Rethinking Institutions

October 11, 2015 Kenneth Tay

Our Lounges are about more than money and banking - they are designed to be places where our customers can relax and local communities come together. Find out more at http://virg.co/lounges They are all part of our ambition to be a very different kind of bank - one that makes everyone better off.

...Virgin Money Lounge caught my eye. It is a service that takes care of your personal needs, not just the functional, routine banking needs. It is a place to work and relax, get financial advice, join networking events, etc. It is even a place where you can leave your kids at without worry. It does all this while reinforcing the typology of a bank as a safe haven, an institution you can trust, accomplished through a relevant physical presence.

Thoughts on the MagicBand and Air Travel

March 16, 2015 Kenneth Tay

“In fact, it’s called the paradox of choice: You make people happier not by giving them more options but by stripping away as many as you can.”

— Cliff Kuang, Wire

Original Article: Disney's $1 Billion Bet on a Magical Wristband | WIRED

Was reading the article on WIRED.com about Disney's MagicBand and how it created seamless transitions before, during and after your experience at Disneyland that greatly enhanced your experience, allowing you to focus on enjoying and eliminating as many barriers to it as possible. As I was reading it, I also kept drawing a parallel to the airline industry and what airlines could do to provide this seamless, almost magical experience.

From my research into airline brands in a project I was working on last term, I realized that airlines have so much potential to expand their service offering beyond the flight experience. There are many airlines with an already good brand reputation and each has its own loyal following, and they could leverage on that, providing services that transcend beyond the cockpit of the plane. This could also open up new revenue streams that help ease the pressure placed on them with fuel costs etc.

Perhaps airport security organizations like the TSA could take a cue from Disney's MagicBand, to provide a seamless service and experience that we are so sorely missing, especially the mess that is the airports today.

Karl Lagerfeld

December 18, 2014 Kenneth Tay

Outspoken, in demand and still at the top of his game, fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld talks to Monocle’s editor in chief Tyler Brûlé about the industry, the media and why Berlin isn’t as good as it used to be.

“It’s too dangerous to say it was better before. It wasn’t better, it’s just different. It’s up to us to adjust to our times. The times are not supposed to adjust to our passé taste. ”

— Karl Lagerfeld

Was watching Monocle's interview with Karl Lagerfeld while on my flight to Melbourne. I must say, one of the better designer interviews I've watch in quite a while, touching on topics like the survival of print, culture in Europe, companies on social media, etc.

I've always been a big fan of Chanel's classy, french chic design language and while I knew who Lagerfeld was prior to this, this interview introduced me to his distinct point of view, which is one that I truly admire. And a lot of the points he talks about I'm in full subscription of.

Quote of the Week

June 1, 2014 Kenneth Tay

“I think the world doesn’t need another chair or another piece of furniture. But I think that we all need, and we all like, to have new stories that give us emotions.”

— Renato Preti, President of Discipline

via an interview with Monocle