Lantern - a slim, sleek and chic menu in smooth red SKIN (one of the newest paper material available) for this chill out place for drinks and cocktails overlooking the bay. The Landing Point - a customised debossed leather jacket all-day dining menu with a nostalgic flavour. Clifford - Quaint fonts and design of the menu aim to evoke fond memories while dining at this American brasserie.

Themed 猴嘢 (literally meaning “good stuff!” in Cantonese) , the Ang Pao features the cheeky Monkey delivering a peach amongst many more good stuff that the year promises, with many thumbs up to a 猴嘢 year of many happy returns! We hope you love the striking colour combination as much as we do!

May this add to your collection of Concept Lab Ang Paos! Discover more possibilities with us in 2016!

Needless to say, the very well thought through framework came in countless Powerpoint decks, thick reports and heavy HR jargons! However, not only did we manage to translate the overwhelming information into easy to understanding pieces and interesting representations in charts and diagrams, the resource toolkit is conceptualised in an out-of-the-box nutrition concept, whereby we position the HR Competency Framework as “supplements and vitamins” that support career growth and development of HR officers, boosting their career health. The custom design was conceptualised in a packaging box containing a bottle of “vitamins”, other than the two brochure guidebooks, a career development brochure and learning roadmap!

The highlight of the resource toolkit is the colourful M&M chocolates “vitamins” which injects interest and excitement while conveying the essence of the framework. The result was resounding feedback that everyone loves the toolkit, literally it melts their hearts (not melt in their hands!), and that to us, is already award-winning!

More importantly, the objective of effective communication is being met through a creative design solution, and thus the value delivered from working closely with the client, undertaking from copywriting, concept development, design, sourcing to printing and production of this resource toolkit.

At the end of every project, we are always elated to see how our innovative ideas and solutions make a difference. That is the ultimate satisfaction that drives us every single day!

With the objective to showcase Tyco’s corporate values through using animals, the challenge is the apt application of animals to bring out the 12 values, preferably with wit. For example, the “fostering growth” value is being portrayed by a chick hatching from an egg. We also had our fair share of fun learning about the uniqueness of different animals! From concept to every detail in crafting, as well as final printing and printing, we also learnt that it requires everyone from client to suppliers to work closely and get things done. The result is more than a calendar, but a beautiful piece of teamwork that showcases how “none of us is as capable as all of us” (quoting from the calendar!).

Like how this piece of work is being brought to completion, 2014 has also been a year of teamwork for each and every one of us at Concept Lab, from creating our goals to realisation with everyone playing a part. We have learnt, grown and achieved as a team! As we welcome 2015, we look forward to create more exciting possibilities. We invite to tell us what would you like to create and let us be part of your team!

For a number of years, that was what I was looking for – a partner who has the patience to spend time understanding your work; one who is able to feel your aspirations; and who sincerely believes in the good of the work that you do. Magically, that is what happened in this particular collaboration.   Project 1095 is SIM Student Life’s commitment to our students. It is a movement to get our students to think about the future that they want and the actions that they need to take to get there. University is supposed to be a place for exploration. Yet, the courage to try and fail frequently evades a Singaporean mindset conditioned to pursue pure academic success. We wanted our students to adopt a different habit of mind – one that encourages them to pursue their dreams and to make good of the opportunities that come their way. We want to change mindsets, shape behaviors, and influence outcomes.   The result is a piece of work that reflects the fears that one feels in taking a chance while celebrating the excitement of hopes and possibilities. We spent hours, days, and months pouring through words, phrases and different ways of expression just to get the message right. We were collaborating – in every sense of that word. It turned out to be a lot of fun.   I realized during this process that what we had gained goes far beyond the piece of work that we had jointly produced. It was a meeting of minds – individuals who are deeply committed to their craft, uncompromising in producing high-quality work, and excited at the prospect of shaping the next generation. We became fast friends. That, to me, is something I valued above all else. happy with the overall result, with the client giving us positive feedback that we have exceeded their expectation and definitely set the standard for the future collaterals for their high performance club.

This article represents the personal view of the author, our client, and is published in this website as a result of an invitation to share about the experience of working with Concept Lab Communications.

The biggest takeaway from the Awards, however, for me personally, was the inspiring session presented by Mr Kevin Finn (Finn Creative; Chief Judge and Guest Speaker for Conqueror Design & Print Awards), titled “Embracing Risks, Surviving Boredom”.

The first refreshing thing that Mr Finn did, was to give the audience a choice of which topic to listen to – 1) How does design affect our lives?; or 2) Embracing Risks, Surviving Boredom. Of the about twenty hands that participated in the poll (amidst a room of 200 people?), I was thankful that my choice won as majority.

I found it interesting that the rest of the people had no opinion. It seems like they have no desire in wanting to choose the conversation in their next hour of life. Was it too risky to choose? Or they were too bored with life to be bothered to choose?

I then thought the subject was quite apt for Concept Lab, as our philosophy is to “discover the possibilities”, with us challenging ourselves each day to have design solutions that are different and inspiring to others. It occurs to me that this is our way to survive boredom.

I strongly resonate with Mr Finn’s views that design is a thought process, and that’s what we are selling. His approach gives me new meaning to what we have always been practising at Concept Lab. As I longingly thirst for that, I see the lacking of brainwork that would propel the quality of design to a higher level. It could be a timely wake-up call, at our 15th Anniversary. He left us with two take-aways, one of them being “Life is short, but wide.” The length could be fixed, but we have the freedom to decide the breath of life. We have a choice. Life is like a piece of canvas and we are free to paint!

Mr Finn’s stories about the risks he took and his creative initiatives are inspiring – Open Manifesto and DesigNerd. I get a sense of completeness looking at his work. Faultless aesthetics combined with powerful copy, it’s what’s inspiring to me as the Concept Lab quality of work. Check out his website, it says “Design is not a formula. It’s an equation”, and links to his creative initiatives.

I thank you Mr Finn for such generous and powerful sharing.

This article represents the personal view of the author and is published in this blog as a space for the employees of Concept Lab Communications to share about views relating to design and / or the design industry. It does not represent Concept Lab Communications’ point of view nor imply support or agreement. Concept Lab Communications is not liable for the accuracy or consequences of the views published herein.