Thursday 31 December 2009

Illustrator watch 02 - Yuko Shimizu (清水裕子)


YUKO SHIMIZU is a freelance illustrator based in New York City and an illustration instructor at School of Visual Arts. Newsweek Japan has chosen her as one of "100 Japanese People The World Respects" in 2009.

Andrea Dezsö: Heart - Kokoro

Illustrator watch 01 - Renato Alarcao

For those who are really passionate about drawing and illustration, these are the sorts of sketchbooks or visual diaries we are talking about.
I'm sure you will find his work inspiring.

Wednesday 30 December 2009

Friday 25 December 2009

原來,廣告可以兩個一齊玩

時昌迷你倉 x jackeline Beauty


時昌迷你倉 x jackeline Beauty II

Merry X'mas

Merry X'mas  :)

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Presentation Notes - Dec 23 (2A & 2B)

1. Sustainability - Beverly, Wong Yui-pang, Lei Kong-ho, Laam, Cynthia
You have mainly focused on comparing advertising media and strategies but without deep analysis of the 'why's and 'how's. You can't just say that one medium is more effective than others without supporting your argument with some empirical data. Before you have any assumptions drawing from these analysis, the proposal of joining all environmental protection bodies as a union might sound unrealistic - although there is an insight for a co-creation taking the examples from the I.T. experience. Since there are 5 members in the group, the work shown could not justify by itself.

2. Food - Cora, So KA-yan, Lam Sin-yee, Cheng Wing-hei
What is fast food culture? Why it is popular in HK? How do you define fast food? What are the differences between eating fast (even though in a dining restaurant) and eating in a fast food restaurant? The contents are quite descriptive and yet without deeper analysis, the hypothesis of a "healthy fast food" might be just an ideation, you know? The question by Lei Kong-ho is valid.

3. Consuming Passion - Augusta, Heiwa, Tina, Celine
Some useful examples to illustrate your central thinking that emotion does sell. Good to link with Maslow's hierarchy of needs in emphasising the importance of fulfilling emotional desire as a prerequisite to move onto higher aspirations and needs. But more elaboration and application of Maslow's theory expected. Let's not confuse your audience at the end with an ambiguous conclusion. In fact, yo should have a clear answer and try to rationalize your standpoint with examples.

Presentation Notes - Dec 22 (2C)

Here some notes to the presenattion yesterday. FOr more discussion about the topics, please go to our flickr group.

1, Sustainability - Frankie, Tipyi, MoMoV.
good reference to demonstrate issue of climate change and hence reasons for deriving a sustainable life style. Might need to elaborate deeper on green washing and green marketing and need some data to support your argument. You have overrun your presentation which should be well planned and timed. Government policy seems to be a crucial factor in facilitating sustainable strategies and hence encourage new thinking and ways of life to respond to such pressing issue.

2. Food - Pinky, Leo, Lok
Good visual references and approach to the topic, you might need some data research to support your argument. Your suggestion for the market opportunity for a holiday farming is worth developing. Taking the example from Singapore where organic farming could be realized in the centre of the city, how do we incorporate similar ideas in HK?

3. Consuming Passion - Wing, Alan, Chan King-hei
Again, v.good examples shown to illustrate your poin of view. Emotion does sell! It's a matter of appropriateness for the advertising designer to think about . After all, all we need is a desire to love and be loved.

Monday 21 December 2009

VIDEO: Religious billboard scandal

VIDEO: Religious billboard scandal

A risqué billboard that depicts Jesus's mother looking dejected after unsatisfying sex with Joseph has given Kiwi Catholics a nasty pre-Christmas surprise. The huge ad erected in downtown Auckland shows the unhappy couple in bed accompanied by the slogan: "Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow". In the fresco-style work, Joseph looks down red-faced while an anguished Mary looks to the heavens. It was the brainchild of a progressive Christian church, St Matthew's, whose vicar Archdeacon Glynn Cardy says it was a cutting-edge strategy to engage non-believers.
News.com.au

Burger King's Shower Girl Still Serving Up Breakfast (via brandchannel)

Burger King's Shower Girl Still Serving Up Breakfast (via brandchannel)

媽媽咪呀!香港落雪啦!!!

Slaves of the feed

Thomas Petersen, co-founder and partner of Danish digital creative agency Hello, reflects on the experience and design implications of the exponential growth of information.
“Constantly checking our feeds for new information, we seem to be hoping to discover something of interest, something that we can share with our networks, something that we can use, something that we can talk about, something that we can act on, something we didn’t know we didn’t know.
It almost seems like an obsession and many critics of digital technology would argue that by consuming information this way we are running the danger of destroying social interaction between humans. One might even say that we have become slaves of the feed.

Read full story

Saturday 19 December 2009

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

個AD正到嘔奶

Big meal & Desert





有毒奶粉與道德沙漠

Man Vending Machine

LIFE IS SHARING



或許廣告帶出的內容有點隱晦,
請留意攝影鏡頭指向的觀眾用手機的目的。

Friday 18 December 2009

Design For Life Show

自拍

自拍

除了高炒,低炒,一大堆悶到跌渣既手勢,豬嘴,

還有拿著手機在廁所對住塊鏡唔知做咩春外,

這位31歲的冰島女生告訴你,原來自戀,不,自拍也可以那麼與眾不同。

www.rebekkagudleifs.com/self-portraits.php

Thursday 17 December 2009

Urban Abstract for TV Nelonen

Urban Abstract from Musuta on Vimeo.

街頭藝術 - 瓶罐音樂

Bubble Gum Wall

Thoughts on cyberspace

"People are spending more time in media and especially screen media than anything else they're doing in life," 

"If every computer were to crash tomorrow, it would be catastrophic," she says. "Millions or billions of people would die. That's the condition of being a symbiont."

"What we are witnessing now is a different kind of public space composed of people who are physically there [but talking to] people who are remote,"



Wednesday 16 December 2009

Dec 9 - Presentation Notes

Just a recap.

1. David/Danny's group - Gender & Sexuality
Your argument is that sex does sell, and it doesn't really cause negative impact. It will be too assertive to say that. As a matter of fact, I doubt very much. The fact that people like to see sexual images doesn't necessarily mean they like the products, or they will remember them. You need some data to prove this assumption. In terms of social impact, the objectification and dehumanization of women through sexualized imageries should not be overlooked and taken for granted. Think about why the majority of our society is accepting the gender stereotypes of males and females? They have come a long way, you know? to persuade us to take on such ideology that woman is a second sex?

2. Real/Penny/Tung's group - Gender & Sexuality
Good to see that every member had participated.Are you saying that sexualization of the bodies does help in democratizing the gender myth and spreading the influences to closed-minded countries? If open-mindedness implies social acceptance of standardized bodily beauty mostly of a western eye, are we losing our own standard of beauty? Is casual in sex a sign of freedom? or does it lead to other social problems?

3. Chong k/Chi-man/Genie's group - Globalization
Good to see all members had participated.Is it true that anything could be globalized? What is globalization anyway? Is it westernization? Need to have deeper analysis on the core values and practicality before you make your assumption. What will be missing when you say serving Chinese tea in Starbucks? or what is the 'ingredient' of an international language when you say replacing English with Cantonese in event like the BODW forum?

Dec 15 - Presentation Notes

Just a brief note for info:
Go to Flickr for more.

1. Gender & Sexuality (ET, Alison, Jennifer)
Good analysis on the topic with well chosen advertising examples illustrating gender stereotype and your argument that sex sells despite the fact that sometimes it was used inappropriately (as in Nando's Big Burger ad). The levels of acceptance of sex appeal in different culture are useful for your conclusion. Good question at the end to trigger comments from the audience, as well as the discussion.

2. Globalization (JP, Diana, Edith)
Generally you grabbed the essence of the topic with illustrated commentary. While globalization can bring us convenience and standardization, it also brings us homogeneity and boredom. The questions at the end are worthy, and thought provoking. Might be we should consider what ET suggested about the co-existence of global and local - glocalization.

3. Public Space (Jason, MacMak, Rover)
Good analysis of the topic with reference to ambient ad, public art and political consideration. Your questions had grabbed the central argument about the acceptance and readiness of both our government and our society facing these challenges. You have aroused good discussion and feedback from the audience reinforcing that public space, if used wisely with freedom provided, can generate good public interest, inspire creativity and improve our way of life.

4. Cyber Space (FC, Dorothy, Ah So, Cindy)
Good understanding of the topic and very good examples drawn from successful advertising strategies using cyber space. You have rightly pointed out that in the generation V, everyone is an author, a publisher. Does it lead to a conclusion that "we are guests, as well as hosts"?

Dec 16 - Presentation Notes

Here are my comments:
Go to Flickr for more...

1. Public Space (Ming, Carman, Jo Jo, Chan Yan-yin, Zoie)
A bit confused in the organization and explanation of your finding. For example, when you say ownership, there is no clear elaboration or hypothesis on how this issue can affect the use of the public space. Drawing examples from ambient ads would lead to a conclusion that commercialization is everywhere, ambient ads are omnipresent and that one would expect a standpoint explicitly spelt out, rather than relying on questioning from the audience (C-Man?). Good attempt to quote Marcuse's hypnotic effect but you should build up your hypothesis on this line and argue about the invasion of ambient ads in public space. I think you have not distinguished public sphere clearly in the later part of your presentation.

2. Globalization (Dear, Toto, Mila)
Remember Murphy's Law - Anything that can happen, will happen!How can we accept a verbal description of a movie when instant playback is already a default? This is bad!You need a clear central message to pull together all three components that you have talked in economical, societal and cultural aspects that could help formulate your hypothesis of the impact of globalization. In view of the pros and cons of globalization, what are the ways forward in considering our cultural identity? Or under the big wheel of globalization, is there any way that we can breakaway from the homogeneity, the sameness of the boring universal style? These questions are unanswered.

3. Public Space (Angus,Cheung Wai-lun, Lee Tsz-king, Ah-yan)
V.good preparation and synergy shown. The team has worked together and supplemented each other with a clear message put to the audience for discussion. Examples are well chosen and help to illustrate your standpoints. But as I said in the critique, the definition of public art according to your hypothesis should actually include the commonly accepted forms of public art that you have originally wanted to exclude. Just have a deeper thought on the 'Kowloon King' and 'Start from Zero' and to link them with your assumption of a free accessibility in public space, you know. The graphic diagram is very helpful to explain the relationships of Public Space, Public Art and Public Sphere. Excellent!

4. Cyber Space (Polly, C Man, Toni, LamLam)
Precise and clear communication. Good to use key points in your presentation. V.good examples illustrating your hypothesis and help building your assumptions. Sensible comparison of the pros and cons of cybernetic activities and strategies. Would love to see how the accessibility and democratization of information could necessarily bring us a closer and harmonious world? What price do we pay in the process? How do we address the humanistic urge of substantial experience? Can everything go cyber?

Monday 14 December 2009

Emigre

Emigre, a name every graphic designer should know.

Founded in 1984, coinciding with the birth of the Macintosh, Emigre was one of the first independent type foundries to establish itself centered on personal computer technology. During the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, graphic design was experiencing one of its most exciting and transformative periods. The Apple Macintosh computer had been introduced, design schools were exploring French linguistic theory, the vernacular had become a serious source of study and inspiration, the design and manufacture of typefaces were suddenly opened up to everyone who could use a computer, and for the first time in the United States, New York City was no longer the place to look for the latest developments in graphic design. And in Berkeley, California, across the bay from Silicon Valley, Emigre magazine, like no other, recognized the significance of the events and became both a leading participant and a keen observer of this innovative international design scene, generating a body of work and ideas that still resonate today. - Gallery 16

Check out Emigre in the useful links.  For those who can read, I recommend you to pick up the selected essays there.   Emigre inspired me 20 years ago, I'm sure it will do you the same.

Monday 7 December 2009

DFA Awards 2009

Check out the winners HERE.

CHOCOLATE RESEARCH FACILITY

Design For Asia (DFA) Award 2009 - 
Grand Award
Watch out for the melting chocolate!

Thursday 3 December 2009

Use a Personal USP to Help Shape Your Future


In the wonderful world of marketing, every product must have a USP — a unique selling proposition that explains what the product is, what it does, and who it does it for.

In the wonderful world of web work, creating a USP for yourself can be a great idea. I’m not talking about creating a USP for your product or service here. I’m talking about yourself: you, the person, the professional.


Rather than reducing yourself or your capabilities to a single sentence, creating a USP can boost your self-awareness and expand your possibilities. And creating your own USP doesn’t mean you’re commoditizing yourself — on the contrary, it can give you a sense of where your professional self stops and your personal or social self begins.


Why USPs Matter for the Web Worker


In a world of constant connectivity, where social and professional networking services routinely cross paths and purposes, company web sites boast personal blogs, and the photos or video you took of an event today may well feature as part of tomorrow’s news report, the definitions of concepts like “personal” and “public” are most certainly blurred. Today, you’re a web developer. Tomorrow, a movie reviewer. The day after, who knows?


Beyond these obvious questions, additional issues can abound for remote workers who rarely, if ever, visit company offices. Without easy, casual, face-to-face opportunities for communication on professional or personal levels, your colleagues can begin to see you as “the stats guy” or “the monthly report girl”, rather than a well-rounded, engaging individual with a complex, extensive skill set, career ambitions and a hunger for new professional challenges.


Creating a USP for yourself can remind you of how you see yourself — within a given setting, such as the workplace, if you wish — and what you believe you’re about. It can then help you clearly communicate who you are, what you do, and what you want, in a forum that’s at once noisy, complex, disparate, and all-pervading.


Benefits of a USP


I think it’s the process of creating a USP that’s most important, although the USP itself can help you keep your boat steady through the unpredictable waters ahead. Here are the kinds of benefits creating a USP can deliver:



  1. It lets you focus on the thing you’re best at.

  2. It helps you to define what you want.

  3. It lets you identify the people who will value what you offer.

  4. It can help you focus your efforts, choose appropriate projects, goals, and communications channels.

  5. It can help you secure more or better-paid roles.

  6. It can make your professional and/or personal life more rewarding.

How can a USP do all these things? You’ll see, once you understand how to create one for yourself.

Wednesday 2 December 2009

Detour 2009 @ Part 2

Seeing is believing, creativity is just that playful!
See it on Facebook.

Detour 2009 @ Part 1

Seeing is believing, creativity is just that simple!
See it on Facebook.

The 11th Hour Trailer

I saw this film on HBO yesterday and was very impressed.
So I have posted a link on Flickr for everyone, especially 382/2 on sustainability.

The 11th Hour is the last moment when change is possible. The film explores how we’ve arrived at this moment -- how we live, how we impact the earth’s ecosystems, and what we can do to change our course. Featuring ongoing dialogues of experts from all over the world, including former Soviet Prime Minister Mikhail Gorbachev, renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, former head of the CIA R. James Woolsey and sustainable design experts William McDonough and Bruce Mau in addition to over 50 leading scientists, thinkers and leaders who discuss the most important issues that face our planet and people.

DETOUR 2009



I went to the the anchor site of DeTour at the Former Police Married Quarters on Hollywood Road today (Oh, yesterday to be correct).  It was really good.  Lots of good stuff and creative ideas.  I reckon everyone should go and have a look.  I'll post some photos on Facebook later. Oh, BTW, thank you Keith for lending me your camera.


Tuesday 1 December 2009

創意論壇 (Inno Talks) 12月3 - 5日 香港會議展覽中心3DE展覽廳

Inno Talk (FREE FORUM) for your attention. Just go there directly as the talks will be held in open area in the exhibition.

創新科技及設計博覽2009

創意論壇 (Inno Talks)
12月3 - 5日
香港會議展覽中心3DE展覽廳


12月3日(四)
10:45 – 11:15
Jewellery 設計結合文化 – 創造可佩帶的藝術品
- 潘婉華, 文化共和有限公司, 首席行政總裁及設計總監

11:30 –12:00
Communication 如何有效地浪費你投放了的設計資源?
- 方家齊, 安德腦創作室 創作總監

12:15 – 13:15
Award Winner 創意: 尋找或創造 - 得獎香港設計師(1)
- 香漢強, 易領設計傳訊有限公司
- 梁 超, 思歷設計有限公司

15:00 – 15:30
Accessories “回憶˙環保˙本地創作”
- 麥雅端, Chocolate Rain創作總監

15:45 – 16:15
Glass Painting “生活與藝術的緊密關係”
- 謝君盈, 本地首位酒瓶畫家陳綺妮(Eileen) 經理人

16:30 – 17:45
創意創業樂與怒 - 創意創業會 (www.iea.org.hk)
客席主持: 賴英華女士 本色佳人有限公司創辦人 (婚禮設計)
創意創業會創會會長及 2003年創意創業大賞得獎者

分享嘉賓: 陳雲傑先生 精美鑽石中心 創辦人
1998年創意創業大賞得獎者 及寶石鑑證導師

廖仕強先生 堅毅忍者 之設計師及總幹事
2009年十大傑出設計師得獎者 及2005年創意創業大賞得獎者

張佳添先生 宇宙大爆炸音樂有限公司創辦人 (音樂創作設計總監)
2008”我們的主題曲”榮獲創意創業大賞.
2004 – 2007 年, 張佳添任教生產力促進局主辦之音樂創作課程

12月4日(五)
11:00 – 11:45
Media 香港設計新力量(2)
- United Elite (www.NewWebPick.com)

12:15 – 13:15
Award winner 創意: 尋找或創造- 得獎香港設計師(2)
- Jeremy Vinson, Tandem Design
- 吳文正, 倫敦皇家藝術學院; 香港理工大學
- 方家齊, 安德腦創作室

14:00 – 15:15
Movies 青年首作坊計劃啟動儀式 – “四代電影人創作論壇”
- 七小福(代表成員), 林超賢導演, 黃真真導演

15:30 – 16:30
Product & Branding 中國製 好生意
- 蔣友常, 品家家品亞太地區 總經理

17:00 – 17:30
Jewellery 創意新程飾
- 布欣淇, Kusion Jewellery 創作總監

17:40 – 18:10
Product 創意設計的思與詩
-黃卓娜, 尚思環球有限公司 創作人

12月5日(六)
09:50 – 10:20
Product "婆婆設計?!- 參與式設計方法"
- 李宇軒, 香港理工大學, 設計學院講師

10:30 – 11:00
Lighting 金屬狂人中國風梅蘭菊竹? OWINDO燈飾揉合現代與中國元素, 由設計總監MAX解讀.
- 林子康, OWINDO Ltd. 創作總監

11:00 – 11:40
Product 產品設計 設計 功.情.
- 吳瑞宏, 泓研創作產品有限公司 董事

11:50 – 12:20
Media 小發現.大啟發 – 創作我有份
- 黃偉程, 華冕國際數碼技術有限公司 創作總監

12:30 – 13:00
Photography 今菲昔比
- 馬熙烈, Veer Photography攝影師
吳嘉華, Veer Photography攝影師

13:10 – 14:15
APL / Calvin Tang 創新產品設計展2009
- 明愛聖若瑟中學
- 樂善堂余近卿中學
- 基督書院
- 職業訓練局邱子文高中學校

14:30 – 15:15
Kitchen Ware "用少啲, 洗少啲"
- 劉婉瓊, 萬花筒有限公司設計經理
唐仲銘, 萬花筒有限公司業務發展經理

15:30 – 16:15
Imaging "點石真成金?" - 一位形象顧問的歷程
- 劉天蘭女士, 劉天蘭形象顧問有限公司 行政總裁

16:30 – 17:00
Lighting Media 無界限的組合
時裝 x 產品設計 = SWAVE (外觀註冊的燈飾設計)
平面x iPhone遊戲設計 = 亞特蘭蒂斯 (將於2010年2月全球發行)
- 蔡依琪, De-Sigh Spazio 設計總監

17:15 – 17:45
Product “創意哪來?”
- 崔德明先生 汕頭大學 長江藝術與設計學院 副教授
創意設計顧問有限公司 創作總監

Try to attend as much as possible, no matter what topics, they would be insightful.
Be there!