Toong Phan Bội Châu
Building a design career without seeing color
Can colorblindness stop someone from becoming a designer? While others debate whether red feels “warm enough” or green looks “fresh enough,” Oscar - the French founder of Pixweb, a creative agency specializing in web development - quietly crafts websites full of feeling, structure, and personal signature. He doesn’t perceive color the way most people do. Instead, he designs with instinct, logic, and deep empathy for the user.
When color is no longer a barrier
Roughly 4% of the world’s population is colorblind - including 1 in 12 men who cannot clearly distinguish red from green. In UI/UX design, where color is often the most basic language, this statistic is usually ignored. But Oscar has shown that what seems like a limitation can become an advantage - if approached the right way.
From action to passion
Oscar didn’t start out dreaming of making waves in the design world. It began with simple curiosity about how websites work. From there, he took small steps: learning, practicing, adapting.
After working with clients from around the world, Oscar chose Toong Phan Boi Chau as his longest-standing creative home.
"At Toong, the atmosphere, the people, the rhythm - everything here helps me get into my best creative state," he shares.
His work has taken him to new places - and also kept him grounded in the ones that spark his creativity.
When limits shape a style
To Oscar, colorblindness isn’t a barrier - it’s a catalyst. He’s developed a unique design method by focusing on user experience, clear structure, and practical application. Instead of relying on color perception, he lets usability lead the way.
This approach not only helps him overcome personal limitations, but has become his design signature - where value lies not in visual dazzle, but in intuitive, effective experiences.
“I don’t see color clearly. But I know a good website makes people want to come back. So does good work. Do the kind of work that makes you want to start again each day.”
Act first, passion will follow
Passion doesn’t always arrive like a gift. Sometimes, it’s built slowly - from intentional action, from showing up daily. As Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck suggests, those with a growth mindset - willing to try, fail, and learn - are often more resilient than those waiting for “true passion” to appear.
Oscar didn’t wait for passion to knock. He worked through uncertainty. He kept going even when he had doubts. That quiet consistency led him to a stable career - and a love for the craft he hadn’t planned on.
Passion doesn’t have to be there from the start. It doesn’t come in a flash of inspiration. It comes from staying long enough, going deep enough, and understanding why you’re still here.
“You don’t find your passion. You build it.” - Cal Newport
Editors: Bùi Bích Trà My, Nguyễn Thạch Thảo
