March 1st, 2010 Jerry
Every once in a while there comes something that changes lives i.e. an iPhone or peanut butter jam; and between these once-in-a-whiles, there are smaller things that improve life little by little. Thinking for a Living does that and more.
A series of inspiring content, from the greyness of paradoxes to recommended readings on their Shelf section, accompanied by a well thought out grid system and a fluid keyboard navigation, the redesigned TFAL is for the thinkers amongst us who want more than just eye candy amidst the tons of image-bookmarking sites.
Visit the relaunched Thinking for a Living.
Posted in Design, Geek | No Comments »
December 9th, 2009 Jerry
Yes we saw that aural fireworks exploded in rainbow colours, yes we saw ourselves as the fearless Peter Pan dashing through Never Neverland at the speed of light, fighting this super sonic pirate with peacock feathers masking his face, no we don’t know if Boy Lilikoi is edible, nor do we concern if we understand his english. In fact, we’re lost on this sea of ecstatic blissfulness Jónsi had just flooded us with (and we thought Gobbledigook was the happiest song).
To define Boy Lilikoi as epic is probably a rude understatement, no?
Listen to Boy Lilikoi here.
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December 5th, 2009 HJGHER
We just received news that we won a Silver Award for the Spatial Category in Retail for Kith Café in the HKDA Asia Design Awards 2009. And the best part, Thomas Heatherwick was a judge. We’ve been huge fans of his organic work since Littlehampton’s East Beach Cafe.
We cannot thank the folk at Kith enough for the trust they bestowed upon us, with complete design freedom for their branding, interior and furniture. We really wanted Kith to not just be another café, but a physical and emotional experience that could well justify their sincerity in doing what they do best, coffee (and our current favourite, kith’s special hot dog) from the heart.
So if you catch us there this week, be sure to ask for your free cappuccinos, on us. See you at Kith!
Posted in Award, Design, HJGHER, Place | No Comments »
December 3rd, 2009 HJGHER
Tonight, our very own DJ Phay spins alongside Zouk resident DJ Hong in Velvet Underground for another aural adventure into a ElectroNuTrance Dance Dance Dance Mofo Dance. Doors open at 10pm and free flow drinks till 11.30pm for invited guests only.
See you all there
Posted in HJGHER, Place, Sound | No Comments »
December 3rd, 2009 HJGHER
There was a suffocating silence in the room as we unwrapped the freshly arrived Underscore — 30 minutes before our launch day itself. No words or emotions could appropriately express ourselves, except sheer gratitude, and love.
After months of sleepless nights, door-slamming, desk-flipping and hair-pulling, we heartily thank all of you who have stayed with us as we carefully coaxed this baby out into this world. We have lots to tell, but we’d rather hear from you. So please get a copy of Underscore N°1: The ___ Issue, read it, listen to its soundtrack, abuse it; And write to us using the Underscore pencil attached.
Thank you.
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November 24th, 2009 HJGHER
It’s been a long time coming but we’re glad to say it’s all finally coming together now. What was in hindsight a simple love for print a couple of years ago, has now evolved into our first magazine publication and we’d be more than delighted if you could join us for the opening reception at Asylum, 6pm Thursday 26th Nov 2009.
We do hope to see you there.
Posted in Design, Expression, HJGHER, Paper | No Comments »
October 13th, 2009 Jerry
Call us bias but we expect nothing less than perfection from the Japanese, and the Japanese keep surpassing our expectation. Of course, we’re talking about Masamichi Katayama x Yugo Nakamura.
Visit the new Wonderwall.
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September 30th, 2009 Justin
Well, from the completion of their long awaited website to the Issue 0 preview of the Gentlewoman in Issue 10, all we can say is, please keep it coming.
Fantastic Man, the gentleman’s style journal now online, with the Gentlewoman out soon, we presume after her hair and makeup’s done.
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September 1st, 2009 HJGHER
We are extremely honoured to be featured in the only magazine (of the dozens that we subscribe to) that every one of us here at HJGHER eagerly awaits for their own personal copy. The Monocle Singapore Survey 2009, covers many of our retail faves; Books Actually, Chocolate Research Facility, Strangelets, Know It Nothing, and Blackmarket, as well as our latest branding and interior design project Kith Café, in the Top 5 bars, restaurants, coffee shops in Singapore.
The Monocle Singapore Survey 2009 in Monocle Issue 26. Out at your local newsstand now, whichever part of the world you may be.
Posted in Design, HJGHER, Paper, Place | No Comments »
August 31st, 2009 Justin
The jury for the Design category was headed by Daniel Koh/Unit Studio. Grateful to be on the panel of judges, which includes Edwin Tan/Asylum, Larry Peh/&Larry, Felix Ng/Silnt, William Chan/:phunk, and Zann Wan/Couple.
Congratulations to the winners revealed at the Crowbar Awards show held at the Shangri-La Hotel, on Fri 28th August. I hope it fuels your hunger for greater things to come.
Posted in Award, Design, HJGHER | No Comments »
August 10th, 2009 Jerry
After lakes and sand dunes, Ryan McGinley decided to explore wild caves last summer. This time round the photographer, with his crew and models had to crawl through intestine-like tunnels, along with their sparkles boxes and smoke machines and all the lighting equipments, to find the hidden realm beneath our earth.
No surprise here we still get to see fireworks, naked bodies and McGinley-esque people-falling-in-mid-air shots. No one, however, comes close to merging surreal landscapes and beautiful human bodies into a psychedelically constructed dream.
24 new colour photographs will be up for McGinley’s first UK solo show at Alison Jacques Gallery in London,
from 11 September to 8 October 2009.
The title of the show “Moonmilk” alludes to the crystalline deposits found on the walls of many caves; it was once believed that this substance was formed by light from celestial bodies passing through rock into darkened worlds below. McGinley describes his work as a journey, and his photographs form a “travel log” which captures his experiences across the American landscape. This particular adventure pushed his troop to new levels of bravery, testing the participantsʼ fortitude and endurance in hazardous conditions.
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July 14th, 2009 HJGHER
On a recent trip to London, we were greeted by pianos all over. Some whispered silently in a park, some cried under the infamous drizzle but most made us passers-by listen and bear witness in awestruck wonder. From Tchaikovsky to The Beatles to Ten Little Indians, the crisp summer air was filled with music at every turn on the streets. A rare sight it was, for cold Londoners to slow their pace, listen for a while, and cheer for the playing strangers.
We later found out it was a project by Luke Jerram, who installed 30 old, unwanted pianos all over the city, “to get people talking to one another and to claim ownership and activate the public space”.
Street pianos are appearing in cities across the world. Located in skate parks, industrial estates, laundrettes, precincts, bus shelters and train stations, outside pubs and football grounds, the pianos are for any member of the public to enjoy and claim ownership of. Who plays them and how long they remain is up to each community. The pianos act as sculptural, musical, blank canvas’s that become a reflection of the communities they are embedded into. Many pianos are personalised and decorated.
Our friend Msxi had her take on Chopin by the Millennium Bridge.
Posted in Sound, Trip | No Comments »
July 2nd, 2009 HJGHER
With hard electro influences from Boys Noize, Teenage Bad Girl and Digitalism to uplifting trance from Above & Beyond and Gareth Emery, DJ Phay, a former classical cellist and self-taught boy wonder debuted his live set for a HJGHER party, in conjunction with VUTOPIA at Velvet Underground, alongside Zouk resident, DJ Hong.
For all of you who have been requesting for DJ Phay’s next performance, do sign up here and we’ll be sure to keep you informed. In the meantime, you can always listen to his mix here.
DJ Phay is under H/Recordings, the music label of HJGHER.
Posted in HJGHER, Place, Sound | No Comments »
July 1st, 2009 HJGHER
At a HJGHER party, we introduced a short story installation, “And she melts in visions of eternal day”, written and produced by us here at HJGHER.
Taking our cue from the cinematic experience of the 1940s, we wanted our audience to experience a live performance instead of simply watching a movie on screen. We had a narrator read the entire script while a live cellist accompanied her on set as she read along. The audience was treated to a projection of still images shot by Jovian Lim (Oats & Sparkle).
Jovian was given free reign to interpret the story as he envisioned it should be in his head, but what made this all the more interesting was that we did this in collaboration with Club21’s BLACKJACK. We picked out clothes from the BLACKJACK store that we felt would bring represent different acts of the story and Jovian shot it in his signature style.
“And she melts in visions of eternal day” will be published for the first time in conjunction with the launch of UNDERSCORE N°1: THE ___ ISSUE magazine.
All images shot by Jovian will be made ready for viewing on the Underscore website soon. Stay tuned.
Posted in Blink, Expression, Film, HJGHER | No Comments »
June 29th, 2009 HJGHER
you all for coming, for we would not be where we are today without you.
till next time,
From all of us at HJGHER
Posted in HJGHER, Place | No Comments »
June 1st, 2009 HJGHER
When we were approached to design the identity and interior for a cafe, the owners had no name for it, no location, a limited budget and they wanted to open in 6 weeks.
So, perhaps it could have been their foretelling vision of creating a new culture that played a fond tune to us, their relentless faith in us being the only ones who could do it (or so they led us to believe), the unbelievable upper-cut through the milk, side-kick to the back of the head, buddha-zen froth timing, drunken-monkey shaolin-hands for a perfect triple Rosetta, consistent in every cup of their coffee, or just the simple fact that we all shared one common goal; to build something pure, authentic and from the heart.
Do drop by Kith and have a cuppa, or two, and hopefully we got it right with you too.
If you’re interested in our design insight for Kith, there’s a small section in their G’day from Kith blog
Posted in HJGHER, Place | 1 Comment »
May 21st, 2009 Jerry
We are not sure if it’s the P-winged pigeon or the nostalgic smell of letter pads, or simply the obsessive attention to detail, that drew us away from the Muji universe into this little planet of leather stationery.
When chanced upon No.10038 in Graf (Osaka) last year, we had a hard time deciding between Ash Gray and Black, now we’re just glad that they can be found at Strangelets, although, Black was never in stock.
Like any of you who feel romantic towards the dying art of craft and tactile, we got almost teary-eyed carrying a Postalco Legal Envelope, after all, it started as part of a research by Mike Abelson, one half of Postalco, into the human behavior of carrying-something in our daily lives. A Starbucks paper cup maybe? A laptop? Or your daily Herald Tribune?
Regardless, the elegance of Postalco is all in the details. The neat threadworks, subtle curves, meticulous craftmanship, Mike and Yuri (ahh a japanese, now the perfection makes sense) make products that don’t shout for your attention, but sit naturally in your bag, on your table and in your hand. Naturally.
Watch this interview with Mike and Yuri by the cool folks at Tramnesia.
Posted in Design, Trip | No Comments »
May 17th, 2009 Jerry
Nope it’s not the Eroticism theme that caught our eye, its actually Carine Roitfeld’s interview illustrated by Mario Testino. Although might I say, this is one magazine that never fails to tickle our b***s.
Acne Paper No.8 deals with the timeless subject of Eroticism. The editorial team has collaborated with some of the world’s most significant photographers, designers, editors, models and artists to create a stunning edition which is nothing less than a collectors item.
Get it here.
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May 11th, 2009 Jerry
Good morning folks, just a quick one to cure your blues.
Watch Alice In Wooonderland and get back to work!
Via Booooooom.
Posted in Geek, Sound | No Comments »
May 7th, 2009 Justin
Daisuke Obana aka Mister Hollywood’s N.Hoolywood 09-10 A/W collection aptly titled “Skyscraper”, once again reinforces his vision of fashion forward with his customary reinventions of fashion’s past.
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Inspired by Ayn Rand’s, “The Fountainhead”, the set in Yebisu Garden Hall had his metropolis men stride past each other alongside a massive three tier monochorme backdrop of skyscrapers recalling New York in the 20’s. High collar coats and higher waist straight pants in tight bandwidths of grey and dark muted palettes, finished with gloves to match. Pullovers in art deco (think “Chrysler building”) patterns or simple grids of lines cast strong structured silhouettes almost as though the skyscrapers themselves were in motion. And all this while Gary Cooper spews Howard Roark’s right to reclaim his own individualism amidst an aural transition of classical and post rock tunes.
We wonder if Rand would be pleased with Obana’s selfishness, against the collective, against the dishonesty, against the machine. We’re not condoning Objectivism, but we do believe that an ingenious insanity, mindful of its perceived madness, is often necessary to make the world a better place. And it may be rightly so, perhaps in our current time when faith has left America and baggy pants are a joke, Obana may just be the best advocate of interesting changes to come.
The video above was sent to us in a tight little package from the team at N.Hoolywood. If only they sent us some Under Summit Wear samples too.
Posted in Fabric, Film | No Comments »