There is never a better time, until you make it so. Now is as good a moment as any.

“Inspiration oozes in every corner of our lives, especially our heritage.” Douglas Yang, co-founder of HK-born creativity enfant terrible G.O.D, could not have put it better. Speaking at HKDI this evening to a hall full of fans, students and fellow practitioners, the gutsy defender of HK’s innate charm is at once candid, provocative and encouraging.

Douglas is living proof that design bears a purpose. In his case, that refers to being HK’s cultural flag bearer and proponent. His firm G.O.D’s accomplishments, including designing a strikingly vernacular HK version of Starbucks — world’s first, and possibly the only — lends testimony that great work begets opportunities to do even greater work. Passion, pride and focus win the day for designers.

I am glad to have attended this session with Douglas Yang. I am also very grateful for the opportunity to ask him a question angled from the Singapore perspective (email terry@splash.sg if you wish to know the question and the answer). I wish Douglas, G.O.D and HK all the best on this journey of cultural pride and creative joy. In them I draw inspiration and strength to press on with Splash’s bid for legendary significance, in our own ways, in Singapore, for Singapore.

Good humour, playfulness and massive empathy bring Marlin Network closer to their clients. Being recognised as the expert in foodservice becomes a lot more natural as insights meet personality. Doug’s sharing on the courtship and relationship with UFS is as inspiring as it is entertaining.

In an afternoon exchange in Singapore, Marlin Network, Artease and Splash talk about social media and mobility among consumers, and what these mean to retailers.

Social mobility is here to, well, stay. For good. Now, for better or worse, retailers have to be nimble with demographic change and social media.

Being close to the consumers is a natural advantage that retailers enjoy. Tapping the digital space opens up a whole wide world of connections and insights. But wanting to hear what is palatable and choosing to turn a deaf ear to negative feedback will do little good to business.

So, stay true to what retail is about — see, be seen, engage, be engaged. The game play goes on many fronts. Let the retailer’s emotional connection take root at the storefront and all the way to the virtual world.

Digital is social — it does not get more real than this.

Artease boss Ang Chin Leng, with sights set on the world, meets Marlin Network’s Doug and Mike. A brief introduction to the fledging cafe business led to a wide ranging discussion on the potential of flavoured tea and gourmet coffee in potential new markets like Austin and beyond.

Our fellow Taan Worldwide member Marlin Network makes its first visit to Singapore in the wee hours of this morning. Some 30 hours since disembarking from Springfield, Missouri, the two gentlemen — Doug Austin and Mike Dockery — looks as fresh as a summer’s day. A couple of hours later, they started sharing their foodservice specialisation with the senior team in Splash.

In the video, right after a simple lunch, Doug and Mike engage in an active exchange with Jerome Lau, Norman Lai and team on a mutual client UFS. Nice warm up to a visit to the Culinary Institute of America and to UFS in the ensuing days. It will be a very compact week for our indefatigable guests.

After Visetas of Lithuania, Marlin Network is the other Taan Worldwide member who visit Singapore on a voluntary exchange of senior executives/creatives. We are very encouraged by this development. Terry Lee reciprocated Visetas’ visit a fortnight ago. He will reciprocate Marlin Network’s visit next week, enroute Taan Austin Meet.

The morning crows: “Stay foolish.”
But as futility finds agility
Amidst gentility,
“It barely pays to stay, Fool.”

And so, strange bedfellows follow
The long shadow of the forlorn corridor
Of nonchalance and unrequited passion,
As self-righteousness swallows swallows
For lunch.

Night falls without a call.
Either pall or mall could pause
The home bound heart.
The owl strikes late.
The rest can wait.
Come dawn we relive the masquerade.

Kids’ Gallery Singapore
Short film

The Laus are a typical family caught up in Singapore’s education rat race. Justin, their seven-year-old son, rushes from one enrichment class to another, but whose dream is he really chasing? Unable to express the wish he keeps secret in his heart, Justin finally lets his action speak for itself. Don’t Leave Me, Sunshine is a humorous and moving story about chasing the right dreams–and being happy.

Smart phone penetration rate in Singapore easily exceeds the ratio of one to each person. PMEBs habitually carry two or even more smart phones. The mobile lifestyle bears much meaning to the design of digital presence.

How does it compare to Poland? In this discussion: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/30070563 we discover that larger opportunities beckon in this market. While it is already apparent that larger agencies have been hiring local developers in droves, there remains huge potential for local digital players to shine.

We brought our discussion of Splash’s why, how and what to Lithuania. Greeted with warm smiles and keen intellect, we hardly noticed the sub zero temperature in the prolonged winter here. In fact, spring seemed to have arrived among us. Just goes to show what magic the minds and hearts can wield to the lyrically inclined.

Enjoy this online video: http://new.livestream.com/accounts/3175173/events/1964678

It is available till 19 April 2013, for our current purposes.