How Smart Design Helped Reimagine Public Transit for Equity and Impact With Victor Huynh

PodCast | Jul 01, 2025

Victor Huynh and Emily Au - How Design Transformed Monrovia's Transit System

Victor Huynh is the CEO and Head of Digital Strategy at Ready Artwork, a digital marketing agency dedicated to B2B services. Born in San Diego, California, to an immigrant family, Victor embodies the entrepreneurial spirit instilled in him from a young age. He holds a background in graphic design, which propelled him into a marketing manager role early in his career and ultimately led to the creation of Ready Artwork over two decades ago. Throughout his professional journey, Victor has proven to be a versatile leader, serving as the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce President during the pandemic and advocating for local businesses.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

[2:07] Victor Huynh outlines the city’s challenge with first- and last-mile transportation gaps
[4:25] Why the GoMonrovia program aimed to destigmatize and democratize public transit
[5:10] How Victor and the team developed the GoMonrovia brand to unify a diverse community
[6:10] The design process behind GoMonrovia’s visual identity and logo elements
[8:24] How station domination and floor decals helped boost transit visibility and adoption
[13:14] GoMonrovia’s impact as North America’s most successful microtransit launch

In this episode…

Rebranding public transportation isn’t just about logos and taglines; it’s about shifting mindsets, inspiring behavior change, and creating a more inclusive experience. How can thoughtful design break down stigma and make civic programs more effective and equitable?

According to Victor Huynh, a seasoned designer and strategist in public sector branding, smart design begins with understanding the values and challenges of a community. He highlights the importance of combining movement-oriented visuals with a name that evokes civic pride, like “GoMonrovia.” The impact was immediate: a recognizable, energizing brand identity that resonated with residents across socioeconomic lines. Victor shares how branding, visual wayfinding, and strong collaboration with city stakeholders elevated the program from a simple transit initiative to a celebrated model of microtransit innovation.

In this episode of RAW Spotlight, Emily Au and Victor Huynh talk about how design thinking and visual branding reimagined Monrovia’s public transit. They discuss the strategy behind naming and identity, how decals and signage created seamless user experiences, and what made the program widely adopted. Victor also shares advice for other cities looking to modernize transportation through creative partnerships.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Victor Huynh: LinkedIn | Instagram

Quotable Moments

“How do we get people to use public transportation in a way where they’re not stigmatized?”
“There’s like a cheering aspect of pride… Go Monrovia… about the double meaning of moving forward.”
“We’re type nerds, we’re color nerds first before everything else… that’s our biggest differentiator visually.”
“Based on the user adoption at the time, it was the most successful micro transit launch program.”
“Really take a closer look at technology and how it can help your community move forward.”

Action Steps

Develop a brand identity that reflects community pride: Including the city name and movement-oriented language fosters emotional connection and inclusivity across all demographics.
Use vibrant, purposeful visual design: The strategic use of colors, typography, and movement elements can energize civic programs and boost public engagement.
Integrate clear wayfinding into transit programs: Directional signage and floor decals help users navigate services easily, improving adoption and trust in the system.
Collaborate with forward-thinking partners: Working with innovative vendors and open-minded public agencies can accelerate impact and ensure long-term program success.
Embrace technology to modernize public services: Leveraging mobile tools and digital platforms can make civic initiatives more accessible, equitable, and scalable for residents.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by Ready Artwork, where we deliver uniquely tailored B2B digital marketing services to facilitate the long-term growth of your business.

At Ready Artwork, we combine data-driven insights with innovative design to help your business thrive in the digital age. From SEO and digital advertising to web development and email marketing, we have experts who help companies uncover growth in unexplored and extraordinary ways.

To learn more, visit readyartwork.com or get a free proposal. Let Ready Artwork discover your full potential.