More than stationery, each project feels like an entire visual world.
Melbourne-based BYV.STUDIO is reshaping the visual language of modern weddings and celebrations through a distinctly artistic and fashion-led approach to stationery and creative direction. Founded by Vanessa Nguyen, the multidisciplinary design office has built an international following for work that feels immersive, conceptual and deeply considered, balancing refined typography, tactile materials and emotionally resonant storytelling with a sharp contemporary edge. Far beyond traditional stationery, BYV.STUDIO approaches each project as a complete visual world, spanning artistic direction, branding, packaging and creative services that bring a couple’s entire celebration to life with remarkable cohesion and individuality. Their work has featured across a number of Together Journal print and online editorials over the years, and it is easy to see why. From the way they style and photograph their suites through to the originality of each concept, there is a confidence and clarity to BYV.STUDIO’s creative voice that feels entirely their own. Whether designing for intimate celebrations in Australia or destination events abroad, Vanessa and her team continue to push the boundaries of what modern wedding stationery can look and feel like.
Your work feels far closer to the world of design campaigns, contemporary art books and luxury packaging than traditional wedding stationery. What originally drew you towards approaching stationery through such a conceptual and multidisciplinary lens?
My background and interests have always leaned more toward art direction, fashion imagery, interiors and publishing so naturally my approach to design became more about creating mood and meaning. Of course the couples I’m working with are always at the forefront of it all. Rather than treating it as an accessory to the event, I like to ask ‘What do you wear? What newsletters or magazines do you subscribe to? What are you surrounding yourself with in your own life.’ And how can I bring this out in the work?
BYV.STUDIO has become known not just for stationery, but for creating entire visual worlds around a celebration. How do you begin translating a couple’s story into something that feels emotionally layered, artistically driven and visually cohesive?
I never see my work as existing in isolation. I’m always interested in the entire world surrounding the celebration. The food being served, the music playing, what guests are drinking, the atmosphere of the space and the ‘why’ behind it all. These are the details that quietly shape the direction of the work. They’re often things that can’t be fully captured in a mood board. It’s through deep conversations and understanding how a couple wants people to feel that the visual language begins to emerge naturally.
Your projects often feel globally influenced and culturally aware, and we love seeing the international work you are involved with across your social channels. Are there particular cities, galleries, hotels, fashion houses or cultural references currently shaping your creative thinking?
I’m a big believer in exposing myself to as much creative expression as possible. I consume a huge range of media; I listen to a lot of music, visit galleries as much as I can, collect an ever-growing library of art books, and regularly watch both new and archival runway shows. I don’t really distinguish between highbrow and lowbrow either. I’m interested in it all.
Ultimately, it’s less about what inspires me and more about maintaining a sense of curiosity that keeps things alive creatively. I have a big appetite for everything happening around me, and that’s what keeps me constantly engaged.
Your aesthetic feels incredibly modern and trend-aware, yet never trend-dependent. How do you stay creatively ahead of the curve while still creating work that feels timeless rather than momentary?
I’m really not driven by trends. When work is created purely around what’s current, it can quickly feel tied to a moment in time. I’m much more interested in creating pieces that feel deeply resonant.
A lot of my inspiration comes from outside the wedding industry entirely. I have a slight addiction to collecting books and it’s often those references that carry the most longevity because they’re rooted in storytelling rather than what’s popular.
Staying creatively ‘ahead’ comes more from curiosity too. I spend a lot of time observing culture, materials, and human behaviour, and those influences naturally filter into the work in a way that still feels current without trying too hard to be.
We would love insight into your process when sourcing materials and finishes. Are you instinctively drawn to certain papers, textures, printing methods or tactile details, and how much do those physical elements shape the emotional response to a suite?
I like to think I have a magpie’s eye for detail. I’m very drawn to tactility; paper stocks, unexpected juxtaposing textures, colours and print methods that push beyond what’s standard or expected. I love experimenting and exploring what’s possible within print, especially when it introduces a sense of surprise or depth.
As someone who also loves fashion, I’m often thinking about materiality in a similar way to fabric; how something feels in the hand, how light interacts with it, and how those physical qualities shift perception. Those decisions aren’t just aesthetic. They often shape the entire tone of the work.
Many couples underestimate how much stationery contributes to the overall atmosphere of a wedding. In your eyes, what role does stationery really play within the wider guest experience and visual storytelling of a celebration?
Stationery is often the first physical touchpoint of a celebration so it quietly sets the tone long before guests arrive. I see it as part of the wider storytelling of an event rather than something separate from it. It helps establish atmosphere in it’s subtlety. From the tone of voice and pacing of information. Stationery, while for some is communication, is also about immersion and it’s my job to bring out that feeling when guests see these pieces for the first time. That feeling can really be anything from shock and excitement to nostalgia, comfort and curiosity.
Those minute details, paired alongside good lighting, good sound, great food and beautifully dressed guests and you’ve got yourself a great party.
When couples are budgeting for stationery, what do you think are the most important realities they should understand early on? Are there particular production elements or customisations that significantly impact pricing and lead times?
I think it’s important for couples to understand early on that stationery behaves more like a crafted object. The more considered and tactile the outcome, the more time, coordination and technical process is involved behind the scenes.
There are also so many ways to express luxury across all budgets. The idea of luxury has moved beyond traditional codes like gold foil. Instead, it can be found in restraint, material consideration, clarity, confidence, and in knowing what not to do.
Often, it’s the quieter decisions and intentional simplicity that create the same sense of richness and refinement.
If BYV.STUDIO could concept and creatively direct an entire dream celebration with absolutely no limitations. What would it look like, where would it take place, and what details would guests remember forever?
A celebration in the streets for World peace.
BYV.STUDIO brings a level of refinement and intention that quietly elevates every celebration it touches. Vanessa Nguyen’s practice is defined by a sensitivity to detail and a strong editorial instinct, resulting in work that feels both composed and emotionally attuned.
It is this balance of restraint and imagination that allows each project to feel distinctive, leaving a lasting impression long after the celebration has passed.
ABOVE Vanessa of BYV.STUDIO
Explore more visit byv.studio and @byv____
