Han Ngoc is a Vietnam-based Game UX/UI Artist specializing in player-focused interfaces and visual experiences for games. In this interview, Han Ngoc shares her thoughts on balancing creativity with usability, designing for immersion, the impact of AI on creative work, and why great game UI is about much more than making things look beautiful. The conversation explores how artistic expression and problem-solving come together to create meaningful player experiences.
“Players are not only using a product, they are entering a fictional world for entertainment.”
How did your journey into design begin, and what continues to inspire your work today?
My journey began with a childhood love of drawing. Later, I became interested in careers related to art and began teaching myself design and Photoshop. I realized I could spend many hours designing without getting bored.
At that time, especially in my hometown, pursuing art or making money from drawing was not very common. So when I decided to seriously follow this path, I faced many challenges.
Later, I studied Multimedia Design at university and chose game design as my graduation project. Studying this major gave me the opportunity to learn many areas of design, including graphic design, illustration, and animation… It also helped me understand what I truly enjoy and what my strengths are. The variety of subjects I learned has greatly helped me in my current work.
Through that learning process, I realized I was especially interested in the balance between creativity and problem solving. That’s one of the main reasons I chose to become a Game UX/UI Artist. I enjoy how the role combines artistic expression with logical thinking, while also creating experiences that help players feel more connected to the game world. That balance is what still inspires me today.
What does success in design mean to you personally? Do you measure it through emotion, effectiveness, or another factor?
For me, a successful design is a balance between user experience and visual design. It should be simple, clear, and easy for users to understand, while also creating the right emotion and atmosphere for the game.
Game UX/UI is a little different from web or app design because games focus more on emotion and immersion. Players are not only using a product, they are entering a fictional world for entertainment. Helping users feel connected to that world is also part of a UI Artist’s job.
That’s why I think designers should always look at the product from the user’s perspective. A design is not only about looking good in Figma or Photoshop, it also needs to work well in the real experience. Don Norman wrote in his book The Design of Everyday Things: “When affordances are taken advantage of, the user knows what to do just by looking: no picture, label, or instruction needed.” I think this idea is even more important today, as users have less patience and shorter attention spans than before. Because of that, creating designs that are simple, effective, easy to use, and visually appealing has become very important to me.
Which part of the creative process do you struggle with the most, and how has it shaped your development as a designer?
The hardest and most time consuming part for me is usually the beginning of the process. I often spend a lot of time thinking about the right direction and trying not to rely too much on references from existing games.
Finding inspiration and exploring new styles is also challenging. To solve this, I usually look for inspiration outside of games, such as illustration art, real-life materials, movies, or concept art related to the game’s theme.
Another challenge is balancing UX and UI. Sometimes a layout may not be perfect from an artistic point of view, but it still needs to prioritize usability and interaction. In some cases, sacrificing a bit of visual beauty to improve the user experience is necessary.
These experiences helped me understand that design is not only about making things beautiful, it is also about solving problems for users.
When creating attention-grabbing work, what comes first for you: clarity, emotion, or visual impact – and why?
As I mentioned before, I think a good design should balance clarity, emotion, and visual impact.
However, when working on projects with a tight timeline or urgent updates, I usually prioritize clarity first. Users need to quickly understand how the feature works and how to use it. Visual polish and emotional details can always be improved later.
Have you experienced a design that didn’t turn out as expected? What lessons did you take from it?
I think every UX/UI Artist has experienced projects or designs that did not turn out as expected.
For me, those moments are opportunities to experiment, reflect, and improve for future projects. Design and aesthetics can also be subjective. Besides design principles, personal taste also plays a role. One person may dislike a design while another person may love it. What matters most is whether the design still matches the overall direction of the game.
Also, a design that looks good in Figma or Photoshop may not always work well in the actual product. There are many other factors after the design stage that different teams need to work on together. That’s why testing is a very important step for me in evaluating whether a design is truly successful.
What future change in the design world excites you the most, and how do you think it will influence creative work?
Right now, AI is having a huge impact on the game industry and the design field in general. I recognize the power and usefulness of AI. It is becoming more accessible and helpful in many fields. There are still many debates over whether AI should be supported, but personally, I support it as long as it respects copyright and does not harm other artists or brands.
For me, AI is simply a tool. In design and art, combining AI with human creativity, knowledge, and experience will always be better than depending completely on AI. Of course, AI also creates more competition, especially for new designers entering the industry. It pushes people to keep learning, improve their design thinking, and understand how to use new technology in their workflow. I think new designers especially need to stay calm and clear minded in the middle of today’s challenges and rapid changes. Personally, I believe this period could also become the foundation for creating some of the greatest designers and artists we have ever seen. I still believe strongly in human creativity. Throughout history, art has always grown together with social and historical changes. Many great artists in the past also lived during unstable times and still created masterpieces that continue to inspire people today.
What is one thing you wish you had known before starting your career in design?
One thing I wish I had known earlier is that design is not only about creating something beautiful.
In the end, design exists to support users and work together with the whole game development process. A beautiful UI still needs to be optimized and work well in the real product. It also needs collaboration with other teams such as VFX, animation, game design, and developers to create the best final experience.
Communication and understanding between teams are also very important. Personally, I believe good collaboration between UI Artists, Game Designers, Developers, and Concept Artists is one of the key factors behind a successful game.
Key Facts
- Name: Han Ngoc
- Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Specialties: Game UX/UI Design, User Experience, Visual Design
- Focus Areas: Player Experience, Game Interfaces, Usability, Immersion
- Tools: Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro
- Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Multimedia Design, Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts
- Experience: UX/UI Game Artist at Riddlers, formerly at One Universe Vietnam and WolfFun Gam
- Background: 2D Game Art and Game UX/UI Design
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