Great things happen when people come together

5 Years, 5 Trees

2011-12-18T06:08:00.000+08:00

Macy Day

2011-11-25T02:36:00.000+08:00

Beautiful Environments!

2011-11-21T01:49:00.000+08:00

The experience of absurdity

2011-11-15T11:11:00.000+08:00

Nice things come out of brown boxes

2011-11-13T22:19:00.000+08:00

The infinite mascot

2011-10-13T07:14:00.000+08:00

Simply lovely. In the trend of 21st century brand customization, Manville and Wenlock, Mascots of London 2012 can be reinterpreted into thousands of variations.

Jack Morton Moving Image

2011-10-12T00:31:00.002+08:00

Moving Image Immersive reel from Jack Morton Moving Image on Vimeo.

Nice introductory reel into the world of Jack Morton Moving Image, a division of Jack Morton Worldwide that produces digital context for larger than life projections.

Australian Pavilion

2011-10-11T05:30:00.002+08:00

Expo 2010 Pavilion from ThinkOTS on Vimeo.

A look back at last year's amazing Australian Pavilion, conceptualized, designed and produced by experiential marketing firm...ThinkOTS!

Brand New Zealand: RWC 2011 Opening Ceremony

2011-10-08T05:48:00.002+08:00

This beautiful segment at the recent Rugby World Cup opening ceremony brings to life the spirit of a child overcoming his fear to reach his greatest dream. It is a wonderful allegory of New Zealand's recent struggle through the Christchurch earthquake and its tenacity to overcome tragedy.

A nation's brand story need not be long, expensive or even complicated. But it must be emotive, and it must stir the soul of a distinct culture, communicating it to the world, in a language we can all internationally understand.

In under 20 minutes, with the use of effective choreography, projection and very, very well composed music, David Atkins tells a compelling narrative moments before the opening match between New Zealand and Tonga. And mind you, that theatrical stadium in turned into a full fledged sporting arena moments after this segment.

Great Job as always DAE!

The Empire State of Mind has hardly changed, 1931 - now

2011-10-03T11:18:00.000+08:00

Branding Canada: Spinifex Group breaks new ground

2011-09-24T06:15:00.000+08:00

Spinifex Group, a division of the George P. Johnson network, has brought nation branding to a new level with their projections for the Vancouver Olympics. Collaborating with projection company, The Electric Canvas from Australia who supplied the equipment, who has done large-scale projections for the 2000 Sydney Opening Ceremonies, Spinifex Group created content that showcased cultural and well as natural landscapes that make up the Canadian way of life.

A powerful sequence of projections created everything from the Aurora lights through to the natural landscapes of the Rockies and finally the energy of the Vancouver City.

Power of orange

2011-09-13T23:02:00.000+08:00

Cool idea by Dutch duo, Bas van de Poel and Daan van Dam on how the Netherlands can cheer on their team.

The power of absence

2011-09-11T02:52:00.005+08:00

Last night, as my bus from Boston sped down somewhere is darkened Connecticut one hour from NYC, two powerful beams of light pierced the foggy sky. "Yes, we're arriving..." one of my fellow travelers exclaimed, as if it were a lighthouse, marking the shoreline as a ship arrives at port.

For me, it was a marking of another sort.

Skyscrapers have the power to define a location and brand a city, just as a logo or tagline often symbolize a product or a service. It is a mark of achievement and quality.

However, as much as visual icons in their own right, these tall symbols of capitalism are often not immediately associated as markers of emotion, patriotism or pride. They are spaces for utilitarian, commercial and economic use. They are towers of concrete we walk in and out of each day, from 9AM - 5PM, where office politics flourish and the ever constant stress to climb the corporate ladder fills each moment. Skyscrapers are things we want to get away from, things we would rather not have to enter on a weekend, and many would gladly move to the countryside to escape from its shadows.

But for New York, a city filled with skyscrapers, there is one building that is the complete opposite of everything I just described. It is a skyscraper that isn't really there, but yet more visible then ever before. It is filled with emotion, even though there are no walls to contain it, and it draws people to itself, like a beacon of hope.

To me it has redefined architecture and the meaning of how we mark public spaces. It has redefine the relationship between a building in relation to its city, and to its citizens.

The tribute in light, for the 10th time graces Manhattan's skyline this weekend, a poignant reminder of how invisible symbols can remain so permanently etched in our minds, even more so then visible objects.

Such is the power of absence.

An 'Old' kind of experience

2011-09-05T22:01:00.001+08:00

The MTA is going older school than usual starting Labor Day weekend, compliments of your favorite lovable crime lord, Nucky Thompson.
As part of the “Compliments of Nucky” campaign promoting the September 25 return of period drama Boardwalk Empire, HBO is putting a vintage 1920s train back on the track on New York's 2 / 3 line (Nucky refers to the show's central character, played by Steve Buscemi). The train, a real transit museum piece, originally appeared in 1917 operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit system.

On weekends during the month of September, MTA customers can ride the train at the 42nd, 72nd and 96th Street stops. According to HBO, the train features authentic period details like rattan seats, ceiling fans and drop sash windows. Non-period elements include Boardwalk Empire- themed artwork that directs straphangers to the campaign’s Facebook page, where they can get access to Nuck-related perks. On the final weekend, “brand ambassadors” will be outside of the 42nd and 72nd St. stops giving away free metrocards (and, we hope, jugs of hooch with XX on the label).

Great things happen when people come together

2011-09-03T13:41:00.004+08:00

This is testament to why great things happen when people come together. One more year to the greatest show on earth! Some memories from the 2000 games, Emmy award winning video by Scott Duncan

Improv does it again!

2011-08-27T04:41:00.000+08:00

For our latest mission we constructed a custom wooden lectern with a megaphone holster and an attached sign that read, "Say Something Nice." The lectern was placed in public spaces around New York and then left alone. We wanted to see what would happen if New Yorkers were given the opportunity to amplify their voices to "say something nice." This project was produced by Improv Everywhere as part of the Guggenheim Museum exhibition stillspotting nyc.

Nation Branding: French Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo

2011-08-25T12:02:00.002+08:00

Featured on Interbrand's Brand Channel

2011-08-24T22:46:00.000+08:00

I had the opportunity to have one of my case studies, 'Nation Branding: The Mega-Events Debate', featured on Interbrand's Brand Channel website. Please visit www.brandchannel.com or www.leechangzhi.com/casestudies to read it.

More Strangeness

2011-08-13T04:50:00.000+08:00

Very strange

2011-08-10T05:24:00.001+08:00

Very bizzare but interesting stuff from lecreativesweatshop.com

An interesting debate on Mega-Events and the impact on hosting them

2011-08-09T01:07:00.000+08:00

I've been featured!

2011-06-13T03:15:00.001+08:00

I've had the opportunity to be featured in Hong Kong's Victionary Publications latest book, BEAM: Visual Tactics In Promotional Design, which gets launched this month. If you are in the Asia-Pacific region, pick it up at any major book store!

The Greatest Moment in Olympic History

2011-05-11T08:15:00.001+08:00

"Fire and Water. Two defining elements of the Australian landscape.The Giver and the Sustainer of Life. "

Ric Birch and David Atkins at their finest moment.

Cute

2011-05-10T12:19:00.000+08:00

My motto

2011-04-23T03:07:00.000+08:00

Nice Store

2011-04-16T22:50:00.000+08:00

Hello Chicago and Fuse 2011!

2011-04-13T12:42:00.000+08:00

Beautiful badges for the 2011 Fuse Conference in Chicago by Mo Saad
www.mosaad.com

I've been featured!

2011-04-09T01:52:00.000+08:00

I was invited last year to be featured in Harper Collin's Big Book of Packaging! It was even more satisfying seeing it at a local Barnes and Noble store here in NYC. What a huge honor it is to be part of this fantastic pulication of some of the most innovative, sustainable and creative packaging work out there. Thanks Harper Collins!

Spiderman on Broadway

2011-04-04T00:53:00.003+08:00

I had the opportunity to watch the preview of Spiderman on Broadway and I must say they have fantastic sets! Scenic designer George Tyspin has created and crafted a magical world of comic-book meets reality.

I O NY

2011-04-02T12:31:00.000+08:00

Brands rasing money for Japan

Across the World with the Singapore Girl

2011-03-26T21:18:00.000+08:00

Unhappy Meal

2011-03-04T11:49:00.002+08:00

Is simplification the future of branding on packages?

2011-02-22T06:01:00.000+08:00

Perhaps it should be! Some interesting hypothetical work by Antrepo4.com!

Happiness by Noah Armstrong

2011-02-20T02:52:00.001+08:00

And we were so happy at 2.30 AM! Beautiful ephemeral typography by Noah Armstrong.

Manifesto Book Coming Soon.

2011-02-09T13:09:00.000+08:00

I am busy preparing my manifesto book. The Best Gifts In Life Are Never Things. 200 pages coming soon.

New Work!!

2011-01-30T03:23:00.002+08:00

Luggages of Nostalgia.

2011-01-25T23:37:00.000+08:00

At the heart of Louis Vuitton is the journey. It is a journey of self-discovery and self-actualization.

More images of how Air NZ's new economy seats work!

2011-01-22T00:25:00.000+08:00

Simply amazing! The age of airlines competing to build memorable experiences is upon us!

Gotta love Air New Zealand's new 777-300ERs designed by IDEO

2011-01-19T02:09:00.004+08:00

Love all the touch points on this inauguration ceremony for ANZ at Boeing's Everett Facility!

IDEO worked on the cabin interiors and crafted the flying experience, and all branding touch points.

Thomas Allen's Pop-up books

2011-01-15T00:21:00.000+08:00

The sensational cover art of old pulp fiction novels has long been a source of fascination for lovers of unusual art. The images on the front of the books almost seemed like natural extensions of the lurid, provocative and often very weird tales within. Artist Thomas Allenuses a unique approach to celebrate the unforgettable art of the pulp novel: he turns the cover characters into the stars of their own tiny, dramatic dioramas.

Nice Monkey

2011-01-13T11:42:00.000+08:00

Rio 2016

2011-01-08T07:15:00.000+08:00

Rio's 2016 Olympic Games logo is out. What do you think of it?

Making of Rio 2016 from Tátil Design de Ideias on Vimeo.

Visiting the Martha Show Dec 16 10

2011-01-07T21:13:00.000+08:00

The Journeyman goes to Korea.

2011-01-02T09:35:00.001+08:00

Launching Soon in Spring - Journeyman / Korea

Goodbye 2010! and my 100th post!

2010-12-30T23:18:00.003+08:00

To end off the year, and to mark the 100th post on this blog for 2010, I thought it would be nice to compare the Christmas themes I have done over the last four years! How time flies, and how much ornaments I must have in my inventory. For all those decorating fanatics out there, enjoy!

I was going through my old pictures and saw a set from past Holiday seasons. By putting them side by side, it lets me see how I have improved in my decorating extravaganza.... or how overboard I have gone in my Christmas madness. Well either way, Happy New Year!

I've been featured!

2010-12-23T17:46:00.001+08:00

My identity work for Summer Fragrances just got featured in a Beijing published book entitled "Magic Branding." It was a pleasant surprise to see this arrive in the mail!

Welcome Home

2010-12-23T09:16:00.006+08:00

Every year I am in charge of decorating my parent's home in Singapore for the Christmas season. My mum always comments how I am a Christmas fanatic and end up turn the house into a departmental store with multiple trees and thousands of ornaments.

This year is very special for us with me living in New York and my sister in Melbourne, it is sort of a reunion and we're really happy to be home where we've grown up all these years. I've built ornaments made into miniature houses so come on in and take a look!

The various vignettes on the different pier tables features a wintery landscape with a miniature house nestled in a forest of pine trees!

Why not have tons of powdery snow? It helps us escape the 80 degree weather outside! My mum puts up with my crazy ideas and messy decorations once a year!

Another view of an old restored sewing machine that my family has, now turned into a forest of snow.

A duck I bought in Bali last year carries an ornament with this year's theme.

Another baby duck admires the main Christmas tree.

One of the many house ornaments I was busy building in my tiny New York apartment over the last month. I had them shipped over, along with myself last week.

Wreaths with paper flowers are hung at windows around the house.

The downstairs corridor is a forest of trees filled with cranberry ornaments, twigs and a miniature home.

The Blue House with icicles falling over the porch area.

A view from the downstairs living room into the dining area. What a mess it will be when we pack it all up! I love the challenge though of being such a non-pragmatic.

A golden bird I picked up when shopping for ornaments in New York earlier this month. It looks so peaceful in the snow.

I like how this heirloom Chinese designed settee of ours compliments the massive tree behind.

White orchids always reminds me that I'm in the tropics and having a summer Christmas!

A close up shot of a glass ornament filled with the messy powdery snow. And so with that, Happy Holidays and best wishes for 2011!

An old picture of the Macy's day floats...

2010-12-12T11:12:00.000+08:00

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-03T00:25:00.000+08:00

Woah! The Sydney Opera House lights up

2010-11-29T12:45:00.000+08:00

George P. Johnson Sydney designs an ephemeral lighting experience for the Sydney Opera House recently, part of a festival called "Smart Light."

I've been featured in Asia-Pacific Design 6!

2010-11-26T23:13:00.004+08:00

I'm honored to have been featured again, by Guangzhou-based publishers Design 360 in their new book Asia-Pacific Design (APD) 6, alongside fellow Singaporeans &Larry, and Asylum, and some pretty famous folks such as Sagmeister Inc. and Pentagram Design.

Thanks guys for the privilege to be part of this fantastic, voluminous annual!

Birdie

2010-11-24T22:34:00.000+08:00

I went to West Elm yesterday here in New York and I found this really cute bird designed by David Stark for West Elm. It's gorgeous isn't it? It's my new pet! They have quite an interesting line of Christmas ornaments so go by the store to check it out!

Gap + Cool Hunting Open Pop-up Shop To Celebrate NYC Creativity - PSFK

2010-11-19T14:07:00.001+08:00

Gap + Cool Hunting Open Pop-up Shop To Celebrate NYC Creativity - PSFK

Cool Beans

2010-11-18T02:38:00.001+08:00

The skating has begun!

2010-11-18T01:33:00.000+08:00

Our right to own gap

2010-11-04T23:57:00.000+08:00

Logo Rainbow

2010-11-03T11:24:00.000+08:00

My sister just sent me this amazing taxonomy in the form of a Logo Rainbow!

A fantastic example of brand activation

2010-11-01T06:03:00.009+08:00

A fantastic example of how people inhabit a space and activate it into a brand experience. The beauty of people coming together to inspire is fantastic. T-Mobile live advertisement by Saatchi & Saatchi. Performed live at Heathrow's Terminal 5.

And so Halloween it is!

2010-10-28T10:56:00.002+08:00

Some pictures of what the neighbors are putting up along my street! And the Fall leaves of course!

EOS logo featured in The Straits Times

2010-10-27T13:29:00.002+08:00

The Straits Times, flagship newspaper in Singapore ran an article on Prof. Isaac Kerlow in it. He is taking on an Artist in Residence position at the Earth Observatory of Singapore, which I had the privilege of designing the logo for ;D.

Awww...Waldi

2010-10-25T10:42:00.000+08:00

Waldi from the 1972 Olympic Games.

Bloomingdales... OUCH!

2010-10-25T02:02:00.002+08:00

I was on the 4 train heading downtown and I saw to my horror.....

Someone at Bloomingdales decided it would be a good idea to copy a rival department store in the city?! What were they thinking?

A drop of red

2010-10-20T21:10:00.000+08:00

Sesame Street does Old Spice

2010-10-13T22:39:00.000+08:00

Salvation Is Here

2010-10-12T22:47:00.002+08:00

When things couldn't get any worse, a good old simple logo was resurrected and that, my friends, saved us all from design hell.

The new MySpace Logo.

2010-10-12T10:36:00.000+08:00

What do you guys think?

People make the brand, the brand makes the person

2010-10-04T12:58:00.000+08:00

I was walking by the Lego Store at Rockefeller Center today and I saw this amazing installation of little, humble, lego men. They were assembled in their various colors and from a distance, they made up the Lego Logo! How fascinating is that!

It reminds me how people bring value to a brand, and the brand in return, defines a person and what he finds valuable. Without people, brands in themselves really mean nothing!

Brand Taxonomy

2010-10-01T13:16:00.001+08:00

My taxonomy of logos based on container identities, something that first came to be when MTV's famous logo was launched. Now they have been the trend among some of the most famous brands in the world, but with a container logo, often opens the way for personal, un-official expression by the general public to occur!

Keep em' coming back

2010-09-24T02:08:00.001+08:00

As I walked by the Starbucks store outside my place on the way to the Subway station, I somehow noticed this sign posted on the door. "Take Comfort In Rituals" Starbucks clearly understands the value of their store's position just outside the subway stop. They know hundreds of people will be passing through that subway each day to work and back.

Starbucks, ritualizes the experience of walking into their stores daily as a way to ease the first time customer into a routine of purchasing a drink each time he or she walks by the store, just like how the subway is a routine daily ritual for thousands across NYC. Smart but somehow freaky way of building brand loyalty!

My favorite brands

2010-09-22T23:22:00.001+08:00

The Ocean of Light

2010-09-16T20:54:00.000+08:00

Ocean of Light: Surface at Kinetica 2010 from squidsoup on Vimeo.

Documentation of the first public exhibition of the Ocean of Light hardware, Surface, at the Kinetica Art Fair, London, February 2010. Surface uses minimal visuals and sound to evoke the essence of character and movement. Autonomous entities engage in a playful dance, negotiating the material properties of a fluid surface.

Ocean of Light uses a 3D grid of individually addressable LED lights to evoke presence and movement in a physical space that participants can walk through and view from any angle.

The Ocean of Light project is a collaborative research venture, led by Squidsoup.

Colored Numbers

2010-09-12T21:47:00.002+08:00

Brand Brazil

2010-09-08T22:44:00.000+08:00

While at the Shanghai Expo earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the Brazilian Pavilion. Two things that stood out: An aquarium like entrance that enveloped the visitor in a audio/ media like display of Brazilian culture and - I really thought it was ingenious to suspend a net full of soccer balls over head!

Branding by J'aime Cohen

2010-09-08T11:30:00.001+08:00

Identity and oh so awesome typeface for the Branding Department at the School of Visual Arts!

Inception

2010-08-23T09:23:00.002+08:00

Cardboard Sculptures by Chris Gilmou

2010-08-19T21:55:00.001+08:00

So Uber Cool!

Lighthouse

2010-08-15T16:21:00.001+08:00

Vancouver 2010 in time lapse, by David Atkins

2010-08-14T20:26:00.002+08:00

David Atkins was responsible for the Opening/ Closing events of Vancouver 2010. But besides that, he also created the much lesser known victory ceremonies and parties that took place each night during the games. Take a look at a fantastic time lapse video of what went on in BC Place from the time the he and the team took over the stadium three months before the Olympics, through 16 days of celebration, and then the Closing Ceremony. Fantastic for so much hard work put in, in such a short time! Kudos!

The Shark Has Arrived

2010-08-12T16:50:00.002+08:00

Guess what Discovery Channel did to their building when it was time for shark week?

Simply Brilliant!

More hot air balloons

2010-08-10T22:34:00.002+08:00

In addition to my previous postings about Darth Vader's balloon, here are more crazy aerial displays. How creative can people be? well, the sky's the limit!

Simply Lovely!

2010-08-09T16:03:00.002+08:00

Someone carries the Olympic Flame in style.

OMG Check this designed experience out!

2010-08-06T11:50:00.000+08:00

As a creative mad about designed experiences and participatory events, this is really awesome event in Germany that took place in a museum. What is the message behind it? Let the kids of the world tear down wars? Perhaps!

Mad Scientist Alphabet Blocks

2010-08-05T10:59:00.000+08:00

While we are on the topic of building blocks, I found these crazy blocks by www.xylocopa.com!!! Imagine a three year old Mad Scientist to be!

Fred XYZ Blocks

2010-08-05T10:50:00.003+08:00

Christian Northeast created all the amazing illustrations for Fred's XYZ blocks. Instead of ABC, it's XYZ! www.worldwidefred.com

The infamous spectacle, The Mass Games

2010-08-01T00:06:00.001+08:00

The Mass Games - As infamous as it is, it is a designed spectacle that plays with the human emotions and psyche of those who have spent their lives immersed in the glorification of a political system.

Thank you A+. 29!

2010-07-29T09:06:00.004+08:00

Design blog A+. 29 has featured my recent experiential brochure design on their website. Thanks guys! And now i have one more place to look for inspiring stuff :D http://atelier29.blogspot.com/

In memory of Leo Obstbaum - Design Director Vancouver 2010

2010-07-27T11:59:00.010+08:00

Leo was monumental in the creation and direction of Vancouver's Winter Olympic brand experience for the 2010 games. It will be remembered as one of the best visual palettes ever created for the games, as beautiful and memorable as Athens and Torino's visual identities.

Leo's philosophy towards telling a story that is honest, simple, funny and most of all emphatically strong, has drawn great affection towards brand Vancouver.

OMG! Lego Star Wars trilogy in 2 mins.

2010-07-26T14:23:00.003+08:00

New Work - The Thyroid Head and Neck Surgery Centre

2010-07-26T13:20:00.005+08:00

I recently completed a branding project for The Thyroid Head & Neck Surgery Centre at Paragon Medical Centre, in Singapore. Gorgeous stationary set printed on high quality stock paper!

The Greenhouse Project: Retrospective Installation

2010-07-25T00:22:00.003+08:00

The Final Installment of the Greenhouse Project has taken place (and is on going) at the Nanyang Tech University Graduation Show. Your promises, all 106 of you, have now matured as a tree. They were collected as 'clouds' in February this year, planted in a 'Greenhouse' structure in March, and they have now come of age. Will you keep your promise?

If you are in Singapore, do visit the retrospective installation and so many other amazing works of our Bachelor's graduation class at the Old School Art Museum @ Mount Sophia, Singapore. From now till 1 August.

Nanyang Tech University, School of Art, Design & Media Graduation Show

2010-07-24T18:14:00.003+08:00

ADM Graduation Show 2010 from Studio Tone Deaf on Vimeo.

If you are in Singapore, catch a glimpse of our graduation show at The Old School, Mount Sophia from today till August 1.

I've Graduated! Whoo!

Darth Vader gets a day job

2010-07-22T22:49:00.002+08:00

A sharp left just out from Newark

2010-07-14T22:53:00.002+08:00

"Someone should tell the captain to stop throwing his coffee out the window like that."

Pretty

2010-07-12T17:03:00.003+08:00

A Pretty Ephemeral Moment

New Work: Trash Campaign II

2010-07-08T12:10:00.002+08:00

Darth Vader of Liberty II

2010-07-07T15:30:00.004+08:00

Find your freedom in the air!

New Work - A Wedding!

2010-07-02T16:08:00.005+08:00

A beautiful card for a beautiful and very special couple!

New Work - The Enchanted Garden

2010-06-29T23:37:00.005+08:00

I just did another event over the weekend that turned out pretty cool and somehow involved the number 16! (Built those giant numbers out of leftover cardboard, tin and glue!)

Seize the day!

2010-06-29T23:04:00.001+08:00

A beautiful Quote I found

Darth Vader of Liberty

2010-06-25T23:12:00.004+08:00

coOL!