今早当我们浩浩荡荡地走进Capital Tower参加百力果的个人品牌研讨会时，我简直不敢相信我所看到的一切。整条走廊都挤满了老师，而我从来没有看过这么多华文老师聚集在一起。（这可能是坏学生的一场恶梦。）

今天可不同寻常, 因为百力果的老师们将体验当一天的学生。

不久后大家都入席了，我也仔细地打量了这些老师一番。在我的印象中，大部分的华文老师都穿着老土，要不然也都一把年纪了。百力果的老师们却让我眼睛一亮，有些打扮得很漂亮，也有些穿得很时髦。

讲座很快就开始了，由Jill Lowe International的创始人Jill Lowe来教导老师们如何打造一个专业的形象。从言谈举止到如何配搭衣服的颜色，这位Jill老师以她一流的口才和创意把现场的老师们逗得喜笑颜开。

最后，Jill 老师的一句话令我印象深刻，她说： “大家都有当领袖的潜质，只是我们必须找到自身的优点然后发挥潜能, 那就能走上成功的道路了”。 听后我突然有种不名而来的冲劲，顿时觉得我也可能有出人头地的一天！哈哈！

这次的研讨会令我获益良多，因为我不仅跟在场的其他同事学习拍摄，并且学到了仪态方面的技巧。所以下次我也会以婀娜多姿的姿势走路了！

Did you know that body language and non-verbal communication affects how you perceive someone?  We tend to judge and stereotype a person via their appearances, how they sound, what they say and their body language.

On 16 May, Berries World of Learning School held a grooming workshop for its Chinese teachers in Capital Tower. Jill Lowe, founder and chief image consultant from Jill Lowe International, was invited to conduct the workshop. In the auditorium full of teachers was a team of Splashees (including me), with a mission to capture moments of laughter and surprises during the workshop.

Here are some interesting information that I picked up:

- Visual Influence of a person = Image (appearance) x Respect  x Trust
- One doesn’t have to wear black all the time to look slim. It all depends on your body shape.
- Matching your bottoms and footwear makes you look taller. Conversely, matching your top with your footwear makes you look shorter.
- For males: the higher you style your hair, the more people will trust you with money.
- For females: the narrower your heels, the higher in status you appear to be.

It was jaw-dropping watching how Jill changed our impression of the volunteers by styling their hair and by simply asking them to exchange their clothes to suit different situations.

Lastly, another lady from Jill Lowe International, shared about how she changed her mature and out-dated (‘auntie’) dressing to one that made her look like a delicate and fine lady. In the midst of her sharing, her voice trembled as she recalled that her husband once told her, “I don’t think I can go out together with you”.

Oh well, personally, her husband’s view was pretty superficial. Although it is true that image does matter with regards to impression (i.e. public persona), it shouldn’t be a defining factor in a relationship. Love definitely should be valued much more than image.

What do you think of Stormtroopers painting M&M’s?

Funny, adorable, inspiring?

This photo is a product of creativity, skill and a whole lot of randomness.

Randomness is the fusing of unexpected elements, ideas and things. It lets your imagination run wild and stretches the boundaries of logic and rationality. It is also fundamentally creative thinking, experimentation and impulse – three great qualities that every creative should have.

There is also the frivolous kind – drawing faces on grapes (holding lighted matchsticks), a gang of furry hamsters getting drunk and our creative riding a bicycle around the office one afternoon. Randomness surprises and brings laughter.

Using randomness in design could inject new life and excitement which could make your work extraordinary. Thus, it should never be taken for granted nor undermined, you never know when it can bring surprisingly good ideas.

The next time you have a mental block, try thinking random, you might just find the answers you’re looking for.

Singapore Sports Council
Video

Motion Graphics

www.find-your-mark.com
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/find-your-mark/id473885942?mt=8

Sandwiches and Singapore’s landmarks make up the very cool iApp called Find Your ‘Mark. Learn fun factoids as they visit five landmarks – after which you’ll get to “make” a delicious sandwich. You’ll love how you can determine exactly how your sandwich will look! Ours looked so real, we almost forgot we couldn’t eat it.

Support for Wellness Achievement Programme
Website
http://www.swap.org.sg

SG Flight Simulations
Website
http://www.sgflightsimulations.com.sg/

Independence. Can there ever be independence in design? Is design not inspired by something or someone that has already exist? Can you create something out of nothing? As C.S Lewis put it, “no man who bothers about originality will ever be original.”

In a design conference titled Independence held by The Design Society two Saturdays ago, the issue of design originality was discussed again. This time, on the ‘Singapore Design’.

Design is amazing. Through design, you can recognise one’s distinct culture, identity and vision. The UK, Netherlands and Japan have their own unique style of design, so what’s Singapore’s? What defines the Singapore design style? Do we even have one?

Theresa Yong, brand director of IMMORTAL, mentioned how Singapore is still undergoing the ‘process of emulation’, we are copying the style of others.

“When someone says your work is so Japanese, it is not a compliment.”

This is somewhat true. However, by subjecting ourselves to this stance, we’re pigeonholing ourselves. Design is about seeing, copying, and modifying. Everything is influenced by something in one way or another, and so is the uniquely Singapore culture.

Chris Lee from Asylum, argued, “Why do we even question about Singapore’s identity and style in the first place? Singapore is a melting pot… By doing so [coming to Singapore], it means that we have/are willing to forgo our past identities!”

Indeed, but then again, by forgoing our past identities from previous countries and coming together to live as one in Singapore, isn’t that forming whole new identity?

Furthermore, design is an evolving process where emulation is inevitable. It’d be a pity if Singapore had a predetermined design style or label–a sign that we have stopped growing. The process of emulation is here to stay, and only through emulating, can we learn and improve.

Other than the stories of Singapore’s design scene and the topic on Singapore design, four founders of graphic design studios in Singapore also presented their story on independence.

The following are some valuable quotes from them:
“Understand your clients more than they do themselves”
“You are designing for the brand, not the client”
“Idea is king, so is execution”
“Ideas are about empathy, design is about life”
“Design can’t save everything”

Last but not least, “Happy people do better work!” Be happy, creatives! Cheers!

I was pretty excited when Norman suggested I tag along to this year’s Conqueror Design & Print Awards 2010/2011. What and who was Conqueror? As a three-month old editorial intern at Splash, I had a lot to learn. A quick search on the Internet told me I was going to attend a print and design award organised by Antalis and Arjowiggins Fine Papers (both paper merchants in Singapore). And we were heading there as finalists, hopeful for a win or two.

The Grand Ballroom at InterContinental Singapore hotel was at first impression – dark. We were a little late and the seminar speakers had already begun! We quickly found ourselves seats and adjusted to the dark room. Speakers who showcased their expertise in the use of creative papers and letter pressing. In-between, two student awards were given out. This experience was quite unique to me as I have never been to an award giving event at a luxurious ballroom before, reminding me a little of the Oscars (nowhere near, I know).

The next award was a surprising one. We were looking at the screen for the nominees for a print award when we saw our book The Book of the New and we won something. We (or the least, I) was confused for awhile as the award was credited to Entraco Printing. I later found out that our close partner, Entraco, was the printer of the book. Hooray! Our very first win!

The next presentation was interesting and inspiring. Kevin Finn spoke about the last ten years of his life, advocating designers to be more risk-taking and adventurous. This felt relevant to me some how (although I wasn’t aspiring to be a designer), in the sense that I should think out of the box more often and take more risks.

After his rather long yet engaging talk, we proceeded to the big awards. Entraco carried on its winning streak, clinching the Best Print in Singapore. Congratulations Entraco for the two wins!
After the print awards came the design awards.

This was rather unnerving and exciting at the same time. The excitement was growing and we quickly allocated the photographer and videographer of the evening (Cherryn, Yixian and I). When the time came for the Design Winner award of the night, there was a glitch. The host, who aptly decided to switch from his iPad to the erroneous paper, missed out Splash when introducing the finalists. Tension rose and we were confused and miffed at the mistake! But were quickly revived by the announcement of the winner. Splash had won the award – Design Winner for The Book of the New!!

The excitement didn’t cease as Splash was quickly announced the winner of the Best Design in Singapore! We were cheering fanatically when Cai Ling graced the stage to accept the awards. And of course, the ‘camera crew’ went on to shoot and film the whole thing down. It was a moment to remember.

The night ended with a bit of refreshments (and delectable mini lemon macarons!) and photo taking.

Even as an intern, I felt honoured, proud and exhilarated for being there, watching Cai Ling and Splash receive recognition. It was also quite an educational journey for me, as I learned more about print, papers and design.

You can take a look at our book here.

Congratulations and thank you Splash, for the experience!

“Rasham Firiri, Resham Firiri, Udayra Jauki Dadama Vanjyang Resham Firiri…” The melody of this popular Nepali folk song still keeps playing in my head again and again, though we’ve come back from Nepal days ago. It is a recording of us and our lovely guides/porters/cooks, a recording of us and the memorable journey we walked together, a recording of us and Nepal: a land of never-ending peace and love.

I’d never expected that I would miss Nepal tremendously after I come back at the moment that we were up in the mountain, longing for a hot shower during the cold cold night. But now, like many of us, I’m missing so many things about Nepal.

I miss saying ‘Namaste’ to the friendly Nepalese.
I miss the innocence and the shyness in the children’s eyes.
I miss the passionate folk dances performed by the villagers.
I miss the early mornings when we woke up under a sky filled with huge twinkling stars.
I miss the simply cooked but amazingly delicious food (especially the yak cheese pizza!),
not to mention the black tea that was served with every meal.
I miss the chaos and the dust in Kathmandu, the scary yet thrilling experience of running
across roads without traffic lights.
I miss the laid-back lifestyle in Phokara, those slow and lazy afternoons of doing nothing
but wandering in the streets with a scoop of Baskin Robbins in hand.
And I even miss the giant piles of donkey dung that we had seen everywhere on our trek!
……

Of course, this journey would not have been so special and meaningful to me without all the dear Splashees. I’ll never forget the ups and the downs we had gone through together, the best chilli that we shared together, the spectacular sunrise at 3210m that we watched together, the good laughs that we had together…There is just too much for me to remember and my feelings are simply beyond words. I’ll let pictures tell the story.

The dawn after the dark

The conquerors of Poon Hill

Sometimes you need to take some time out of your day to take some time out of your day,
look around silently and patiently, appreciate even the simplest settings in nature

Simple happiness

Our dearest porters, cooks and guides who had been walking together with us for six days

The meals we had together, and the most unique starter I’d ever had in my life: popcorn!

The dogs-the nap lovers

The bookstores, not so big, not so tidy, but full of surprises

The chaotic nights in Kathmandu

The best bathroom, spooky? Stylo!

More about ‘Splash in Nepal’ here.

Last but not least, enjoy these awesomely awesome videos shot by Brice:
Day-1 Trek
Day-2 Trek
Day-3 Trek
Day-4 Trek
Day-5 Trek
Day-6 Trek