1. My Brand Spankin’ New Poster
Took me ages to get my initial idea down to the finished product, but I’m happy with it now. Trying for a classic look while contrasting the obvious differences in the work of the featured authors, thematically anyway. They are both excellent.
This round, Xeus will be introduced by Eric Forbes and Lydia Teh, poor thing, will be introduced by me. I guess the dark side does win on this one.
(And do come support Lydia this Saturday at Borders Bookstore, Berjaya Times Square, from 3pm onwards. Book talk similar to the one she had at MPH Midvalley, gongxi missiles and all, with one difference: I’ll be interviewing her! Like I said, the poor thing…)
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2. Going Postal
During the course of completing the poster and various other assignments, I must have really gone postal. Something deep down inside of me must have thought yesterday was April Fool’s though that much fun is still an entire month away. Still, what are friends for, but to play a little text messaging prank ala Borat?
Kenny: I’m so excited! Only got 3hrs sleep last nite! Can’t finish assignments! Die lah! So excited! Ah!!
Nisa: And why are you excited?
K: Don’t know! So excited! Whee! Stepped on dog shit this morning! Wheee!! I love marijuana! So excited! Wheee!!
N: U are stressed, assignment tak siap*. Focus!
K: You are so pree-ty.
N: Yippie! I know. I’m the sex goddess. 
I’m excited too. Smiling all day because going KK (Ed: Kota Kinabalu) next week.
K: U go KK, I go KK, we all go KK! Kookie-kazamm! Keewee-kaboosh! Me! Me! Me! All KK!
(three hours later…)
N: Still excited?
K: *gurgles*
Ah, life is good… 
.
N.B. * tak siap = not finished.
Credits: Original photograph of the boxing glove was taken by Daniel West.
70 Comments
I love the concept; that the boxing glove could be a mitten, and the other way round. Great poster. The fonts, however, a widdle bit salah to me, but it’s alright, I’m probably just being anal. I like being that way
aheam
Don’t worry, I love feedback. Which fonts? Not all of them, surely? Locating the most suitable fonts, surprisingly, takes up the bulk of my design work, after the initial conceptualisation.
I used to be real anal about these things too, but then reality (or rather, deadlines) got in the way…
Also, I wasn’t too happy with the gloves, but they were the best I could find with my budget (royalty-free).
It’s supposed to look remotely like a face too; duality/Janus/Harvey Dent, ya know?
…never mind. I am getting too anal here.
Nice use of the black and white, good vs evil theme, and also the juxtaposition of the two - I thought the black glove was Xeus but it turned out to be Lydia!
Xeus is supposed to be Darkness Incarnate, so fashionisto (male version of fashionista, aye?) that I am, I decided to pair her with the puteh pair.
That and it’s how I got the information lah…
Kenny, love the poster. No complains for royalty-free, FOC work. Professional standard somemore.
Since I’m a poor thing - to be interviewed and introduced by you - please make it an enriching experience, ok?
Don’t worry, Lydia, I was just joking. I’ll make sure you get the best introduction and interview ever!
Not all the fonts. I think it’s the “Good VS Evil” + “Lydia Teh & Xeus” font that seem to irritate me. Probably, the fact that 5 fonts are used in the post might somehow be causing the appalling effect. But once again, I don’t think you should listen to me. My knowledge on design is next to nothing.
No, no, you are quite right. There shouldn’t be anything more than 3 fonts used actually, preferably 2 fonts only. At least, that’s how I prefer to work.
Here, however, there was the gimmick of the “Is this a Breakfast Club…” vs. “…or a Fight Club?”, so obviously they had to be different fonts. The pay-off “Good vs. Evil, etc.” that you mentioned couldn’t be either font used in order to remain neutral, so a third font was used.
A bit messy, I admit. I’ll try and juggle less concepts in my future design. Simple is always best.
More feedback, guys! More, more, more! Every bit counts in improving my design skills (or lack thereof).
Danke, danke…
I agree on three fonts, three colours at most, too. That’s how I do.
Yeah, I got the “breakfast club”/”fight club” effect from their respective fonts. Liked that.
It’s not really anything lah, the “Xeus/Lydia Teh” fonts. Maybe I’m feeling that they have an informal or rather less serious design to them, as compared to the other fonts in the poster that are more stylish, formal and exhibit more symmetry.
Good point. I personally like the “Xeus/Lydia” font (Goudy Stout) but I agree with you on this; I had already used it somewhere else more effectively (so this is repeating which is poor) and really, a cleaner font would work better here.
Something learned for the next poster, which should be more agitpop and technicolour. I’m sick of all the white!
Kenny, I like the poster and the gloves look like they’re made of satin. Rather sexy.
I cannot make it, unfortunately, due to my MBA class, but keep up the breakfasts cause I hope to be able to join soon. Cheers. (Oh, and hope you’ve floated down to earth).
Floated down to earth, Eliza? Never! I shall always be daydreaming, heads in the clouds and all that jazz.
Pity you can’t make it but hope to catch you at future events. I am certain I can design a poster sexy enough to draw you in…
Hi Kenny, must drop a note to tell you that I like the two posters. Like Lydia said, they are of professional quality. And to know that you’re doing this for free, God bless you.
You’re really good at conceptualising designs. Are you in advertising?
Hi Yvonne!
Lydia mentioned you when we discussed doing an interview for her last book talk tomorrow. Is “The Sky is Crazy” coming out in a Malay edition? I think someone mentioned something to that effect to me.
And no, I’m not in advertising. (Anyone wants to offer me a job?) I’m coming out of a self-imposed break (in which I finally found time to do absolutely nothing) and I’m joining a recruitment consultancy next month.
Right now, I’m helping my CEO to set up the new office while juggling several assignments (design, illustrations, writing). And my BodyBalance instructor training next week.
This is payback for taking all the time off, hee hee.
Kenny Dear
Love your poster. Told you, you can do it!! (*Can’t comment much too busy deadline today die la….)
And that, ladies and gentlemen, would be the long-suffering, ever-smiling, always-lovely Nisa! My support choir, as it were.
Guess I’m not the only one with deadlines either…
Then I look forward to your next poster, that, from the other comments I’ve put together, will be sexy and all.
P.S. I’ll be heading out tonight for drinks. If you aren’t too tied down by deadlines, would ya like to grab a drink?
Er, well, not exactly. My next cover for an upcoming book will be just that, sexy. My next Breakfast Club poster should be like my prank call/text-messaging to Nisa — as if it were on drugs. Or maybe more propaganda-ish. Agitpop, anyone?
Or maybe it’ll just be slush. I don’t know.
P.S. Unsure for now since ze deadlines are doing a whole S&M number on me now, but let me know and I’ll keep me fingers crossed. A drink would be nice right about now. Email me the details (unless you want to leave your mobile no. here for all the sick cyberspammers…)
Kenny, you are brilliant as always. You knowlah, my criteria for judging posters/book covers. Will it make me pick the book up? Will this poster make me come to the Breakfast Club? (Of course I have to come lah…I’m talking.)
It will! So you’ve got a winner here.
“Will this poster make me come to the Breakfast Club? (Of course I have to come lah…I’m talking.)”
That just cracked me up! What if it turned out you were the humourous one and Lydia was the dark, evil one? Seriously though, guys, they are both funny and intelligent authors, so do come and meet them! *end commercial*
So glad I have your seal of approval. Sent you something else too, do look out for it.
aiyaa - comment salah tempat. here it goes again:
hahaha - i am excited also - must be there! you need a mak cik blur to walk around in the ring with a card? Count me in!
Blur? Surely not, Kak Teh? But how cool it would be to have an actual ring with you walking around waving a card: Authors Attack! Hahah…
What’s your email address?
Just emailed ya, brudda…
know wht…i just realized.. i havent commented yet! hahah…sorie sorie..hectic today at the office. i loved it! (dun think i ever told u i dun like any of the posters/banners u made right? hehe..). seriously ur ideas and creativity are flowing like nobody’s business.. =D
portfolio dude…portfolio…;o)
Okay, okay… But where do I find the time to create a portfolio when I still have projects to finish designing? Hahaha… you offering?
Have mailed you back.
You have a wonderful way with design, Kenny! And yes - the next poster in colour would be nice. Two or three fonts would be all right for a poster. Sometimes less is more!
Cool. Not sure about you guys, but I’m so gonna love the next poster, well, at least the designing of it…
For me, less is usually more. Just check out the length of my stories, hahaha…
kenny…. just to confirm, tomm’s (saturday)book launch is at times square or mid valley? i forgotten where is the venue already….
ok, got it… times square at 3 - 4…. i am sacrificing my movie at 2.25 to go … hahaha!
Thanks for coming, Zewt! I promise it will be worth your “sacrifice” — which film though, bro?
Creative idea out there Kenny. Well done!
Heya Kok!
Thanks, man. Appreciate the feedback. How’s Perth treatin’ ya?
nearly choked laughing!
so apt!
Don’t even joke about nearly choking while laughing, Sharon — who will let us know about all that goes on around the biblioworld then?
Still, glad you found this funny.
Ha ha ha….sometimes I wish I feel like going postal too. how come I dont have those moments wan? If it’s infectious, can you spread it to me?
This is one disease I don’t mind spreading, Marsha…
awesome work, really like the contrast in colour and the fonts chosen are a delight. you sure got potential, and maybe somemore…
hmm…lemme get around to how to make a nice and outstanding portfolio and i might just be able to help u compile one..;o)
Cutebanana,
Brother, haven’t heard from you in awhile, man. How’s life been since Chinese New Year. So sorry I couldn’t catch up with you but I was quite tied down when I was home in Malacca. Also, I had to rush back to PJ in quite a jiffy.
Anyway, glad you like the poster: “the fonts chosen are a delight” — not sure if everyone agrees with you but I’ll take a compliment anytime.
Yippeee!!! I’ll hold you to your word on that one, Spiffy. Heh heh heh. Today Klang Valley, tomorrow the World!
Perth? Hmmm…it’s way too hot at the moment. 40 degrees tomorrow. What do you think? haha!
40 degrees Celcius? Wow, how to survive? Hope you are drinking tons of water, bro. Don’t wait till you are thirsty. You are hearing this from a certified “sui tong” (water barrel). I drink at least 4 litres a day. My friends think I’m mad but at least I’m not dehydrated.
Kenny, believe your eyes, it’s 40 degrees celcius! haha! How to survive? Like you said, drink tons of water and stay in the library for freeeee air conditioning. Cheap skate right? haha! I don’t know whether the temperature will strike 42 or 43 degrees celcius or not. There’s a high chance it will. 4 litres a day? You sure? Then I think you really can be certified as the “sui tong” man.
Hey, I said 4 litres minimum. Most days 5 litres is nothing… But I do go to gym quite regularly, so it’s a must. Still, normal guys and girls shouldn’t let themselves go thirsty; by then too late — already dehydrate lah.
lolzz…now i really gotta help u make an outstanding portfolio. no rush, right? heheh..=P
Spiffy,
I wasn’t really serious, you know. But if you are, I wouldn’t mind. And no, no rush at all.
Danke, danke!
ah…not a problem, Kenny. it’ll be my pleasure to help you..gotta get some details from you tho. will get back to you on that..;o)
Okey dokey, maybe next week, yeah? This week promises to be killer what with my 3-day BodyBalance instructor training at one end… *breathes deeply, in, out*
hahaha…can can, i’ll let u settle ur training 1st..=)
Many, many thanks! Next round at Paandi’s is on me. (Though we might want to go somewhere new next time…)
4 litres minimum? Then I think you are not a normal “sui tong”. You are extra huge “sui tong”. haha! You going to gym regularly? Then you must be real FIT. Unlike me, I’m real FAT. Just an alphabet and it makes so much different. *sigh*
4 litres minimum? Then I think you are not a normal “sui tong”. You are extra huge “sui tong”. haha! You going to gym regularly? Then you must be real FIT. Unlike me, I’m real FAT. Just an alphabet and it makes so much difference. *sigh*
4 litres minimum? Then I think you are not a normal “sui tong”. You are extra huge “sui tong”.
Heh. That made me laugh out loud. Needed that after a long day. Thanks, Kok.
I can always be FITter or FATter, but mostly I’m glad I’m me. We should just love ourselves and work on being a better us… (Sounds like a gym jingle, dunnit? Hahaha.)
hahaha….Paandi’s or anywhere else is fine by me. but we shudn take so much indian/mamak food shud we? lolzz..=P
No, we shouldn’t. I think we’ve single-handedly sustained their business over the past few weeks…
lolzz…yeah dude…they’re gonna missed us if we don’t drop by anymore. ;o)
I guess we’ll do it for mamak/yum cha session, and eat at a real place afterwards. How’s that compromise? Wouldn’t want the place to close down due to lack of patronage from us, haha.
haha..tht’ll be a good idea. not that they dun have real food there..*ahem!* (we’re not advertising for Paandi’s in anyway…=P)
Let’s just hope we don’t get any stalkers the next time we eat/drink there…
But I don’t mind advertising for them: I love their thosai masala, masala tea, fresh cow’s milk… Yums… *smiles in utter contentment*
ahh..Kenny, YOU i don’t know..u’ll probly have some big fans of u there,waiting for ya.. me? i’m sure won’t have stalkers.. heheh…=P
alright, alright..ur making me hungry ady and its not lunch time yet. hahah..
Not “fan” stalkers, lah. Just the usual cyber-stalkers turned “real-live” stalkers. Had my fair share of experience with that. Sometimes when you put so much of yourself online, some of them think they “know” you, which is frightening, really.
Go lunch, go — I already had an early one. All this makan talk to blame, naturally. Not that I’m complainin’, heh heh.
woww…that’s real scary. i’ve never had any freaky experience like that..thank God! hehe.. ;o)
jst came back from lunch…lotsa hoo haa bout the earthquake in Indonesia. i missed the aftershock of the earthquake..apparently our office felt it. whew…!
Earthquake? What earthquake?
Okay, just googled it and read about it here. I didn’t feel a thing… The poor people, one after another.
yeah…it’s really terrible. sighh..=(
We just have to take time and pray the best for them, and time to be thankful for our own peace & quiet.
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