Dump Truck
My senior capstone project was Dump Truck, an Asian street food truck pop-up centered around a single menu item: Chinese dumplings.
This project allowed me to combine my love of food and design in a way that invited people into a memorable, shared experience. Having worked in restaurants for the past five years, I’ve developed a strong interest in restaurant branding and marketing, and this project became an exciting opportunity to explore that passion through a real-world concept.
My goal was to create an alternative customer experience for ordering Asian food—one that felt approachable, fun, and accessible to everyone. Food has always been a way for me to connect with my Chinese heritage, but the vastness of Asian cuisine initially felt overwhelming. By narrowing the menu to dumplings, I was able to simplify the focus and enhance the experience, and celebrate a meaningful cultural touchpoint.
Dump Truck came to life through the collaboration of multiple voices and disciplines, reflecting both the creative and operational realities of the food industry. In addition to developing the brand identity and customer experience, the project required extensive behind-the-scenes work to function as a legitimate pop-up. Through rigorous preparation, iteration, and teamwork, Dump Truck evolved into a successful and fully realized pop-up experience that sold out before the event was over.
Awards:
Dean’s Award for Best Senior Capstone
