“GIA” is a project about preserving family heritage and culture through the creation of family genealogy, because when creating a family tree, family members often work together, searching for core values from a very long time ago that we may have now forgotten. This project targets Vietnamese people stay away from their homeland who feel increasingly disconnected from their ancestors due to the pressures of adapting to new environments.

Therefore, this project has the specific objectives of facilitating the journey of cultural identity discovery; developing a platform that connects lineage members, encouraging them to archive heirlooms, memories, and emotions as part of their cultural heritage and history; striking a balance between exploring their roots and managing daily responsibilities and honoring each family’s unique traditions, cultural heritage, and stories.

There are two main deliverables for communication in this project, which are a website and a physical tool book.

The website is a digital platform with three primary functions: Genealogy, Archive and Tool Book. Genealogy allows relatives to collaborate on building a solid family tree. It requires knowledge from every family member, especially the older generations, to create a strong foundation for your family’s history. In Archive, users can collaboratively contribute and store stories, memories, and images, ensuring these pieces of cultural heritage are permanently archived. And last but not least, Tool Book compiles the information you’ve entered into the system and helps you generate it into a customizable, physical book. You control the content and sources, making it a personalized family history.

The physical book is a unique tool that allows users to add or edit new family information. “GIA” views generations as a continuous, developing progression that is always renewing itself. The book is designed to be a living document that connects family members and their evolving story. It is divided into three main sections as well: Genealogy, Memories and Worship. Genealogy provides an overview of your lineage, allowing you to learn about your ancestors and rediscover your family’s traditional values to preserve them. Memories is a space to revisit family memories and mementos through the photos and stories archived on the website. And in the Worship part, readers can access and edit ancestral worship customs based on their preferences selected on the website.