Passion Makes Wonders

It was one of my interviews which I remembered saying "I am passionate about branding". And they did not seem too convinced and I always wondering why. Back those days, I keep telling everyone that I love marketing, the very essence of it - from making something out of nothing. And then it hit me, its not about just saying it, its also about doing it.

I started work in a very Chinese company, and use to be at the pantry self-whining at the ugly ideas my management wanted. And they just sent me to programs which they feel that was 'right'. So what does it mean if you send me to a Social Media Seminar, when you block the access to FB? Or sending me to design classes to explore my creative side when you want a full-on in-your-face advertisement? It was those days when I feel, damn.. my life sucks.

It was one of those days, when my company signed me up for the MDeC Capability Development Program for Branding. And I thought "Ok, another course". And then they told me its a 6 months course. Great. "A 6 months course". And now, if you asked me - I would tell you "I wished it was longer!". It was a Program which taught me to find myself again, to find my passion again - and to turn back to my company and said "We have to do something!!"

With much obstacles and resistant to change, I with the help of many enthusiastic colleagues managed to turn a whole 360 degree re-branding of my organization. It was not easy, but the end results can only be summarized in one word: AMAZING.

Thank you MDeC and ATCEN for the wonderful program!

As one of the highest achievers for the program! :)

As an 'additional' prize, we got featured in MDeC's magazine :)

My colleague was like "Ekkk!! I should have worn make up!"

 Picture Perfect for The Edge Malaysia

Our awesome trainer, ATCEN

And the driver for the program, MDeC also featured us online :)

Now, when someone ask me about branding, they will know how much I love branding. According to one, "It's the way I spoke, the enthusiasm felt, and the little sparkles in my eyes".Stay tuned for detailed posts of how we ran our marketing plan and became what we are today!

"The Secret Christmas Mission" Campaign

I believe it takes many kinds of people to make this world. Some are clever, some are not while there are the rich and poor, ugly or pretty. Same goes with charity. As I see some might like only kids, while some love helping the elders, I believe .. why not do a charity that no one can judge?

Thus, last year Christmas, I have decided to organize a "Secret Christmas mission" which is not a usual charity drive. It cannot be judged as we all do not know what it is.

Experience Charity with your hearts, not your eyes.

Experience Charity without Barriers for Christmas.

That was the tagline.

Some signed up willingly, while some signed up for curiosity.

While those who were unable to go, were given a chance at charity too - through donating items to a box which I labeled "The Box of Hope".

A week before the charity event, they receive an anonymous letter.

In it, they find out "what's the secret about"

Upon opening the letter, they will be showered by fake snow, cheekily inserted by me.

The first letter is topped by a charitable quote and kind words of thanks.

The volunteer will then unveil the secret at the next page.

During this charity, all volunteers will be given a nick name to provide an element of "fun". 

This name will be used during the entire event :)

Elves are the helpers
Reindeers are the drivers! :)

Prior to starting this charity, I asked "So what do you think". 

Most said  "Why are we helping the homeless?", "They are lazy"
"They should get a job or something"

That was before.

Group Picture of the Volunteers

 Us carrying the Box of Hope!

Picture with Kechara Member, Justin

and the next, was hard-but-exciting labour!

 

Diner Dash Time!

And the crowd keeps coming :)

And a few playful moments

At the end of the day, I asked again "So is it alright?"

And they said

"I always thought homeless people are bums. But after today, I have realized that most of them are of elderly age and have worked very hard during their time. Some sacrifice their life saving for their children education, only to be shunned and kicked out of their homes. Most were not accepted to work as they were too old. And some, were just there looking for company"

"I have never done this type of charity before, but after this 

if there's another charity event - i am in!"

"It brings us down to earth and lets us know that we should appreciate life
and not waste food!"

So I guess, it did not turn that bad after all :) And to me, that was a plus for my charity event. It's not about "corporate responsibility" all the time trying to make a company look good, but to me, what is most important is that we manage to make a change in other lives - including our own.

If you are interested to donate to Kechara, please find out more here.

Fresh & New - FastLights Studios

A logo designed made for a friend who have just launched his new recording studio :)

I have always admire entrepreneurs and decided I help out a little.

 

The first design batch - of horror!

After morning coffee and putting my thinking hat on - wa lah

 

My friend wanted simplicity and also darker colours to not only gel with his working environment but to provide a "professional" emotional attachment to the brand. From there, I worked on black and white, and coloured the word "studios" grey to put more emphasize on the company name. As for the logo, it is an abstract version of a lightning - because to me, what is fast and has light?? - LIGHTNING! :) Then played around with the colours and my friend picked his fav:

Thanks FastLights Studios for the opportunity!

If  you are interested to know more about recording services, click here.

Insurance Ads Time!

I cringe on the fact that some advertisement just put a smiling face with a tagline, and a helluva lots to read. An example would be the ad created below:

Working with various of people in my life, I tend to know and understand each manager's behaviour and characteristics. And from there, I notice what they like and what they don't. Thus, this ad was created. However, their comment was "The picture just ain't right".

Then they choose this picture. Hm. Doesn't look anyhow different but er. okay?

Their concept and experience in working in their field- they simply put it as the girl is smiling, and it attracts them to read the ad. And they told me "it feels real". To me, I don't quite agree but then again, I can't always agree that I am always right. And moreover, they represent my target market. So how can it go wrong? :)

Another design done.

They said "It lacked human emotions" lol

Ah, how I wish I could have a budget for this :)

Imagine the wonders!

Are You Digitized?

I have created this company ad for an upcoming government event, "National ICT Conference 2011" which is themed at "Malaysia's Digital Transformation for Global Competitiveness". This ad is created in the color blue - as from research targeted with the target market, and its tagline to complement the event's theme.

Do visit this event:

National ICT Conference 2011

7-8 July 2011, Putrajaya International Convention Centre

The Office (Signboard Series)

After the success of implementing an office signboard, my company requested for another mini one to be placed by the main entrance. The design is as below:

Office Level Signage

Why so serious?

After undertaking my copy writing course, I believed I should put it to some good use - and what better time it is when we needed posters for a particular event! :) I might add that doing posters all professionally does portray ourselves as professionals, but then again, "why so serious?"

Here are my creations with a little added dose of espresso!

Web-tastic!

Some feel that websites are just meant to be pretty. Much true to that but nowadays, its not only looking pretty that's important (what's in it for the viewer), but what information can we derive from it to make ourselves more visible and more competitive (what's in it for us).

This is the website I came to see when I started working in a company. Looks pretty good if you ask me, however built fully in flash - it was not really friendly on my internet bandwidth. And that's not all flash s not friendly too - they seem to wage war with search engines too!

Did I mention you can play "scroll the scroll bar" on the main page? :)

Approximately 4 scrolls after that, we figured - the website is set for a change!

With branding kept in mind- our website is complete! :)

 

Informational. SEO Friendly. And Awesome :)

Work done by my webbie, Noor & I

After Effects & Video Making

A recent request by my solutions partner, as she required a video for a advertisement space in Akademi Seni Budaya & Warisan Kebangsaan (ASWARA). The video is aimed to provide my product's brand value: simplicity, information and professionalism, produced by my colleague, Noor & I :)

Sell It Like It's Worth

As of my previous post, most people brand their packages because it is their image, their brand, their solution. But what happens if it is not? Another problem faced when I was working was that my company were also selling solutions from the US. And as our US partners practices the "green concept", all software solutions are downloaded by us, and given to our client.

It was one of those days as I was walking pass a sales person, that I realized him rushing to meet a client with a plastic CD sleeve on his hand. I asked him "So what's that?". He said "Owh, its just a solution we sold to a client". And to my amazement, it was not just any solution, it was a "One million dollar worth solution" - in a plastic CD sleeve worth 50 cents.

Of course, with a sporting CEO who was willing to change and with the same concept in mind, we were able to introduce a new cost-effective packaging for the array of solutions:

From 1995 to 2011

One must never forget the importance of packaging, as some I met just simply said "Aiya, simply pack only la, already sell what!" in their stereotyped accents, packaging is as important to ensure that you are selling your client what he believes he is spending "good money" in.

So imagine, when I got my hands on this package design. Of course, kudos to the manager who designed it as I believed his efforts are commendable and of course, Photoshop did not exist then. And if you were doing the math on how old am i, and when Photoshop exist, then bingo - you've got the answer. They have been using the same package 15 years ago. And when I asked, "why have you not changed it?", they simply answered "Because stock haven't finished yet".

With sheer determination and with teamwork, we channeled our packaging to something better.

OLD PACKAGING SUMMARY:

Box designed and printed in 1995

Inventory still high as the product is a high-involvement item 

No differentiation between products – all use the same box

 

NEW PACKAGING SUMMARY:

Box designed to current trend to showcase "constant innovation"

Inventory is kept low as it uses CD Casings, which can be bought on a sale basis

Package insert is printed on a sale basis

Copywriting @ IACT

As a working professional, I guess I am doing quite alright for my age - but of course, alright was never enough for me. I am set my dreams of that margarita on the yatch! :)

So, I registered myself to a copy writing course to better myself and my career, all funds thanks to of course to the company I am working for, InfoConnect!

Here's what my assignments came out to be:

First Assignment was based on self promotion and so it was tough.

And my lecturer kept pushing me and he "smirked" at my assignment

What was that suppose to mean?? haha

 

Next, was teamwork with an awesome copy writer, Suhaimi. Together we picked the topic, Starbucks and made this ad. As for the visual; we made sure that the coffee area was scented with coffee, and we covered it with a transparent sticker. This advertisement is meant for the viewer to peel off the sticker and to reveal the smell of coffee :)

Team Building @ PD

From a month of planning, me and a bunch of male monkeys planned the very first Team Building Event and it was a success! From this event I learn that it is not easy to plan for 40 pax and the beauty of team work :). Here's a recap of the memorable event:

A fun-filled day

(before they knew what the activites were .. :p)

And the activites were:

 

The paintball death match!

 

 The energy draining Sea Rafting

I still remember the faint cries of my colleagues and 

one screaming "I will get you for this Jacyln!!" haha

 

A more relaxing game: Bowling :)

 

Last but not least,  quiet match of volleyball  ~~

And a picture perfect of the team :)

PD 2009!