For a Safer Quang Tri
Vietnam marked 50 years of independence on April 30, 2025. But in Quảng Trị, the war resists its closure. Bordering the line that once divided North and South during the Vietnam War, known locally as the Resistance War against the Americans, the province was once among the most heavily bombed places on Earth.
Since 1975, more than 100,000 people have been killed or injured by unexploded ordnance, with many survivors left permanently disabled (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs).
In collaboration with Project RENEW, a local demining and mine risk education NGO, we created “For a Safer Quảng Trị,” a project that brings the realities of clearance and risk education into focus. The project was supported by Irish Aid through the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam, and developed for the Mine Action Visitor Center in Đông Hà as well as a broader international audience.
In collaboration with Project RENEW, a local demining and mine risk education NGO, we created “For a Safer Quảng Trị,” a project that brings the realities of clearance and risk education into focus. The project was supported by Irish Aid through the Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam, and developed for the Mine Action Visitor Center in Đông Hà as well as a broader international audience.
This is our most ambitious digital project yet, built on decades of UXO-related data from archives dating back to 1975. The material is translated into visualizations and UX/UI systems, while uncovering patterns and threads of optimism that shape the content strategy.
The project introduces a design system that pairs editorial sensibility with a contemporary UI language, drawing from digital museum experiences. It avoids the dry, didactic aesthetic often associated with NGOs and social topics. The goal is simple, though not easy: to create something serious, not solemn.
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Demining Efforts
“Demining Efforts” section highlights the progress of clearing contaminated land over time. Through visualizing provincial mine action data, it reflects the scale of the work and the ongoing efforts of those operating within a quiet, relentless battlefield.
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Casualties and Relief
“Casualties and Relief” section builds on this data through an investigative methodology, presenting narratives often obscured within the numbers. It moves beyond abstraction to identify those most affected and surface stories that extend beyond the data.
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Awareness
“Awareness” section serves a dual role: as a practical, on-site educational tool for local communities who face these risks daily, and as a way to convey the reality of a persistent, unseen threat to visitors and global audiences.
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Survivor Stories
“Survivor Stories” section concludes the experience on a note of hope, honoring the resilience of survivors and their families. Their stories deserve a global platform.
We made a conscious decision not to frame the project as a critique or accusation. This is not about revisiting blame. Instead, the focus is on raising awareness about the long-term consequences of war — especially the devastating legacy of cluster munitions — and highlighting the tireless efforts of those working on the ground to restore safety, dignity and hope.
Writing in Disegno Journal, Chi Mai notes: “This project doesn’t claim to fix the decades-old wounds of military conflict and extractive colonialism. It offers an orientation. A way to know what came before, to read the ground beneath your feet, to tread lightly forward, and maybe, to reimagine what comes next.” This framing reflects the project’s intent.
We aim to expand awareness and extend the reach of the project within today’s polycrisis world. Quảng Trị serves as a case study in understanding post-war realities, where war does not simply end with the last shot fired. As this work continues and gains wider recognition*, Project RENEW and Behalf welcome partners and supporters who believe in its purpose.
*By 2026, the project has received recognition including Innovation by Design 2025 Finalist in Data Design by Fast Company, Shenzhen Design Week, and the W3 Awards (Gold and Silver), alongside features in Disegno Journal #40, The Daily Heller (PRINT Magazine), and Vietcetera.
We aim to expand awareness and extend the reach of the project within today’s polycrisis world. Quảng Trị serves as a case study in understanding post-war realities, where war does not simply end with the last shot fired. As this work continues and gains wider recognition*, Project RENEW and Behalf welcome partners and supporters who believe in its purpose.
*By 2026, the project has received recognition including Innovation by Design 2025 Finalist in Data Design by Fast Company, Shenzhen Design Week, and the W3 Awards (Gold and Silver), alongside features in Disegno Journal #40, The Daily Heller (PRINT Magazine), and Vietcetera.
CREDITS
Creative Director
Giang Nguyen
Designers (Data & UX/UI)
Minh Nguyen
Jinny Dang
Chau Nguyen
Project Manager
Bang Lam
Documentation
Jinny Dang
Phong Pham
Lam Vo
Giang Nguyen
Designers (Data & UX/UI)
Minh Nguyen
Jinny Dang
Chau Nguyen
Project Manager
Bang Lam
Documentation
Jinny Dang
Phong Pham
Lam Vo
Developers
Luong Duc Tu
Ngo Quang Trung
Sam Nguyen Hoang Vinh
3D Artist
Phuong Nguyen
Coordinators (Project RENEW)
Nguyen Hieu Trung
Nguyen Thanh Phu
Ngo Xuan Hien
Mine Action Database (QTMAC)
Nguyen Van Duc
Fonts in use
TCA Minhon by Thế Cơ À
Crimson Pro, Inter from Google Fonts
Luong Duc Tu
Ngo Quang Trung
Sam Nguyen Hoang Vinh
3D Artist
Phuong Nguyen
Coordinators (Project RENEW)
Nguyen Hieu Trung
Nguyen Thanh Phu
Ngo Xuan Hien
Mine Action Database (QTMAC)
Nguyen Van Duc
Fonts in use
TCA Minhon by Thế Cơ À
Crimson Pro, Inter from Google Fonts