WORKING Holiday in London

2009-01-26T06:19:00.004Z

I’m sorry for being quiet for a while.
I wasn’t sleeping, I’ve been quite busy indeed.

One of my dreams came true, I spent a year working full time at W+K Amsterdam.
I made many badges, did some work for Coke and Nike Women, and met lots of interesting and talented people there.

Then I went home to chase another dream - to get this story published…
and I made it! I feel blessed to be able to draw what I imagine, to share what I experience. Thank you very much for your support and encouraging words!

I’d definitely love to share my new adventures with you here soon.

If you're outside Hong Kong and interested in the book, you may order it here

London 417

2008-06-21T12:41:00.001+01:00

They seem excited, but I'm the most excited of all!

London 416

2008-06-21T12:38:00.003+01:00

London 415

2008-06-21T12:37:00.001+01:00

Keith called me the next morning as if he knew I drew them.
I organized and sent them the drawings immediately after the phone call.

Rabbit: Keith never said he wanted to see your drawings!

London 414

2008-06-21T12:34:00.003+01:00

I was called to see different people in W+K office everyday while I was in amsterdam.
All of them were very nice. I like them a lot!
One night back to London, I felt like drawing.
At the end, I stayed up all night finishing
"My Journey to W+K Amsterdam".

London 413

2008-06-21T12:33:00.002+01:00

Wow! I can't wait, though on the phone only.

London 412

2008-06-21T12:31:00.001+01:00

London 411

2008-06-01T22:30:00.002+01:00

Someone finds me useful eventually!

London 410

2008-06-01T22:27:00.002+01:00

I get Lionel's email immediately after the call.
He has attached the picture he used to say a little something
about himself when he first joined AKQA.
Sweet! Although this is just a long-distance call,
I feel closer with him than with many people I've met in real.

London 409

2008-06-01T22:26:00.001+01:00

Long-distance phone call, London, San Francisco ...
it sounds to be something cool;
however, the real picture is messy hair, pajamas and bare feet.

London 408

2008-06-01T22:24:00.002+01:00

Agency: AKQA San Francisco

London 407

2008-05-26T04:01:00.002+01:00

During my stay in Amsterdam,
I've been seeing lots of people and reading lots of emails.
There is so much information to digest. I'm exhausted!

With infinite courage, I use my last bit of energy to leave
a voicemail to Keith from W+K at Schiphol airport.
( My voice gets lower and lower... I feel embarrassed )

London 406

2008-05-26T04:00:00.002+01:00

He is serious!
He even searched for my work on the internet. I'm touched!

London 405

2008-05-26T03:59:00.002+01:00

London 404

2008-05-26T03:58:00.002+01:00

It's bad news!
But I really appreciate that Penny hasn't forgotten me as a team-mate.

London 403

2008-05-26T03:56:00.001+01:00

oh no, He is the guy staring at me in the lobby.
I regret having rudely stared at him back.

London 402

2008-05-26T03:54:00.003+01:00

Agency: Cayenne
I'm early, I wait in the lobby.

London 401

2008-05-26T03:49:00.005+01:00

Strawberryfrog was always mysterious to me.
The mystery isn't solved after this visit.
Let it remains wrapped in mystery.

London 400

2008-05-26T03:48:00.002+01:00

Agency: Strawberryfrog

London 399

2008-05-21T23:36:00.001+01:00

As suggested by Astrid, I go to the office again to
leave my books and portfolio before leaving Amsterdam.
She'll show them to ECDs when they are less busy.
I run into this Adidas guy at the reception.
"Again?", I guess he is Richard... is he?

London 398

2008-05-21T23:35:00.001+01:00

Astrid brings me to say Hello to Richard.
I just show him my sketchbook.
He keeps rubbing the legs of my landlord!

London 397

2008-05-21T23:33:00.001+01:00

To be honest, I hesitated to approach 180 when I read
what's needed to work there from their website:
three recent references and a list of international creative awards.
I'm afraid of those who always mention award winning.

Luckily Astrid was very friendly in emails.
When she is seeing my portfolio,
she yawns without incentive to hide.
She explains that she is just too full after lunch,
not being bored by my work.
This makes her even more friendly in person as you can only
be yourself when you're with real friends.

London 396

2008-05-21T23:32:00.001+01:00

Astrid is the Creative Talent Manager of 180.
She must be brilliant as she is able to manage such an abstract concept
- CREATIVE TALENT.
Both she and Keith at W+K have told me that they are good friends,
they must be very good friends then!

London 395

2008-05-21T23:31:00.001+01:00

They are all in Adidas!

London 394

2008-05-21T23:29:00.002+01:00

Agency: 180

London 393

2008-05-20T05:37:00.001+01:00

Dagmar is an art director.
She is the first creative who I've met in Europe also loves Japanese Ad. I'm a big fan too!

London 392

2008-05-20T05:36:00.002+01:00

Alvaro is the creative director of Nike Team.
He is in Nike from head to foot!
oh, I've better to hide my Adidas watch.

London 391

2008-05-20T05:35:00.002+01:00

Because of global warming, polar bears keep swimming
in water as he can't find any iceland for landing.
From Asia to Europe, I'm really tired ...
I wonder whether there is any wonderland for creatives in this world?

London 390

2008-05-20T05:34:00.001+01:00

London 389

2008-05-20T05:32:00.002+01:00

- He tells me " We want to make things, that's why Al and me are here."
I must speak out this time ...

London 388

2008-05-20T05:28:00.003+01:00

I'm not allowed to draw John ...
so I'm writing the result of our meeting.
- To my surprised, he said my English is good, I feel less pressure to speak English in Amsterdam than in London.

- When he's seeing my work, he said he worked in design, he loved to make everything by himself too.
He said " You're the kind of art director we want."
I want to say " You're the kind of ECD I want. "

- When he has seen all my work, he showed me some of their work too. Same as W+K London, they like to make books for presentations too.
He said "Yes! We love books!"
I want to say "Yes! I love books too!"
Before leaving Hong Kong, I've collected 13 big boxes of art books in the office.

London 386

2008-05-20T05:27:00.004+01:00

Jet-lagged John Norman and Joakim

London 387

2008-05-20T05:27:00.003+01:00

London 385

2008-05-20T05:24:00.002+01:00

London 384

2008-05-20T05:23:00.002+01:00

Al has a very nice and genuine smile.
He doesn't talk much, but such a simple sentence makes me happy.
He's refined in manner, like a noble.

London 383

2008-05-20T05:22:00.003+01:00

I'm arranged to see the ECDs by their elegant and caring PA- Verity.
She looks worried and tells me that my whole body is pulled by the heavy bag, she even demonstrates it, ha!

London 382

2008-05-20T05:21:00.002+01:00

Keith is trying to find more people to see my portfolio.
What a big cup of tea... just like using Facial Steamer...

London 381

2008-05-20T05:20:00.001+01:00

Keith is the recruiter.
He stands upright.
He should be an upright citizen, I guess.

London 380

2008-05-20T05:18:00.002+01:00

Agency: Wieden + Kennedy Amsterdam

London 379

2008-05-18T18:59:00.001+01:00

San Francisco? I'm no fool!
I try to challenge his sincerity.
( I'm still in the shadow of the bad experiences in Edinburgh )

London 378

2008-05-18T18:57:00.003+01:00

Amsterdam is awesome!
Even youth hostel is cooler than anywhere else.

We? I don't know him!
Am I in the same category with him? Gosh!

London 377

2008-05-18T18:55:00.001+01:00

I spend the whole morning to locate the four offices.
Oh, I see this even though it's not the Red Light District here.
Well, she's not attractive.

London 376

2008-05-18T18:53:00.002+01:00

Smoke second-hand weed, relaxing!

London 375

2008-05-16T01:06:00.001+01:00

London 374

2008-05-16T01:04:00.002+01:00

To my surprise, Paul hasn't forgotten to pick such
a little people out after so many months.
He is quiet. He gives a gentle smile and says "good"
when he sees work he likes.
He suggests me to go there for a couple of weeks
when I come back from amsterdam.

London 373

2008-05-16T01:03:00.002+01:00

Small company. Big People.

London 372

2008-05-16T01:01:00.001+01:00

London 371

2008-05-15T07:00:00.001+01:00

I got another email.

Interesting, I like him!
I took physics, chemistry and biology at A-levels,
I majored Economics and Finance at university,
then started as an art director after graduation.

London 370

2008-05-15T06:52:00.004+01:00

I sent an email to Steve Henry few weeks ago.
I wanted to tell him the reason why I didn't go to TBWA after W+K
as what he suggested.
I even made a gutsy request...

Oh, he replies me!!!!

London 369

2008-05-15T06:51:00.003+01:00

I have had enough hard times outside.
Now it's his turn to step on me. Annoying!

(you may wonder "who is he?"
I had the same question "WHO IS HE?")

London 368

2008-05-15T06:46:00.002+01:00

"What? after all those bad experiences in Edinburgh,
you still want to go to Amsterdam?
You've been to many interviews in London already,
so what, nothing comes up! Do you know why?
I really don't understand you, you're still like
a fresh graduate after working for some years.
Do you know how many more months you could survive
on your saving? Then you'll have to go back to Hong Kong!
What's wrong with you?..."

One values the results, the other one values the experiences;
One is practical, the other one has dreams.

Rabbit: The problem is someone doesn't know to respect others!

London 366

2008-05-12T00:49:00.006+01:00

I write this email to a friend first.

London 367

2008-05-12T00:49:00.005+01:00

Then I write to Gerry talking about the money concern politely.
Again, He disappears!

It's like a benefit acrobatics.
He will never know how bad I felt!

London 365

2008-05-12T00:48:00.003+01:00

London 364

2008-05-12T00:47:00.001+01:00

When I return to London, I get Gerry's email.

London 363

2008-05-12T00:46:00.001+01:00

I watch him enjoying his decent-sized dinner.
He tells me this the moment he asks the waitress for the bill.

I feel sick. So sick that I'm able to vomit a pineapple fried rice
for him to take away as night snack.

London 362

2008-05-12T00:43:00.005+01:00

Gerry text me that evening.
He would like me to work on a tv spot with one of their copywriters.
He suggested us to meet.

This guy claims to be so busy that he has to
go back to the office after dinner.
I suggest to have a quick drink at pub.
He picks a Thai restaurant,
he orders quite a lot of food.
Isn't he in a hurry?

He takes a laptop with not much power.
(It sleeps after showing just two 30 seconds tv spots)
Aren't we meeting up in order to know more about each other's work?

London 361

2008-05-12T00:39:00.009+01:00

Another song by Beyond.

lyrics:
Where does the road ahead go?
Who comes along with me?
There is no guide, I have to find out the hard way.
Following dreams is like moth flying into fire,
are there some crazy like me?
It's getting dark and cold, I try my best to hide.

How many dreams have you followed naively?
How many dreams have you given up dejectedly?
Facing disappointment with silence.
it hurts in my heart of hearts.

London 360

2008-05-12T00:20:00.011+01:00

After Gerry said "IF we will be able to win a pitch in MARCH,
we MAY hire." ( he said something different in email page 1 page 2 )
no matter how he praised for my work, none of his words could get into my ears.

Edinburgh isn't beautiful anymore.
I'm cold. I want to go home!

London 359

2008-05-12T00:19:00.003+01:00

London 358

2008-05-12T00:17:00.004+01:00

How comes Managing Director is here?

London 357

2008-05-12T00:16:00.002+01:00

London 356

2008-05-12T00:13:00.002+01:00

Well, I told myself I came to London all the way from Hong Kong,
Going to Edinburgh is relatively easy.

He replied me immediately,
Then i bought the tickets and went to Edinburgh.

London 355

2008-05-12T00:10:00.004+01:00

Don't forget Edinburgh too!
Michael said there are many new artists.
Gerry from Leith left me message before,
shouldn't miss this chance!

Both Gemma and Michael reminded me to ask them
to pay for the tickets to Edinburgh.
I emailed Gerry about this ... no reply.

London 354

2008-05-11T00:46:00.001+01:00

Some of the best ones will see me - yippee!
It seems that they are more friendly and efficient.
I like it more as they don't refer you to PA to find a time to meet.
Go get the ticket to fly to Amsterdam!

London 353

2008-05-11T00:45:00.002+01:00

Agency: Cayenne

London 352

2008-05-11T00:44:00.002+01:00

Agency: 180

London 351

2008-05-11T00:43:00.002+01:00

Agency: Wieden + Kennedy

London 350

2008-05-11T00:42:00.002+01:00

I send again after some more research.
I heard from their Amsterdam Office finally!

London 349

2008-05-11T00:40:00.002+01:00

Agency: Strawberry Frog

I just wanted to try.
I didn't expect he will reply me in person!
Oh, no, I thought he's in Amsterdam.
I don't even have the visa to go to the U.S.

London 348

2008-04-29T05:53:00.005+01:00

I was told by different people that Amsterdam was the real creative city
since my first job in advertising. After knowing Kesselskramer,
I was more certain that it must be an interesting place.
If I'm as unusual as they said, I want to try such a place with more possibilities.

London 347

2008-04-29T05:51:00.001+01:00

It almost made me cry, it's so touching!
Can you imagine an art director can spend the time and effort
to write such a long email to encourage another art director from another country?

London 346

2008-04-29T05:50:00.002+01:00

Two days later, I got Nick's email.

London 346

2008-04-29T05:48:00.001+01:00

Simon advised me to send my drawings of creative directors to more
creative directors in order to get the chance to show my book.
He even writes out a draft for me on the spot.

I believe that there must be places more suitable for me.
Amsterdam... I want to try.

London 345

2008-04-29T05:47:00.003+01:00

Simon and Nick gave me lots of good advice.
I manage to move forward now!
I really appreciate all the help!!

London 344

2008-04-29T05:46:00.003+01:00

" It's lonely to be invincible! " - John Hegarty

(*It was 12p.m., almost lunch time )

London 343

2008-04-29T05:45:00.001+01:00

On the way to Simon and Nick's room,
Simon said in low voice " John Hegarty "
John seems to be deep in mediation.

London 342

2008-04-29T05:44:00.001+01:00

Oh, my rabbit t-shirt, he must be Simon!
I feel shy when I see someone wearing my design.
I'm not narcissistic enough.

London 341

2008-04-29T05:42:00.003+01:00

As a visitor, I'm given such a warm help,
it's like back to home.

London 340

2008-04-28T01:51:00.005+01:00

After seeing Gemma, I asked for help from Simon on my portfolio.
Simon was the blogger behind Scamp and a creative at BBH.

London 339

2008-04-28T01:50:00.008+01:00

I tried to forget my work experience in Hong Kong.
I didn't mind to be treated as placement in London.

I remember when I was new to this industry, I just gave all my effort and time. As a result, I took most.
When one gains more experiences, ego boosts so much that one has less place for new knowledge.
Therefore, I like this "green" me more!

London 338

2008-04-28T01:48:00.002+01:00

Headhunter Gemma read my blog,
she did remember which creative directors I saw.
She then asked me about my work experiences in Hong Kong in detail.

London 337

2008-04-28T01:47:00.004+01:00

London 336

2008-04-28T01:44:00.002+01:00

The first step is to update my portfolio.
oh, no, I left Wieden in such a hurry that I didn't take the Yakult files.
Ian couldn't see the computer I used in the office anymore.
He sent me some bits and pieces of the old files I did in his computer.
I'm an idiot!

London 334

2008-04-28T01:43:00.009+01:00

Everyone except me goes to work after the holidays.

London 335

2008-04-28T01:43:00.008+01:00

With lots of encouragement from over the world,
I'm able to keep on going now!

London 333

2008-04-28T01:41:00.001+01:00

London 332

2008-02-18T01:39:00.003Z

Started with the Yakult X'mas lunch,
I have a happy and peaceful Christmas in London this year!

London 331

2008-02-18T01:36:00.002Z

Ian wonders whether Michael always plays his music to guests.
Michael says it's the first time.
It's my honor!

What a special christmas!

London 330

2008-02-18T01:34:00.002Z

I can't believe that I've met someone who is so super!
Ian is too generous.
Michael doesn't mind to be put on a par.
We exchange a contented smile!

London 329

2008-02-18T01:33:00.002Z

While listening to Michael's music,
I feel like being taken to another world which I've never been to.
I don't really know how to describe this ... I'm charmed.

London 328

2008-02-18T01:32:00.004Z

It's Michael's music!
He said he is a one man band.
He made the music all by himself. wow!
These CDs look so thin and light,
I'm sure they're heavy with this CD's (Michael) years of painstaking effort, thoughts and feelings.

London 327

2008-02-18T01:29:00.002Z

What music is this?

London 326

2008-02-18T01:24:00.003Z

The Hackney neighbors, Ian and I, stay.
After saying " It's great to have friends around!",
Michael clear the table and then does the washing quietly.

Two lazybones watch creative director doing housework
with no intention to help.

London 325

2008-02-18T01:21:00.004Z

We've been eating non-stop from 1p.m. to 7p.m.
Everyone is so satisfied.
Some of the team have already left on full stomach.
Wow! Penny, Ian and Michael are still eating and chatting.

London 324

2008-02-18T01:16:00.004Z

It seems that we'll never be able to finish all the food on the table.
It seems that they'll never run out of conversation too.
Someone suggests Michael to play his guitar
and sing us christmas songs,
he gives a shy smile to refuse.

London 323

2008-02-18T01:15:00.003Z

London 322

2008-01-29T11:19:00.002Z

Everyone is supposed to be cooking different things.
Michael is responsible for the main course.
Obviously, the fatigued potato masher has sent “help!" eye contact
to the wrong target audience!

London 321

2008-01-29T11:16:00.001Z

London 320

2008-01-29T11:15:00.001Z

The team reaches Michael’s music room successful!
We are so excited to touch things like kids.