As unmanly as it sounds, I do love animals and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to have any of my pets kidnapped. But as much as I feel for the owner of this digital poster who lost his shih tzu, I just find it so hard to take him seriously.

He’s really serious about using the word, dognapping. He’s telling us that the dog’s name is Porntip? (HAHAHAHA!) Plus, he used a photo of Porntip with a googly-eyed, post-orgasmic smile that’s basically saying, “Yay, it’s fun being dognapped!”

Moreover, look at the actual page and read the write-up.

I don’t even have to comment on the typeface use to say that this is how bad design can really screw up the message you want to give out.

Seriously though, if this is for real, I do hope he finds his dog.

Kanye West has been all over the web lately with his public outbursts against Taylor Swift and his (hilariously) disrespectful remarks on the death of the late Patrick Swayze.

Among all the things he’s been doing, what amused me the most was his apology to Taylor, which he posted in his blog. In all caps, it wrote:

“I’M SOOOO SORRY TO TAYLOR SWIFT AND HER FANS AND HER MOM. I SPOKE TO HER MOTHER RIGHT AFTER AND SHE SAID THE SAME THING MY MOTHER WOULD’VE SAID. SHE IS VERY TALENTED! I LIKE THE LYRICS ABOUT BEING A CHEERLEADER AND SHE’S IN THE BLEACHERS!………………I’M IN THE WRONG FOR GOING ON STAGE AND TAKING AWAY FROM HER MOMENT!………………BEYONCE’S VIDEO WAS THE BEST OF THIS DECADE!!! I’M SORRY TO MY FANS IF I LET YOU GUYS DOWN!!!!! I’M SORRY TO MY FRIENDS AT MTV. I WILL APOLOGIZE TO TAYLOR 2MRW. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD! EVERYBODY WANNA BOOOO ME BUT I’M A FAN OF REAL POP CULTURE!!!! NO DISRESPECT BUT WE WATCHIN’ THE SHOW AT THE CRIBE RIGHT NOW CAUSE…WELL YOU KNOW!!! I’M STILL HAPPY FOR TAYLOR!!! BOOYAWWWW!!! YOU ARE VERY TALENTED!!!! I GAVE MY AWARDS TO OUTKAST WHEN THEY DESERVED IT OVER ME…THAT’S WHAT IT IS!!! I’M NOT CRAZY Y’ALL, I’M JUST REAL. SORRY FOR THAT!!! I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR TAYLOR AND I’M SINCERELY SORRY!!! MUCH RESPECT!!!

If you’re gonna deduce it simply from the way he wrote his message—from the SCREAMING ALL CAPS, the extremely long ellipses and the persistent exclamation marks!!!—he looks like an idiot.

What Kanye West just did is proof that there is a need for typography in this world. By adjusting spacing, using the proper symbols, punctuations and grids, typography ensures that the text is readable, legible and idiot-proof. Typography makes sure that you’re sending the right message (and not sounding like a douchebag) with your text.

So the next time you’re setting text in MS Word or Photoshop, think first before hitting that juicy “Caps Lock” button.

***

In the mean time, why don’t you try using the Kanye West Apology Generator.

Even comic creation can go through an innovation and deliver solid value. This isn’t really a new concept, but the comix builder is just mind-blowingly hilarious! Check out comixed.com to try it out.

Let me start with a funny, true story.

As you probably know, we moved into our new studio two weeks ago. To get to know my new neighborhood, I walked around the place and randomly talked to people asking them questions of all sorts. So, I met Rose, three different Jun’s, Mike and an unnamed security guard.

After I introduced myself, I asked for his name. His reply, “Borromeo.” Of course, that name was stitched to a patch over his uniform, which indicated that it was his surname. So, I asked again politely and jokingly for his real name.

He gave me this uneasy and hesitant face. I didn’t know what to expect.

After perhaps what seemed to be an hour of uneasy silence, he finally let go and revealed his darkest secret.

“I’m Birdie.”

In itself, Birdie’s already an awful, shameful name you could give your son. It gets even worse in his context.

Being a security guard, a protector of people, a harbinger of justice and a man of power, the name Birdie’s not gonna be easy for him. “Oh, Birdie, save me!” just doesn’t sound right.

The sad part here is that it’s not his fault.

On the other side, meet Sony Ericsson’s upcoming sexy phone, the Kiki. (If you didn’t laugh that means you’re not from the Philippines. Here’s what kiki means.)

If Sony Ericsson doesn’t plan to market this phone here in our country, then no problem. If they do however, like Birdie being a security guard, it’s not gonna be easy for them to do so.

“Can I text using your Kiki?”

“That’s a really cool Kiki you got there.”

“Oh, your Kiki’s so shiny and sexy. Can I touch it?”

Naming Brands isn’t as easy as it seems. It has to be researched and tested if it pronounces well. It has to reproduce well visually. It has to be associated with things you want to be associated with. Most importantly, it has to be taken in context.

What’s funny though is that Birdie and Kiki mesh well together.

This is a big, big mistake by United Airlines.

They broke a few guitars and in return, got a satirical music video with more than five million views (and counting) spreading across the world relaying to people of all sorts how uncaring their employees are and how much their service sucks. As hilarious as the video is, it’s definitely gonna do some serious damage.

They’ve probably been treating customers like this for a while. This time, it’s just too unfortunate that they messed with the wrong people.

Who wouldn’t want to receive some good ol’ tips to fill empty pockets?

I’m sure every single waiter, barista, haircutter, manager or employee of any kind would love that bonus. But why is the tip jar, the chalice that will hold the contents of this valuable motivator always hiding itself?

People seem to be ashamed to ask for tips. Tip jars are usually modestly snuck beside the counter, hidden amongst a stack of newspapers  or presented horribly with a pitiful amount of coins lying in the bottom. In such cases where people are doing such a half-assed job of asking, it’d be much better if they just threw them away and stop asking altogether.

If you’ll be asking for them anyway, better do it proud and loud. Do it shamelessly with style and personality. Make sure people know what you’re asking for and while you’re at it, give them an extra smile to take home with them.

Read the rest of this entry…

Brands need to brag.

If you’ve got the lowest-priced computers, the fastest and friendliest service center or the most luxurious hotel, you have to tell people about it. Otherwise, how will they know?

Bragging is perfectly fine. It’s nothing about boosting your brand’s ego; rather, it’s more of simply telling people where they can find services that they can benefit from. However, there’s one common and simple mistake that most brands do when they brag. Read the rest of this entry…

I’m Chinese and I was raised with the typical Chinese businessman mentality—go abroad, look for money-making opportunities, copy them, bring them home, make money, copy others again, prevent others from copying, and bring more money in. It’s already common knowledge in the world that the Chinese are notorious for making cheap knock-offs from really good brands.

Check these out:

The Original BYD T8

Mercedes Benz CLK

Geely GE Concept

Rollys Royce Phantom

Chinese automakers BYD (Build Your Dreams, seriously) and Geely have been blatantly ripping-off designs from Mercedes-Benz and Rolls Royce, two of the most prestigious auto brands in the world.

It’s shameful.

It’s undignified. 

But does it even matter? Read the rest of this entry…