春はもうすぐ来ると桜が美しく咲いて、町にこぼれ落ちます。
そして新しい開始を皆に祈っています。
悲しみ溢れる時でも、暗いときでも、希望と勇気を無くさないで。
頑張って日本！

Like many of you, I am deeply saddened by the spate of disasters that had overwhelmed beloved Japan to such an unimaginable extent, knowing that it would already take them years and years to recover from the massive losses. NHK and TBS had live broadcast channels and I spent the whole of last week just thinking and thinking about the situation in Japan, and how when it boils down to the core of existence, humans can be fragile. Watching footages of entire buildings, highways and towns wiped out, desperate attempts to curb the rising nuclear problem that posed a threat to not only themselves but neighbouring countries as well, and mostly that it has elevated to a level where there are too many bodies for crematoriums to incinerate. So awfully helpless; we overestimate ourselves all the time.

We may never ever understand the grieve they are going through. With the death toll mounting and tens of thousands displaced from their homes, it hit me so hard: you can flip the papers close, switch the television off when you’ve seen enough but the very fact that the country has been devastated remains. Some people can’t, much less have anything to return to or fall back on. The meaning of loss here is at its utmost. Like the Great Hanshin earthquake, this will never be forgotten.

Despite all these, in the face of unforgiving onslaughts, their optimism and brave fighting spirit is admirable. I am awed by how their cultural roots are never easily shaken or swept away.

It’s not too late to offer help, because the least we can do is donate. Donate to the Japanese Red Cross Society or other organisations via Google (you can make payment online which I find the most practical and effortless if you think sending in a cheque or going down to the embassy is going to take time).

Keep praying, keep hoping.

Just when you think the local yogurt franchises are getting very creative with their shop fronts and advertising, here’s another upcoming one, and definitely an eye turner. Only recently launched, this is one of Kinetic’s latest completed projects. I think this is FWA material :)

Visit their site to create your own cup of evil yogurt with colourful minions, to top it off.

Check them out here:

DEVILYOGURT.com
Facebook page

1 Pasir Ris Central St 3
#01-39, White Sands

* * * * *

20 March 2011 – WE WON FWA SOTD!

Agency: Kinetic Singapore

Temasek Design Show 2010

Venue: Temasek Convention Centre, Temasek Polytechnic

25 March (Thu), 6.30pm | Show Opening & Reception
26 March (Fri), 10am – 9pm
27 March (Sat), 10am – 5pm | Alumni Forum & Network Reception @ 2.30pm

Graduate works for 2010: http://www.go4imd.com/graduation10/

Official launch: www.ChildrenSociety.org.sg/fundraising

“Hope is REALised when impossibilities are made REAL.”

REALise is an integrated campaign, which consists of print work as well as an interactive awareness and fund-raising website that promotes to the target audience, youths and young working adults, through unique storytelling, the organisation Singapore Children’s Society.

Dates: 29 January – 26 March 2010

Location: The ARTrium, Level 1
MICA Building (Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts)
140 Hill Street, Singapore 179369

Entry: Free Admission

Time: 10am – 6pm daily

Now that’s something to be really happy about ^^

In related news: Appletastic will be showcased at the Portfolio Show 2009 held at Suntec Convention Centre, Hall 402 – 403 from November 24 – 27.

24 Tues : Opening Ceremony
25 Wed, 26 Thu : 10am – 8pm
27 Fri : 10am – 6pm

◇ I’ve got two design entries shortlisted for Crowbar Awards 2009! Final results are out on 28 August during the award ceremony.

◇ Children’s Soc confirmed the website project and some of my FYP illustrations will also be showcased during their upcoming roadshow from 29-30 August! It’s like a dream REALised ;) Reproducing the illustrations in high-res (say 2m by 2m) format had me working really hard for the whole of this week, so much so I think the wacom pen would grow out of my hand anytime. Well, that was incidentally how I discovered the size limit for any Photoshop file is 2GB.

◇ Though pricey, I subscribed for Japanese TV channels on the web = <3 Quality is indeed better than KeyHoleTV and it hardly lags (unless I use wireless internet that is). Haha.

◇ The waterproof camera case WP-300 I bought on E-Bay came in the mail a few days ago; for use on the beach, for swimming and snorkeling.

◇ I am done packing for the Tioman trip 6 hours later.. Beautiful beach and waters – here we go! ”いま行くぜ、ベイビ！〜♥” (sounds familiar? LOL.)

Friday, 27th March – Tuesday, 31st March 2009
Weekdays: 12noon to 9pm
Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Closed on Sunday

www.TemasekDesignShow.com