Kate Anderson Copywriting

Copywriting and Social Media Management

Chung Wah Magazine

Design For Life

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For the past three years, Tse Yin Chang has been working her creative magic to help produce the Chung Wah Association’s flagship magazine. Tse Yin spoke to Kate Anderson about how she came to be involved with the Chung Wah Magazine, and what led her to choose a career as a graphic designer.

“Like most freelance designers, you’ve always got one eye open looking for more work to help your business grow. I remember browsing through Gumtree one day and I came across an ad the Chung Wah Association had placed for a graphic designer,” explains Tse Yin.

“At the time I was looking to expand my freelance business, so I enquired, popped along for a chat, showed them my portfolio and ended up getting the job. I guess it was a question of right time, right place.”

As a web and graphic designer, Tse Yin works with images and text to create material that is visually appealing, be it to convey a message or promote a product. On any given day she can be working on the layout for a magazine, designing a new website or working on branding solutions, such as creating a logo.

“Basically it’s my job to make things look good,” she says with a smile. “Okay, I’m just joking; it’s not quite that simple.

“I’ll usually be given a brief with a specific outcome that needs to be achieved, or a message that needs to be conveyed. As a designer I have to figure out the best solution.

“I’m a visual-thinking problem solver. Of course it’s not just about making something look good.”

Tse Yin began her career working as a web designer for an advertising agency, before setting up her own business in 2005. She also works with Western Australia’s popular music festival, Fairbridge Festival, volunteering her design skills.

“I put a lot of time and effort into my graphic design work for Chung Wah. It’s not my full-time job; I’m a partial volunteer. But whether I’m getting paid or working for free, I believe that what I produce reflects on my skills and professionalism. So I’ll always give 110 per cent.”

Tse Yin was also responsible for the Chung Wah Association’s new look website, which went live earlier in the year. It’s proved to be a huge success, both in terms of visitor traffic and feedback.

When touching upon the skills needed to pursue a career in graphic or web design, Tse Yin says you don’t necessarily need to have a formal education to break into the field. But for those of you just finishing school, a design degree will provide you with the opportunity to meet and work with other up-and-coming designers, as well as mix with cool creative folk and get access to design resources and guidance from professional tutors.

“I never went to design school. In fact, I have a commerce degree! But I learned by reading books, practising my craft and working in the field for free to build up my portfolio.

“What you really need to become a good designer is practise, practise, practise. It’s extremely important to have an impressive portfolio of work to show off your artistic fair and creative eye. You won’t get a job, paid or otherwise, without one.

“Oh, and don’t think you have to be great at drawing to be a good graphic designer either, because you don’t. Which is great, because my drawing skills are pretty much limited to stick figures!”

10 things NOT to say to a graphic designer

“Can you make it look like this, but better?”

“But my target market is everybody.”

“I don’t really have a design idea yet, but can you tell me how much it would cost?”

“I love the logo, but can you just make it pop a bit more?”

“I love the design, but can you do another 5 or 6 and come back to me with them all?

“Can you jazz it up a little?”

“Can you do lots of versions? I’ll know what I want when I see it.”

“We haven’t finished writing the copy, but can you design a draft?”

“You’re the designer, you’ll know what to do.”

“Can you bold and underline all the text so it stands out?”

Article originally written for and published in the Chung Wah Magazine, volume 24 July 2015

Chung Wah Magazine: A Street Celebration With Style

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A street celebration with styleThere’s nothing quite like a good celebration to bring people and communities together, especially free community events. This year I had the opportunity to experience my first ever Chinese New Year festival, when I popped along to Northbridge for the Chung Wah Association’s family-friendly one-day street celebration.

Now Perth, as I’ve discovered during my relatively short time here, is a wonderfully diverse multicultural city. And the Chinese community plays a big part in its growing diversity. For Chinese people, the New Year is the most important date of the lunar calendar and a major festival for most Australian cities, Perth included.

Sichuan Opera Fire Breathing
Sichuan Opera Fire Breathing

Street parades, with lion dancing, firecrackers and food stalls, are a big part of these celebrations. And given the importance of New Year, the festivities, organised by the Chung Wah Association, certainly did the Chinese community proud. Colourful, fun and entertaining, it’s fair to say that Perth’s Chinese community certainly knows how to celebrate in style!

In true Perth fashion, the weather on the day was sunny and warm (although thankfully not as hot as last year’s 41 degree heat I’m told!) with people of all ages out to have a good time, enjoy the pleasant weather and help the city’s Chinese migrants usher in the Year of the Goat. With over 100 stalls selling food and drink and a range of products and services, it was fun to mingle with the crowds on James Street and soak up the lively atmosphere. I especially enjoyed the multi-cultural entertainment – even, dare I admit it, the Morris dancing! But as fun as the daytime festivities were, for me the best was yet to come.

Chinese Mask Changing
Chinese Mask Changing

The day was brought to a close with a multicultural concert at Northbridge Piazza. A treat for both the eyes and the ears, like the rest of the crowd I was in awe of the amazing performances. I loved the lion dance; a traditional Chinese dance performed to bring good luck and fortune, and to scare away evil spirits.

The concert also included the show-stopping Chinese mask changing and fire breathing, and the eye-catching Sichuan Kung Fu tea act, which involves pouring tea from an elaborate long-spouted teapot. For me, a Western woman who grew up in a relatively small village in England, this was my first opportunity to experience traditional Chinese culture.

The Chinese New Year Fair left me entertained, educated and much more culturally aware. I felt it was the perfect opportunity to showcase Chinese culture, and perhaps most importantly, allow as many people as possible to learn more about China.

8 fun facts about Chinese New Year

Sichuan Kung Fu Tea Act
Sichuan Kung Fu Tea Act
  • The date changes every year. Chinese New Year is determined by the Chinese lunar calendar. Which means Chinese New Year will always fall between 21 January and 20 February.
  • During the Chinese New Year red envelopes are exchanged, which contain cash. Older people give envelopes to younger people, while bosses are known to give out red envelopes to their employees.
  • It’s a popular festival in the UK. Over 300,000 people take part in the celebrations across the capital.
  • The period just before Chinese New Year is the busiest travel time of the whole year. Everyone that can goes home to celebrate with their families.
  • Every Chinese New Year brings with it a new animal zodiac year. 2014 was the Year of the Horse, this year is the Year of the Goat, and next year it will be the Year of the Monkey.
  • The traditional Chinese New Year celebration lasts for a whopping 15 days.
  • The colour red is said to be a lucky colour. Hence the reason why decorations are always red.
  • It’s a big no-no to wash your hair on the first day of Chinese New Year. Apparently some Chinese people believe doing so means washing away your good luck and fortune for the year ahead.

Article published in Chung Wah Magazine, volume 23 April 2015

Chung Wah Magazine: Asian Cinema From a Western Perspective

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EntertainmentAsian movies have been influencing the Western film industry since the 1960s. For over 50 years Hollywood has been looking to the East and foreign cinema for inspiration, remaking and reimagining some of Asia’s most popular movies.

For Asian films, a Hollywood makeover can be both helpful and harmful in equal measures. Not least because of linguistic and cultural differences, most Western remakes fail to capture the charm and essence of the film upon which they are based. Getting lost in translation would seem to be an unavoidable side effect. Most Western adaptations of classic Hong Kong, Korean or Japanese films fall considerably short in their efforts to emulate the originals. Remakes rarely outshine their inspiration. But perhaps that is as it should be.

Still, however bad their Hollywood makeover may be, there is an upside – and it’s a significant one. What once may have been deemed inaccessible to mainstream Western audiences, more and more moviegoers are now seeking out original Asian films, thereby opening them up to a whole new audience. Original language Chinese films, complete with subtitles, are increasingly appealing to more than just the art house crowd; foreign language films are becoming less, well, foreign.

East Asia has become a global player on the cinematic world stage and their influence on the Western film industry is undeniable. Most Western audiences will be familiar with Asian cinema through martial arts and Kung Fu, fronted by key players like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. But there is so much more to Asian films than brilliantly choreographed martial arts action sequences.

The first Asian movie to get the Hollywood treatment was the Japanese-language film Seven Samurai in 1954. The story, about villagers who hire a group of freelance samurai to protect their village from armed bandits, was remade for a Western audience six years later. The Magnificent Seven starred Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner, and to this day is widely regarded as one of the best westerns of all time.
Fifty-four years later and East Asian filmmakers remain as influential as ever on Western cinema.

So let’s take a look at a few East Asian classic movies worth checking out, and their Western interpretations…

The-Ring-2002Ring

Based on a best-selling novel by Kôji Suzuki, when it was released in 1998, Ring was the highest grossing horror movie in Japanese history. The story of a journalist who sets out to investigate a cursed videotape, dubbed the “New Asian Horror” Ring was given a Hollywood makeover in 2002. Known for its creepy visuals, by 2010 the American “J-Horror” remake became the highest grossing horror remake in movie history, grossing over $249 million.

Infernal Affairs

Widely regarded as the cream of Hong Kong crime-thrillers, this character-centric movie was released in 2002 and centres around a police officer who goes undercover to infiltrate a gang. Infernal Affairs was so popular it spawned a prequel and a sequel. In 2006, acclaimed Hollywood director Martin Scorsese remade the movie for Western audiences. The Departed starred Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio and went on to win four Oscars.
TheLakeHouse

II Mare

A beautiful little Korean film released in 2000, this romantic drama tells the story of a man and a woman who live in the same house but two years apart. They establish a romantic friendship by communicating through letters. II Mare was the inspiration for the equally sweet The Lake House in 2006 starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves.

Shall we Dance?

A successful but bored accountant finds happiness through taking ballroom dancing lessons. This delightful award-winning Japanese movie won 14 Japanese Academy Awards. The American version of the same name was a somewhat loose remake. Starring Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon and Jennifer Lopez, although charming in its own right, it fails to capture the magic of the original.
The Eye

The Eye

A Hong Kong-Singaporean horror film that has all the characteristics of a good chiller; like most Asian flicks of this genre The Eye combines just the right amount of atmospheric tense horror, which Asian film makers seem to have such a flair for. After receiving a cornea transplant a young blind woman starts to see ghosts. Jessica Alba starred in the 2006 remake, also called The Eye, funnily enough.

Bangkok Dangerous

A Thai crime thriller about a deaf-mute assassin-for-hire, who eventually gives up his killer ways for the love of a good woman.Although long on style but short on substance, what it does right – exquisite photography, fancy editing and music – it does exceedingly well. The first movie to be directed by The Pang Brothers, they went on to direct the American remake too, featuring Nicholas Cage.

Article published in Chung Wah Magazine, volume 21 November 2014

The Professional Advantage – Tips To Help You Get Ahead

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Group of business people discussing businessissuesWe’ve all heard the saying to be successful you need to be professional. But what does being professional actually mean?

Well, to some it might mean dressing smartly for a job, while other people might take it to mean having degrees and certifications or simply maintaining a professional attitude at work by being reliable, respectful and competent.

Regardless of how you interpret it, professionalism is important if you want to be a success in life, as much as in your career.

But how does one go about being professional and engaging in professionalism? Professionalism encompasses a number of common attributes; these are but a few of them.

Follow the dress code

Unless you work in a bank or have some high-flying corporate job, you don’t necessarily have to wear a business suit to be professional. Simply follow the dress code that comes with the job. However, whatever you do, never ever, under any circumstance, under estimate the importance of personal hygiene. Showing up sloppily dressed, with unkempt hair isn’t acceptable.

Be punctual

In other words, don’t be late. If your job starts at 9a.m., don’t rock up at five minutes past! Ideally aim to be at work 15 minutes before you’re due to start. And don’t take advantage of lunch breaks either. An hour means an hour.

Own up to your own mistakes

At the end of the day, we’re all human. And that means we make mistakes. But a true professional believes in accountability, and will take ownership of their successes and failures. Be honest and have integrity.

Get the job done

And that means staying focused. Your productivity will suffer if you get side tracked. Write a “to do list” for the day and keep focused on your responsibilities. And avoid unnecessary distractions, like logging on to Facebook and engaging in office gossip. Leave browsing the Internet and attending to personal matters for your lunch break.

Be polite and respectful

Manners go a long way. Being respectful and polite will make a significant impact on everyone you come into contact with, whatever their position and role. Have respect for others if you want that respect to be returned. These attributes will provide you with longer lasting working relationships.

Keep learning

Okay, so you already have the knowledge and skills to help you do your job well. Now all you need to do is not let them become out dated. Knowledge comes with learning, and skill comes with experience. It’s important to keep developing and improving. By keeping your skills up-to-date you’ll continue to deliver good work. And don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, either.

And be open to learn from others

No matter how good you are at what you do, you don’t know everything. So don’t behave as though you do. Demonstrate a willingness to learn from others will take you far.

Quotes from professionals about professionalism

“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur.” – Red Adair

“I take work very seriously and telling the truth in my job and professionalism.” – Brittany Murphy

“I value professionals and professionalism. But it never matches to what I call intelligence and intellect.” – Unknown

“If your profession is something you love, then you’ll never work a day in your life.” – Anonymous

“Professional is not a label you give yourself, it’s a description you hope others will apply to you.” – David Maister

“Being a professional is doing the things you love to do, on the days you don’t feel like doing them.” – Julius Irving

This article was originally written for the Chung Wah Magazine

Chung Wah Magazine: A League Of Their Own

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iStock_000027383163_FullThe British love football with a passion. But it seems we don’t have a monopoly on our obsession for watching grown men in shorts running around a football pitch chasing a ball. Australians, I’ve discovered, are just as fanatical about their footie. Perhaps even more so, because in Australia footie fans have not one but four different codes to follow; depending on whereabouts they are in the country, the term “footie” can apply to Australian Rules Football, rugby union, rugby league or soccer.

Generally speaking, in Australia footie alliances tend to be dictated largely by location. For example, in Western Australia, South Australia, and Victoria, Aussie Rules dominates, whilst rugby union and rugby league are more popular in New South Wales and Queensland.

All four footie codes are an important part of Australian culture though, occupying the hearts and minds of many Australians. The uniquely Australian Aussie Rules which, to this Australian sports novice comes across as a mash up of rugby and football, remains Australia’s number one spectator sport. Interestingly, whilst Aussie Rules is very much home grown, the other three codes have one thing in common – their roots can be traced back to England.

Rugby League aka League

When payments to players in the English Rugby Football Union became an issue, the Rugby League was eventually formed in1895. Originating in the working class northern counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, League made it over to Australia in 1908. Today an iconic Aussie ball sport, rugby league is widely regarded as the third most popular sport in Australia, particularly in the eastern states. Known for its fast pace and entertaining play, it’s certainly one of the toughest and arguably the most physically demanding of the four codes.

Rugby Union
Rugby Union

Rugby Union aka Union

Traditionally a more prestigious game compared to rugby league, rugby union was first introduced into Australia in 1864. A popular sport for public school boys attending England’s most elite schools during the early 19th century, rugby union remains as popular in its home country today. It was said to have begun life during a game of football in 1823 at Rugby School in Warwickshire, one of the oldest independent schools in the country. As legend has it, one of its pupils, William Webb Ellis ran with the ball when he was supposed to kick it. Rightly or wrongly, Ellis has been credited as the inventor of rugby football. Prior to that incident, rugby was played in a similar way to football, with the notable exception that players could catch the ball and kick it out of their hands. By 1830, running with the ball became part of the play.

Soccer
Soccer

Football aka Soccer

Probably the most popular team sport in the world, in many countries soccer holds something of a religious status. But compared to the rest of the world, soccer in Australia has enjoyed a relatively modest following since being introduced by British immigrants in the late 19th century. Mass immigration from mainland Europe after World War II helped revive its profile for a time, but by and large soccer continued to be overshadowed by Aussie Rules and rugby. To many Australians the so-called beautiful game remains a foreign sport, but more and more young people are taking an interest in the game. And the arrival of immigrants from Europe, Asia and the Middle East – countries where soccer is the only type of football they follow – and know how to play – will only help to raise its profile.

The Australian football landscape at a glimpse

CodeAussie RulesRugby LeagueRugby UnionSoccer
Number of players in a side18131511
Game duration80 minutes - 4 quarters80 minutes - 2 halves80 minutes - 2 halves90 minutes - 2 halves
Governing bodyAustralian Football LeagueNational Rugby LeagueAustralian Rugby UnionFootball Federation Australia
First club formed1859190818631880
Number of professional teams18165 (part of international competition)10
2013 attendance at matches7,128,0153,345,248714,0601,889,074

Article published in Chung Wah Magazine, volume 20 September 2014

Chung Wah Magazine: Chinese Food Culture In The UK

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London Chinatown
London Chinatown

There’s more to British Chinese cuisine than crispy duck!

It’s official. When it comes to Chinese cuisine Britain is smitten. Surveys reveal it’s the  preferred choice of takeaway for a third of all Brits, surpassing Indian food, Italian dishes and even that old British favourite, fish and chips*.

The results are not surprising though. A nation of takeaway lovers, Britain has a vibrant and thriving Chinese community, scattered amongst its major towns and cities. Thanks to our growing appetite for foreign cuisine, the Chinese food scene in Britain is booming. In fact, Chinese food has become as much a part of British life as fish and chips and the traditional Sunday roast.

But the UK’s love affair with Chinese food isn’t new. Our love of Chinese food goes way back to the nineteenth century. The first Chinese food to be served in the UK saw Shanghainese cafés populate London’s Docklands. Eventually Chinese chefs took to developing new strands of fusion food designed specifically for British appetites. And that meant appealing to a sweeter, less spicy pallet. Anglo-Cantonese favourites such as lemon chicken, crispy duck, sweet and sour pork and stir-fried noodles with beef have been the staple of Chinese takeaways and restaurants for decades.

However with more and more Chinese students and tourists flocking to the UK, nowadays there’s more to British Chinese cuisine than crispy duck! A growing number of authentic Chinese restaurants have made their presence know over the last few years, and not just in Chinatowns. There’s a revolution in Chinese cooking taking place across the UK, bringing with it a demand for regional Chinese dishes.

5 Places to Enjoy Regional Chinese Cuisine

Fancy sampling some authentic Hunanese food such as stir-fried fragrant and hot fish or Chairman Mao-style steamed belly pork? Then head to Yipin China (70-72 Liverpool Road, London). Featuring an authentic variety of Cantonese, Szechuan and Hunan food, its authentic Chinese food is some of the best you’re likely to find outside of China.

Situated on Level 33 The Shard (31 St. Thomas Street, London) you’ll find one of London’s newest dining experiences, Hutong Restaurant, which is based on the popular restaurant in Hong Kong. Not content with offering spectacular views of the city, the menu features a diverse choice of cuisine from Northern China, including red lantern crab, crispy deboned lamb, Crispy peking duck rolls, and Dim Sum Lunch.

For Shanghainese cuisine, head to the Bright Courtyard Club (45 Baker Street, Marylebone, London), which opened its doors in 2011. The contemporary Chinese restaurant specialises in authentic dim sum, traditional Shanghai cuisine and modern Cantonese.

Perhaps China’s trendiest style of cooking, London isn’t the only city to sample the delights of Sichuanese cuisine. With Branches in London, Birmingham and Manchester, check out Red n Hot for authentic Szechuan food. Try the cumin stir fried lamb or the traditional Szechuan hot pot.

In the heart of London’s Chinatown, Maotai Kitchen (12 Macclesfield Street, London) is the place to go to if you’re looking for an authentic Chinese restaurant that specialises in regional cuisine from the Guizhou Province of China. The restaurant takes its name from Maotai Liquor, China’s famous and popular wine. Popular dishes include the sweet sticky rice with red dates and lotus roots and roast duck noodle soup.

It’s been a long time coming, but Chinese menus in Britain are finally starting to embrace authentic Chinese cuisine. As diners become more experimental, opting to sample the delights of restaurants offering regional Chinese dishes, our love affair with Chinese food shows no sign of diminishing.

* According to a YouGov survey 2013

Dumplings

Did you know?

The first Chinese takeaway in Britain opened in 1958 – that was The Lotus House in London’s Queensway.

The first recorded opening of a Chinese restaurant was in London in 1907.

After the Second World War Chinese food grew in popularity, with a rise in the number of Chinese restaurants opening. Many attributed this to returning British servicemen who had acquired a taste for Oriental food after being posted overseas.

Chinatowns are a hub for Chinese restaurants and businesses. Outside of London, cities including Sheffield, Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle and Manchester all have growing Chinese communities, which has lead to a growth in the number of Chinese restaurants opening to cope with demand.

In an Amoy survey Chinese food was voted Britain’s favourite takeout over Indian and Italian. The restaurant association claims we collectively eat around 110 million Chinese meals a year. That’s a lot of food!

Article published in Chung Wah Magazine, volume 18 May 2014