by Ray Ally on March 8, 2010
Photos: Ray Ally
Last week the new look China Daily newspaper landed on my doorstep. Launched on March 1st to coincide with the opening of China’s National Peoples Congress in Beijing. The newspaper has made many new changes in editorial and content as well as implementing a bold new design.
China Daily is the official Chinese government English language newspaper launched in 1981. It has a circulation of over 300,000 and reaches 150 countries. The redesign makes a modern statement and refreshes the previous outdated and traditional image.
The most obvious feature is the new masthead. Replacing the old fashioned and crude serif font with a bolder, modern Futura sans serif font. The Chinese characters 中国日报 (Zhōngguó Rìbào), previously in red, have been reduced in size and play a secondary role beneath the English name. It reminds me a little of the Guardian, but that’s not a bad thing, as the redesigned Guardian did win the Newspaper Design of the Year in 2006 and 2008.
A new font has been specially designed for the newspaper, based on a traditional typeface, but given a modern feel to improve readability. Interestingly The Times in London, was the first newspaper to commission its own typeface back in 1931. Designed by Stanley Morrison, the font Times New Roman became an industry standard for newspapers and books around the world.
The layout of information inside the China Daily has been given a cleaner look, with more use of white space. This creates a more interesting and visually appealing page layout. Although this may sound theoretical to those not in the design industry, you can clearly see the difference when you compare the old design to the new one.
The new design looks good, is easier to read and is a huge improvement on the previous design. Although the new look brings China Daily into the 21st century, it won’t win any awards for its design and layout. As it still has a long way to go before it can sit alongside the innovative designs of the world class, Guardian or New York Times.
Surprising, at the recent Society of Newspaper Design Awards in 2009, the world’s best designed newspapers were from Moscow, Athens Paço De Arcos, Mexico City and Berlin. Take a look at the site and you’ll see how the best in the world do it. Combining modern design and layout, with powerful visual photography and illustration to communicate a story’s message.
China Daily has come a long way, but as the saying goes; “Even the journey of a thousand miles begins with one small step”. I think the newspaper has made a giant leap into the future, but still has many steps to take in becoming a truly world class newspaper.
by Ray Ally on March 3, 2010
Photo: Ray Ally
What do Lamborghini, Bugatti, and Aston Martin have in common in China? Well, apart from being the most luxurious sports cars in the world, they have all recently opened new showrooms in Beijing. These premises on Jinbao Street, are the largest flagships sites for the brands in Asia.
The obvious reason for opening in Beijing, are it’s the capital and political centre of China. It is also a favourite destination for China’s rich to shop. More importantly it’s the home of the most number of super rich people in the country. According to the Hurun Report there are 8,800 billionaires (US$15m) and 143,000 millionaires (US$1.5m) in Beijing, most owning at least two to five luxury cars.
In the current global recession most car owners are looking for more economic and fuel efficient options, or just not buying new cars. With sales down in the rest of the world, China is the opposite with booming car sales across the country. China’s wealthy elite are even trading up and looking for ever more exotic cars to buy.
Late last year I was interviewed by CNN on a story about one of Beijing’s most private clubs. An exclusive members only club for the sons of millionaires, who race high performance cars around Beijing’s race tracks.
These members drive Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Porsches but not just your bog standard range. Most of these cars are special edition or supercharged versions costing upwards of RMB 2m (US$285,000) to RMB 3m (US$428,000)
With all the world’s car brands looking to China for their growth, luxury car brands could be the most successful. China is now the number one or number two market for most car brands. Lamborghini sees China soon overtaking Italy, to become number two market behind the USA. Last year they sold around 80 units in China out of global sales of 2,000.
The traffic in Beijing is getting worse, yet car ownership in the city is on the rise. With a population of 17.5 million there are currently over four million cars on its roads. Despite this number rising by 2,000 new cars everyday you wont see many of these luxury cars on the streets of Beijing.
Only last month a Bugatti Veyron was spotted in Shanghai. The other drivers on the road, gave it a wide berth for fear of bumping into it. So if you see a luxury performance car in China, it will more likely be stuck in traffic, than roaring down the street at superfast speeds.
by Ray Ally on February 26, 2010
Empire State Building Turns Red and Yellow
The Chinese New Year Festival last 15 days so it has been rather quiet in China. I have also been on holiday so posting less frequently than normal. This Sunday is the Lantern Festival, which ends the Lunar New Celebrations so I should get back to posting more regularly.
Chinese New Year celebration have spread across Asia and now becoming more global. Originally these started in the China Towns of cities around the world like London, New York and San Francisco. However now the celebrations are becoming more mainstream and spreading out across countries.
In New York, the iconic Empire State Building just put on a special light show. It celebrated Chinese New Years Eve by changing its building lights to red and yellow representing the colours of China’s National flag.
Empire State Building lights on for Chinese New Year
The Empire State Building is lit with red and yellow lights in New York, the United States, on Feb. 16, 2010. The Empire State Building lit in red and yellow Tuesday night to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival.
Best Chopstick Food in Canada
The 2010 Winter Olympics has put Vancouver in the map for many people around the world. However for most Chinese, Vancouver is already a well-known destination as it has one of the largest immigrant populations of Chinese outside America.
Vancouver is constantly voted the best city to live in and is now voted to have the best Chinese food outside of China. I have never been to Vancouver but my Chinese wife has lived there for 6 months and definitely agrees.
Canada wins Chinese gold
Vancouver may be hosting the Winter Olympics, but it also seems to triumph in dumpling devouring. Over 38 meals in 12 restaurants, our indefatigable writer beholds the thrill of noodle pulling. (Warning: Don’t read this on an empty stomach)
Dog Food Off the Menu
While the best Chinese food may be in Vancouver, the Chinese government is now planning to ban the sale and eating of dog for in China. Eating dogs is a common practice especially in Southern China’s Guangzhou province where it is something of a speciality.
Several years back I was offered dog meat at a roadside food stand in Guilin. However this dog food was not already dead, but was a little live puppy. It was running around tied to a long rope and couldn’t have been more than a few months old. The stallholder picked him up by the scruff of its neck in one hand and had a meat cleaver in the other. He grinningly offered to chop it up and cook it fresh, but I obviously declined and decided not to eat at this place at all.
Eating cats, dogs could be outlawed
In a move prompted by calls of animal cruelty, legislation is being drafted to make eating cats and dogs illegal.
It may be months or a year before the draft is actually voted on by lawmakers, but the plan is to submit it to the legislature and State Council by April, according to the leader of the drafting team, Chang Jiwen, who is also director of the Social Law Research Department at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
by Ray Ally on February 11, 2010
Photos: Ray Ally
Chinese New Year is fast approaching as the moo of the Ox makes way for the roar of the Tiger. As the third sign in the Chinese Zodiac, it is a symbol of power and authority, which rules the other animals.
Over the past few weeks red lanterns and red and gold New Year decorations have gone up across Beijing as China prepares to go Tiger crazy.
Hoteliers, retailers and manufacturers have been making the most of this stripy animal, as it appears almost everywhere in advertising, promotions and decorations across the city.
The Tiger has been depicted in every medium from illustration, photography through to animated computer graphics. It’s animal styles range from traditional Chinese paper cut to cartoon animation and three-dimensional designs.
Though the Tiger is normally associated with being powerful, fierce even cruel, most depictions of the animal appear more cuddly, cute and playful.
One of the more creative expressions is the Tiger heads on the mannequins at Esprit. A unique and witty way to celebrate the year with clever with a merchandising display. However for sheer scale and size the LED billboard at Sanlitun Village shows a huge promotional tiger cartoon which is pretty cool.
New Year is a traditional time of gift giving for family and friends. It’s also a time where consumers spend more on big ticket items like cars, household appliances, but also clothing, dining and entertaining. So retailers are hoping that this cuddly cat captures the imagination and wallets of consumers over the holiday season.
There are five elements in the Chinese Astrological: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. So accordingly this year 2010, will be the Year of The Metal Tiger. Metal is also associated with gold, so it could mean an even more prosperous year. And with China already leaping ahead and set to become the number two economy in the world the Tiger has already arrived.
2010 will start with a big roar and looks set to be another strong year for China in the world economy. So I hope it’s a good year too for all my readers and wishing you a Happy Chinese New Year of The Tiger.
“Gong Xi Fa Cai!”
by Ray Ally on February 8, 2010
Photos: Ray Ally
Bottled water sales have dropped in the US due to the recession and consumer concerns about environmental issues of using plastic bottles. This has led manufacturers to look to Asia for growth, where demand for safe hygienic water is rising. The latest brand to enter China is Glacéau’s Vitaminwater, a fruity vitamin enriched drink with comes in a kaleidoscope range of colours and flavours.
From New York Now In Beijing, is the tagline being used at promotional stands around Beijing. In my office building last week the promotion drew a large crowd of young office workers eager to try the next new thing. All you had to do was spin the wheel and see what free flavour you could receive. My spin ended up on the mystery triangle, so I was lucky to get a free bottle, as well as Vitaminwater branded glass.
Glacéur Vitaminwater was originally launched in New York in 2000 and became the top selling enhanced water brand in the US. In 2007 it was sold to Coca Cola for US$4.2 billion in cash, to enhance its portfolio of non-carbonated brands. The brand went international in 2008 launching in the UK and Australia amongst others before coming to China at the end of last year.
The Vitaminwater brand has very strong look and feel, which has broken out of the ‘blue zone’ of typical water packaging. The use of black as a core brand colour allows the flavour and product colours to stand out, creating a striking impactful design used across its advertising and marketing materials.
The bottle shape is somewhat generic and the simple packaging has a medicinal feel to the label design. However, using bright candy colours creates a modern and fresh design that has an immediate shelf impact at point of sale. The product is aimed at a younger more fashion conscious consumer. So the packaging works attracting this trendy demographic, that wants to stand out from the crowd and be noticed.
However, despite the fresh packaging I am not sure that Vitaminwater is all that healthy. According to recent studies Vitaminwater contains 33 grams of sugar. While it may be a healthy alternative to a Sodas, as Coke has 39 grams of sugar, it’s a long way of having the pure quality of water. It also concerns me when the website has a section on ‘hydrate responsibly’. As it makes me think it can be all that good for you if consumed in large quantities.
The concept of Vitaminwater is good and will probably launch quite successfully in China, as consumer are always looking for something new. The drink tasted good and my colleagues were intrigued to try the other flavours, though the cost of the product sounded high. Selling for around RMB 15 yuan, compared with just RMB 3-5 yuan for a coke or bottle of water, positions Vitaminwater at the high end of the drinks market.
In the short term Vitamin Water tastes refreshing and looks good with its candy coloured packaging. However, long term the product might end up looking too sweet and tasting too sugary for Chinese consumers, looking for a healthy alternative to plain water.
by Ray Ally on January 30, 2010
Red and green Christmas decorations have only just come down across China, but are now being replaced by red and gold Chinese New Year decorations. Year by year in China, the biggest holidays in the western calendar are merging with the biggest holidays in the Chinese lunar calendar.
Plaza 66, Shanghai’s premier shopping centre has come up with a novel and creative way to approach this issue. A few weeks ago they had a huge gold tree and flower outside the complex to celebrate Christmas. When I went back this week the display had turned to red and gold the ubiquitous colours of Chinese New Year.
This two-in-one festive period is most evidently apparent at hotels and shopping centres, as retailers decorate their premises for the upcoming festival season. This year it’s actually a three-in-one as the Chinese New Year starts on the 14th February, which is also the western Valentines Day celebration.
The celebration of western holidays, including Christmas and Easter has become more popular among younger Chinese. Valentines Day is one of the biggest and has been widely adopted across China especially in the big cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
The growth is driven by an internet savvy Gen X/Y population (18-29+) in China, who want to experience a western culture. And is fuelled by retailers, restaurants and hoteliers who view this as a commercial opportunity to promote special Valentines Day events. Normally increasing the prices dramatically, but it doesn’t seem to stop the demand for these events among China’s 200+ million Gen X/Yers.
The three-in-one decorations outside Plaza 66 are probably the biggest you will see in on the Mainland. But then Shanghai is the skyscraper capital of China, so everything in the city is big – even the roses.
