Those Resolutions Again

Once again, the year ends, and a new one begins. Already experiencing this 23 times, perhaps one should realize that the feeling of renewed hope and enthusiasm is but a passing wind. A temporary state everyone feels when the earth completes its revolution around the sun. But like everyone else, I never fail to have a list of things I resolve to do when the New Year Begins. Yes, maybe New Year Resolutions are excuses one gives to procrastinate. Why wait for the New Year, one you can start losing that weight, improving yourself and learning how to use that complicated software now. But I still do it anyway – make a list of resolutions for the New Year.

1. Continue fitness regime I started last year with more resolve
Like every cosmopolitan urbanite, we all want to start exercising. Yes it's a cliché resolution, but I feel good about doing it. I started to go to the gym and jogging regularly early this year. I sort of slowed down on the jogging part. This year I am going to do that, and start eating healthy too. That means no more oily lunches. Will attempt the Standard Chartered Marathon too.

2. Save money and be more thrifty
No brainer here. With rising inflation (my favorite Soy Milk vendor just increased his prices by 30%) and a pay increment that do not match this inflation, I need to really tighten my belt. No random decadent lunches whenever I am feeling fancy, no taxi rides just because and definitely no random snacking in mid day. Which in turn will help me with resolution number 1.

3. Be a better Designer.
I am going to read more design materials, jump on every design opportunity with thought and intelligence and look at the world better. I am also going to share my expertise and help all the design young'ins be better designers themselves.

4. Go back to school
I really want to go back to school and get a bachelors. My long term career plans requires that I have a masters degree, so I have to start somewhere. Money is a problem, which explains resolution number 2.

5. Love more
Yeah. Just love more. :)

So there you go folks. My resolutions for 2008. Happy New Year readers!

To the crazy ones

I am very much fond of the old Apple ads, especially right now when most of the modern Apple ads are no fun. Almost everyone loved the much acclaimed 1984 ad, when Apple first introduced the Macintosh. If you don't get it, the ad basically references the book by George Orwell, 1984. Its about a totalitarian government and the 'big brother' syndrome. At that time, IBM was considered a 'Big Brother' due to widespread acceptance of their PCs. The ad is not a too subtle jibe at them.

Another ad, which I personally am fond of is the Think Different Campaign ads. While another subtle jibe at that time IBM own 'Think' campaign, it is still a beautifully written ad. The ad uses nothing but stock footages and a simple voice over, but the message is satisfyingly inspiring.

Here’s to the crazy ones.
The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently.
They’re not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.
You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.
Because they change things.
They push the human race forward.
And while some may see them as the crazy ones,
We see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think
they can change the world,
Are the ones who do.

Edit: Oooh I just noticed Apple is paying homage to this very ad in its latest operating system Leopard. This is the icon for Textedit (Notepad for the windows equivalent).

Pre-party denial

Maryann: I look Indian.
Me: You are Indian.
Maryann: HOW DARE YOU!
Me: Give me more wine...

Wan Christmas's Gift Guide that will make any gay man (or anyone) real happy.

Can you hear the faint chiming of the bells? Can you smell magic in the air? Can feel the bustling happiness of Christmas? Yes? Well describe them to me, cause I can't. Christmas time is here and the inevitable christmas gift guides (which really is a vaguely disguised christmas-gifts-i-want-myself list) is all out. So here I present, my list – Christmas's Gift that will make any gay man (or anyone) real happy-

Hourglass

I have a thing for desk accessories. And I have a thing for modern minimal design. So this hourglass (a cliché desk accessories) with its simple design (it really cannot get any simpler than this) just turns me on. And then add black sand. Orgasmic.

Sons Calendar


Aren't we all sick of those flesh parade calendars (think Trevvy Pinned Up and those free FHM TOP 100 HOT NEXT DOOR GIRLS pinups)? I am, but sometimes we do need a little eroticism in our life. The Sons Calendar features brilliant photography by Dennis Chong, and the guys photographed are all tastefully shot. In fact most of them are clothed, normal looking and are normal people. But that's what makes it brilliant (and strangely erotic).

I don't Need a Bag Thanks

Global warming, melting icebergs, forest fires, haze, sars, death, the retention of 377A. etc. And we all know all of these problems could be solve if we are just a bit more eco-conscious. Everyone has that silly I'm Not a Plastic Bag Bag, but not everyone has the I don't Need a Bag Bag. Besides, the I'm Not a Plastic Bag Bag looks cheap. The I don't Need a Bag Bag is just cheap.

Anna Sui Hand Mirror


I don't know about you, but every time I pass a reflective surface, I stop, pout, posse and adjust. It could be a kettle. It could be a huge reflective door. What ever it is, I would stop, pout, posse and adjust. It is almost like a natural reaction. I am sure I am not alone with this problem (the last time when I was stopping, pouting, posing and adjusting, some one was doing the same beside me.) So what a better gift than a Anna Sui hand mirror so he or she could be stopping, pouting, posing and adjusting anywhere and at anytime with great style.

Naoto Fukasawa


Strange as it sounds, I am still excited to receive Design Books as gifts even if I have tons of them. One book I have been searching high and low is Naoto Fukasawa monograph. Naoto Fukasawa is a product designer, whose design are usually described by those that do not know better, as gray, white and whatever, But his designs do not demand attention onto itself. It doesn't need to. While at first glance his designs appears simple and obvious, it rarely is. The thought process behind the designs are complicated and through so that the user can implement it without much though. Elegant. Eloquent. Thoughtful. Three perhaps most flattering words than can be said of a designer.

The Sartorialist

It is perhaps the biggest, most challenging decision one has to make in the morning, before heading off to work; What to wear? Unlike the glorious Victoria Beckham (or Queen of the Ants, really depends on the context), I rarely – no make it never – plan my work outfit the night before. While most of my friends has clothing restrictions when it comes to their individual work (teachers can't wear jeans, retail assistants have uniforms and band conductors just need to look respectable), I on the other hand have an almost unlimited clothing option. I can come dressed up in a nice suit or a shammy torn up jeans and tank top and no one would would bat an eyelid.

I would of course try my best to look at least, reasonably tastefully stylish. But that's the problem. What is reasonably tastefully stylish? On days when I would be stuck in the studio till late, drawing and redrawing advertising illustrations, coming up with ideas for the morning presentations or just trying to make the layout look right, I do not want to be in a stuffy work shirt and fitted pants. I would love to be just in a t-shirt and jeans. But the nature of my work requires that I meet clients and clients usually look at Graphic Designers as the authority of style and taste. And the authority of style and taste can never be in just a t-shirt and jeans. Besides, its a well known fact that if you dress up nicely, people believe everything you have to say.

Truth be told is, I am sick of shirts. I have loads of them, but I so much prefer wearing t-shirts. Something about the fussyness of shirts bothers me. There's the buttons, then the stiff collars and then there's the cuffs. Cuffs bother me loads. If I pull up the sleeves, do I ensure the cuffs shows, or do I just roll it up and hide the cuffs?

I like t-shirts, but it's really hard to look good in one. A v-neck makes you look too femme, a crew neck makes you look like a kid and then there's the problem of fit. Do you wear a tight-fitted one and risk bits of you showing through, or a big one that makes you look all sloppy.

And then after I have decided on the top.

There's the pants. Then the shoes. And finally the bag.

Imagine this every morning, five times a weeks. Now you know why graphic designers just wear black, top to toe.

The Happy Working Song

I can't get the Enchanted soundtrack out of my head.

Today, during my Sunday evening jog, I was tempted to burst into a song, waltz down the block while spinning round and round helplessly with my hands doing small little dances in the air. Only the queer stares from the ladies at the bus stop prevented me from doing so.

And my favorite song of the lot has to be the Happy Working Song. Humming the song while I was tidying up my room really made the chore much less of a chore. I even cleared after my brother, something I would never do. But being the princess to be that I am, I did.

This Enchanted madness could go on for weeks, so watch out world, as I traversed trough my day with a song and dance - well at least in my heart.