Varathit Uthaisri

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Varathit Uthaisri, who goes by the name Tu+, was working as a motion graphics designer in his native Bangkok when he decided to move to New York and enroll at Parsons. "The Design and Technology program suited my desire for experimentation in different media arts. I was searching for something spectacular and inspiring."

For his MFA thesis project, Tu+ created Surface, a stunning short film that features a stream of anonymous New Yorkers going about their daily lives, shown from below, as if through a translucent floor. "It is the exploration of new visual language from an unconventional point of view," explains Tu+. Surface placed first in the Adobe Design Achievement Awards and won praise from a number of design blogs. The film was also shown in several international festivals and brought Tu+ plum assignments from prominent firms. But what pleases Tu+ most is the enthusiastic comments posted on his website. "I'm so glad people love my project. It has encouraged me to make future projects better than ever."