all year long – it’s not so bad, just take wide turns.
