Who is afraid of the swine flu?

A pandemic to stay away from? More like another reminder to us busy people to...

1.  Stay close to , but do not close, your heart. 

2.  Ask: Who is closest to your heart? 

(Hint: be yourself, but exclude yourself from the answer).

Happy May Day. 

The harder you try...

___ the luckier you get.

___ the shittier it gets.

___ the sooner you bang the slow coach ahead.

___ the more you greet: "knnbccb".

___  ................ [what do you think?] ..............

Life's like that -- you win some, you lose some. 

Hold our heads up, live to fight another day. 

Chins Up...Stand Out

When everything else is looking down, offence is the best defence. By the time the others are done with frowning, we would have flown miles ahead. 

If there is a time to go with the flow, let it be some other time. To be the contrarian who prevails, rise to the occasion now. 

(PS: Read the news, but do not buy all that they say. If they are that prescient, they will not need to be selling papers in the first place).

Berries 越玩越聪明 － 25／11／2008 mypaper

Boardgame designed by Splash.

Splash -- between the lines, over the years

D, whom I have always held in high regard, once advised me: "To understand Splash, consider its opposite". What's the antithesis of Splash? I am still wondering. Constipation, maybe.

In a little more than three years, I have come to see Splash as more than getting active with water. To be Splash means more than making waves. As we strived to make Splash great, I began to see a deeper level emerge. 

WILL and FORCE. MOMENTUM and IMPACT. 

These qualities drive us as individuals. Harnessed COLLECTIVELY, they distinguish us as a team. 

Hopefully, in a not-too-distant future, we turn into a phenomenon. This could be a good way to make those who put their trust in us, happy. (I do wish to help D collect more happy specimens; he studies happiness).

So, Splash is not just about water and fun. Splash is the sum total of the actions and emotions surrounding what we can do for one another.

Now, how's that for the third working day in 2009?

Happy New Year. 

Splash goes to Bali 12 - 16 Dec 2008

Unveiling Splash in BMV

Secret heroes among us

Splash Shop front

Another illustration by Octavia.

Splashees

It is the spirit, message and story that matter

Many a times the "layman" decides that it is merely a super "wow" graphic that wins that game. This is not true. It is the spirit, message and story that count. Just look that any design or publication that speak to you right away and/or over time. It is never a frivolous attempt. It is always a result of understanding and clarity. Above all, thought.

It therefore irks me whenever I try to get away with "wow" without thought. This is no "wow"; just self-deceit.

I remind myself constantly -- to every proposal, there must be a purpose, whether articulated by the client or agency. Given the purpose, every proposal must carry a concept, no matter profound or simple, or both. Every concept bears a spirit, carries a message, tells a story. Story of the subject, the champion and the creator.

Let's keep the romance of design alive, along with the economics and political correctness. The world and our ingenuity are big enough to stomach all these and more.

Studio illustrated by Octavia Soebiyanto

Kram no more

I knew I would not feel much about it when it is over. We have moved on eons ago. Just hope Kram has had an opportunity to think through what transpired. I should not a Kram be, I remind myself. Peace!

A-Muse-Zing

Fall in love with your ideas. Like Ma of Alibaba says, "Believe!" Yet, Trump of Apprentice says add a pre-nup to each marriage (of ideas).

If the idea works out, it's bliss. Bliss is the fodder of confidence and creativity... and more belief. If the idea gets smashed, turn it into another idea. In physics, energy and matter never get extinguished. They transform. So should ideas. In the worst case scenario, exercise the pre-nup and start courting (new targets) all over again.

The point is, keep living and loving what we do. With design, it is simply natural.

New coat of paint

Splash has applied a new coat of paint to their website. Check it out, hope you like it. There will be updates pouring in, stay tune, stay curious...

Sunshine in Hong Kong!!! :-)

Yipee!!

The New C-Class TVC

Has anyone seen the new Mercedes C-Class TVC that features Tay Ping Hui and Michelle chia?! :D Got a feeling its done by the same bunch of people who produced the infamous Carlberg CNY TVC! What a joke to local advertising.

C-Class. C for Cheesy!

XplashHeroes to the rescue!

Illustrations by our Intern Ms Victoria Lee.
We are the new superheroes in town. Watch out, villains!

For Purpose of Evaluation

Just recently, i came across a ridiculous annual report design tender requirement. Beside the usual demanding...
clause 1.2 - Two proposed concept;
clause 2.5 - First draft of artwork to be submited within 5 calendar days from receipt of contents.
clause 3.4 - Client may at its discretion, terminate the contract, with no compensation to contractor;
clause 4.8 - Client shall have unfettered rights to reproduce all elements of the AR design;
clause 4.8 - Contractor to liaise with client's appointed printer to supervise and ensure print quality
etc etc etc...

there is this ridiculous:



Given its a speculative pitch, i think the compulsory submission of a specific "test shot" is a totally shameful and insulting way of evaluating photography standard!!!

Nevertheless, i was very desperate for the job. The contract must be worth a million bucks, i thought. So i went down on my knee and beg Lim G.E., my trusted photographer, to make a trip to the far end of the island, to snap some beautiful pictures from my submission.

He obliged. And he produced the most out of the world impression of the subject. What a photo!! thank you Mr Lim! This annual report job is mine for the taking!

From
SY

PS: Mr Lim's test shot:

Evidence

Everyone has a criminal mind. But how many can find a creative outlet? We kidnap an idea from reel life for an ironic play with the men in uniform. Does the law enforcer get it? Well, you have the right to remain silent. Whatever you say might be cited to the judging panel.

Team MSC-Splash

D.H.L.

When we turn ONE...

A year on, we remain ONE.

Not one man, nor one woman.

ONE TEAM.

Thanks for being splashinating buddies, every one:)! Here's to more intoxicating Splash concocting years.


Splash. Concocting since 19 Sep 05.

Nano Reward, Colossal Insult

A ZOcard i picked up over the weekend! Creativity nowaday is only worth a nano???!!!!

A Smile Worth Winning.

I was reaching for one particular goal when volunteering to design the Camp Sunshine 2006 magazine... The eventual design has to win some form of design award or competition. But in the midst of the process, looking at the beautiful photographs of the kids smiling and enjoying the camp activities, having know that the kids like the comic book touch at the appreciation tea ceremony, I could imagine the sunny smiles on the kids faces when they received the magazine, getting positive feedback from the volunteers and befrienders etc etc... I realised that the one particular goal had already been fulfilled :) award-winning design?... it does’nt matter anymore...

s

Splash in the news on 666!

Dated 06.06.2006.

Calendar with longer shelf-life?

Speculative Work?

友情、商情、伤情

功利当前
任友情的琴音
在商情中..... 伤 情

指尖淌着血
任性地.....
变奏
变咒

无奈是多余的
无情是寡欢的

泪水或幽默
都
束手无措

只好
一
一
静
音

郁郁而终

(给好友发律师信有感)

Splashing us has just been made easier

Krampire...the blind leading the clueless

This might be enough to get you into fits (or do you mean FiDs?). Could anything else be more hazardous?

Look where you tread, brother.

Have you made a Splash today?

At www.splashsg.com, we will be adding a new section called "Collect" soon. Check out the Splash icons for a start.

Perhaps you could tell us if you would like us to add yet another called "Compose", for us to showcase your takes on various Splash expressions?

Go ahead...water your imagination.

Splash tees

We are in the midst of getting our tees ready.

A Smashing Chinese New Year

Splash wishes you a smashing chinese new year!
We took the effort to smash and crushed two oranges for the cover.
Not to worry, no animals were harm during the process.

Splash it on the wall!

Making our presence felt with this gigantic banner/signage.

A splash of ideas has landed!

A self-promo to announce our arrival.

The Next Lap

Happy New Year everyone! A great year lies ahead of us in 2006, we have grown from 5 to 8 members now, and we are ready for our next lap! Watch out for our big move soon.

Splash Greetings

Splash created 2 in-house greeting cards for the festive season;
a splashes created snowman name Splatz and a splash decorated x'mas tree.
We wish you guys a 'splashingly' great holiday ahead. :)

The 5 Ballerinas

We are on our toes... Oh... what a joke! Hahaha...

Have you heard?

The case of "The five laughing toe ballerinas".

Akan datang. Watch this space:).

Is the death or rebirth of innovation upon us?

"The ruin of the human heart is self-interest, which the American merchant calls self-service. We have become a self-service populace, and all our specious comforts -- the automatic elevator, the escalator, the cafeteria -- are depriving us of volition and moral and physical energy." (Edward Dahlberg)

This proclamation set me thinking. Are we setting ourselves up to be more innovative, or less? Perhaps, at this juncture, the willingness to think about it matters more than forcing an answer?

What's design about?

Content. Content. Content. (Overheard from Felix Soh)

Similarly, we say

Substance. Substance. Substance.

Partners. Fartners. Dartners. Bartners. Kartners. Wartners & Tartners.

When we said goodbye, we become dartners -- ie, ex-partners. Dartners automatically qualify to be the object of legal action, the cause of anything and everything bad. Whether there is any basis for action, is considered a separate matter.

When we say we can make waves together, we extend our life as partners. Now that we can hear some sweet sounds of success, we are becoming bartners.

Meanwhile, it appears our dear ex-partners are still bidding farewell to whom they had called their very own. We call this the exodus of the kartners. What're left in the end might just be a tray of wartners and tartners.

Keeping things simple and sweet, we are just glad to be bartners.

Design

Things that we do everyday.

Sneak Peek

TL in 360 (words)

Someone said: “Hey TL, forget your decade in the financial sector, your MBA, or your training experience. No one bothers that you set up one of the first hedge funds in Singapore.”

“It does not matter that you then built a graphic design team that billed more than $5 million of design communications work in three years – your first real three years in this line – or that some of the work was award-winning.”

“Neither do they give a hoot that you left an IPO aspirant as second-in-command and equity partner to start everything from scratch.”

“But if you mean to be a good Christian and marcom pro, you jolly well not short-change your clients. They can sniff you up miles away.”

Well, I think everything happens for a good reason since everything is God's work. So I am not going to think too much of my receding hairline. I shall just think of it as gaining face. And I am not over-weight; just under-height. (A little equanimity goes a long way for me).

What I remain quite uptight over, yet, are my family, team members, friends and clients. They have stuck by me through thick and thin. For this, I dedicate my night-scare and solitary prayer to them.

[A night-scare]: The bridge catches fire on both ends
I found the five of us on a bridge that caught fire on both ends. Behind us was a raging cauldron of hellfire, threatening to engulf us. Ahead of us was a freshly lit torch flittering obstinately amidst icy winds. To falter meant to fall into inexorable physical and spiritual deaths.“Let the winds be. Stay. Don't stray”. Came a calm voice. And so we leaped -- all five of us – forward, towards the torch.
　
[Solitary prayer]: Take stock
I prayed

For the will to take stock
The courage to accept what God will
The faith to carry on

God is great
Working in amazing ways
Answering my prayers
Giving me grace

To face the thorns
And hold the rose

The life of forgiveness
The story of love

The love of God

.....

We live to tell the tale of A Splash Concoction.

What's in a splash concoction?

Everything happens for a reason. This is especially true in design communications. A heady mix of art and alchemy, topped with a potent dash of insight and service, is what defines the creative team at Splash.

We do not aim to please or impress for its mere sake. We are just set on delivering the goods -- your design needs -- the good old fashioned way: on time, on target; in fine taste. Some things -- the absolute good -- do not change.

Yet, other things do. Like the interplay of ideas, concept, visuals, production and delivery across space. The way target audiences react to trends and fads over time. Perhaps even the ripple effect of a butterfly wing flap in icy Oslo. Our advice and execution modes, to be worth your expectations, are dynamic and relative.

The Splash style of design communications is a curious cocktail of five -- growing as we speak -- professionals. They unleash a combined related experience of no fewer than four decades -- graphic design, copywriting, management consultancy, finance, training and production. In their immediate past three years of close professional synergy, the team conjured more than S$5 million worth of design work, and won several much coveted design awards as a team. In late September 2005, the team joined Splash, heralding a new era of design communications consultancy to a creative agency first founded in the 1980s to specialise in mega events and filming by an industry veteran.

Have you found a reason for an intoxicating serving of Splash today?

What is stretch target but a state of mind? 

Relationships are not built nor destroyed on the day of bidding farewell. Relationships are built or destroyed as the sum total of past encounters. Do you really know what it means to put relationship first? 

Vote with your feet. Splash with your talent. 

Works - Netting a good catch!

One of our early 'catch'.