Category Archives:
Daily life

1. Learn New Tricks Of The Trade: Do your research and commit to staying updated on new trends and technologies in your field.

2. Develop New Skills: The field is becoming ever more hybrid and multidisciplinary, so broadening horizons can be very beneficial.

3. Start A New Hobby: Find something that makes you truly happy, whether its knitting or playing an instrument, and use that to de-stress.

4. Socialize More: Whether you’re a freelancer or an in-office creative, socializing is key to staying sane.

5. Be Healthier: Cut down on smoking, drinking, and fast food. This one isn’t specifically for creatives; we are human after all!

Do you have any resolutions you would like to add? Let us know in the comments!

Featured Article:
Hybrid Talks

With Banque Du Liban Accelerate 2016 , it was go big or go home… The third annual Banque Du Liban Accelerate was held on November 3, 4, and 5, with over 23,000 people registered to attend conferences and workshops at the Forum De Beyrouth.

BDLA is the biggest convention of its kind held in the region, and its success speaks for itself. Hosting 100 speakers from 50 different countries, BDLA 2016’s theme was “Innovation: Intrapreneurship VS Entrepreneurship,” with 100 startups from 40 different countries exhibiting their ideas and work for all visitors to check out.

With different stands and exhibitions by various funding establishments, such as Berytech, and local Lebanese banks, such as Bank Audi, the 16,000 sqm floor was packed, wall to wall. There were various stages hosting the speakers, the Main Stage, the Executive Stage, the Innovation Stage, the Ecosystem Stage, the Design Stage, the Code Stage, the Startup Stage, and the Money Stage.

The highlight of the 3 days was co-founder of Apple, Steve “The Woz” Wozniak who gathered a seated 2,000 viewers in the audience and plenty more gathered outside the full stage area. His talk took on a casual style with moderator Monty Munford, tech writer for The Telegraph, Forbes, and The Economist, to name a few. Among other things, The Woz discussed creating things you would want to use, saying that the iPhone was created simply because that is what Steve Jobs and himself wanted to use on a daily basis.

Featured Article:
Hybrid Talks

“Need a new phone? Like new new? Like doesn’t have a version number new?”

Google has just announced its first ever smart phone, Pixel (and Pixel XL), and it all looks very promising, particularly in light of recent releases of the Samsung S7 and iPhone 7 and their subsequent reviews.

Although Google previously paired up with Android for the Nexus phone, Google’s Pixel is the first hardware and software 100% Google-made phone. It is also the first phone to feature Google Assistant, which can answer questions, keep your schedule, play music, find photos quickly, and keep track of travel plans and details.
It comes in 2 sizes, 5 inches and 5.5 inches, and 3 colors, “Quite Black”, “Very Silver”, and “Really Blue”.
The camera is 12.3 megapixels and it can capture 4K video too. Selfie lovers should also get excited for this release, as its 8 megapixel front cam beats the S7’s 5 megapixels and the iPhone 7’s 7 megapixels.
With a display measuring in at 5 inches it has a resolution of 1920×1080, while the iPhone 7 is 4.7 inches with 1334×750 resolution, and the S7 is 5.1 inches with 2560×1440 resolution.
The fingerprint recognition is located on the back cover, and it is specifically built for VR use. What’s most impressive is the battery, which is said to last up to 7 hours on a 15-minut-long charge. We could definitely use that in Lebanon with all the electricity cuts!

Google Pixel will be the first phone to feature Android 7.1 Nougat, as the S7 features Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
As for the Google Pixel release video, the script is impeccably witty with sharp jabs at the iPhone 7 (“3.5 mm headphone jack satisfyingly… not new”) and an all-around enjoyable vibe. You can watch for yourself…

Featured Article:
Hybrid Talks

A few weeks ago, I was driving on the high way, and my right, rear door was not closed well. While some people passed by without noticing, a lot honked and signaled me to close it, but pulling over while driving in traffic jam is not easy at all. One guy drove along my side, opened his window, opened my door, and then shut it closed. Thank you, man!

I was literally choked up and happy to see that some people still care to help others, some people still have ethics in this country where moral values are becoming worthless, because some people come up with new ideas to trick us on a daily basis, not to help us.

I read an article about new ways to steal a car in Lebanon, and it doesn’t surprise me at all how some manage to use their intelligence to invent ways to harm instead of help. Lebanese or not, IT IS A SHAME!

They will try to hit your tires with stones, making you pull over, then hit you and take the car, or even worse, use the tow truck to take your car and get away with it. There are more and more ways we hear about every day.

We were raised to help others, but nowadays it is a bit confusing. If we see someone in need of help on the roads, should we help? Shouldn’t we? But what if one day it was us who needed the help and no one stopped?

It keeps coming to my mind that one lady who stopped for Mr. Michel El Mur, even without recognizing him, just because she saw a man burnt and needed help, practically saved his life… but what if he was a thief faking it? She would have lost hers.

The best way is never stop on an empty road. Never get out of the car, especially if you are alone at night. Always stop near a gas station or a shop. Never pick up a hitchhiker, and don’t be one, because sometimes it is the driver who might trick you. The bottom line is, we should be as careful as we can, because our roads are not safe anymore.

I just pray to run into more people like that man who helped me!

Have a safe drive!

Read More About The Traffic In Lebanon

Michella Salameh
Project Manager

#1 Old fans are living the time of their lives

#2 Nobody wants to believe that the “Pokémon world” is VIRTUAL. Everybody talks about it as if it were real: “I caught two today”, “There was one out there”, “Watch out it’s behind you”  #cuddlingwithmypokemon etc…

#3 You can’t sit anymore without wondering whether you are crashing a Pokémon’s head under you – They’re everywhere! Even in your private places…

#4 Gym Owners You don’t want to get in their way

#5 And last but not least, those who downloaded this version and believe they are following the trend

Mia Rouphael
Digital Marketeer

Whether it’s black and white, cartoon, romantic, or science fiction, films steal us to a magical world, at least for a couple of hours.

Nowadays, we follow series like there is no tomorrow. We eat, pray, and love in front of a TV. We browse for fun.
Maybe we are not looking to a screen, but we are looking for a life we wish we had.
Maybe we want a group of FRIENDS as funny and compatible as hell, or we want to live LOVE ACTUALLY, or maybe we just want to experience a WHIPLASH moment.
When we want to laugh, we pay to watch stand-up comedians state the obvious. When we are depressed, it takes one good movie and a box of tissues to make it all better.
The only thing we don’t do is watch out for each other. The more we witness, the further it draws us apart, and only a screen can transport us to a peaceful and caring world we daydream about.
Our greatest affiliation is to smart phones, tablets, and desktops.
And why not? They are reliable and always available; they show us what we want and make our life a bit easier. In parallel, we take care of them, spend loads of money on them, buy them accessories, and never let go.
No wonder our best relationship is with a screen!

Thank you screens for transforming us from humans to watchers.

Keep Calm and Carry On!

Rebecca Mourani
Associate Creative Director

Today, I want to talk about an issue. It’s not a new one, but it’s one that I recently witnessed. Why? I don’t know! Ok, I do know… It’s because I genuinely thought the whole thing was a show, an act, but what started as a colorful parade, ended up in a shameless massacre.

May 29, 2016 – 7: 00 pm

We reached the Arena in Plaza del Carmen – Madrid. Excited and anxious about what was coming, the crowds were packing up, setting their bets, and getting into their seats.

The participants entered the arena in a spectacle complemented by band music. Wearing their costumes inspired by 17th-century Andalusian clothing, they were distinguished by their gold suits and their pride.

The bull was released into the ring, where he was played by a couple of matadors. Then, a picador entered the arena on horseback. The horse was wearing protection, which he did not wear in earlier days. To top it all off, the poor thing was blindfolded.

Then, a series of torturing actions took place, handling the bull to his last breath and extreme level of irritation. In the final stage, the star matador entered the ring proudly, wearing his red cape and a sword, which, by the way, finds its final destination in the heart of the bull! The bull ends up being dragged by a couple of horses outside the ring, where the matador claims his victory to applause and chants! Olé!

May 29, 2016 – 7: 30 pm

We left the arena, running for the door, hating that we had witnessed and supported a barbaric act that should be banned forever! Where do we sign a petition?

Rebecca Mourani
Associate Creative Director

­You have probably seen the hilarious keep calm and carry on posters with their countless parodies everywhere on the streets and online over the past few years, but have you ever wondered about the reason behind the original “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster?

Let’s start at the start of World War II in 1939. During that time, Great Britain knew they were headed for war, so the British Ministry of Information designed the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster as part of a series of three home publicity posters. The other two posters are not as well known: “Freedom is in peril defend it with all your might”, and “Your courage your cheerfulness your resolution will bring us Victory”.

The posters depict the slogans under the Tudor Crown, which is a symbol of the British State. These posters were meant to be circulated as a boost of spirits during the war, in case of a mass bombing of major cities, or even the dreaded prospect of an attack and occupation by the Nazi Germany front.

At the time, almost 2.5 million copies were printed, and even after Britain was heavily bombed by the Germans throughout 1940 and 1941, the poster was rarely publicly displayed and wasn’t even known or recognized until a copy of it was found back in the year 2000 at a bookshop in Alnwick, England.

So keep calm and continue reading Hybrid Talks!

Adam Kobeissy
Digital Designer

While some of us enjoy the cold of the winter, we all wait for the first signs of summer to hit the seashores for a swim and a sunbathe.
June has begun, the summer heat has started to rise gradually, and the beach resorts will be fully packed soon. That long awaited day at the beach is almost a vacation, and you should indulge yourself and enjoy it to the max.

Here are 5 things to DO at the beach, followed by 5 other DON’Ts:

• Do relax and daydream.Just sit there, breathe, meditate, and take a nap. Nothing is demanding your attention! Just hang out and daydream a little bit. Let your imagination carry you away in the best way possible.
• Do read magazines.You may never have enough time during your daily routine to take pleasure in flipping through a magazine, so take this opportunity, enjoy the warm breeze, and read some magazines or books.
• Do build a sandcastle.A common beach time activity for kids and adults. Should you do the simplest design or the most extravagant; this will help you pass the time at the beach while doing something really creative and fun.
• Do watch the sunset.A very popular activity, as it should be, but being right there at the beach it’s such a breathtaking sight to see that you’ll never tire of it, and you’ll wish to extend through the night to a bonfire party, however those aren’t as trendy in Lebanon, but are a ton of fun; to gather around a nice fire; play music, have good conversations, dance, roast marshmallows, and just have a great time. Just make sure the beach allows such activities.
• Do sports and entertainment. From working out to throwing balls and Frisbees, if you are alone, or with family or friends, you can always enjoy your time around the beach. That would fill your energy tank for the week ahead. Just remember to respect your neighbors at the beach.

• DO NOT Throw your trash on the sand. Especially cigarettes! It is still trash! You can throw trash on your own floor when you get home. Clean up after yourself.
• DO NOT forget your sunscreen. If you stay out in the sun all day long without putting on sun cream, the result will be painful and harmful.
• DO NOT forget to drink. You shouldn’t stay out in the sun without drinking water and other fluids. In fact, you should increase your water intake while you are in the heat.
• DO NOT walk with bare feet. There are lots of shells and rocks or even shattered glass that might be sharp enough to cut your feet. Also the sand’s temperature may be hot enough to fry an egg. You wouldn’t want fried feet now, would you?
• DO NOT leave children unattended in the water or along the water’s edge. No need to explain why!

Have a great summer y’all !

Read More About the Traffic in Lebanon

Michella Salameh
Project Manager

While some of us are looking to live life to the fullest, others are restlessly striving to succeed at work, while missing out on life. Being a workaholic is a badge of honor these days.
While ambition is a beautiful thing, and it enriches the soul, being obsessed about it can be dangerous sometimes. Ambition can suck away our time and energy to a point where exhaustion takes over our body and soul.
Does being a successful business entrepreneur or earning a high income salary make you a better person? Not necessarily. What makes you a better person is, simply, love. Love is what makes our life a happy one.
Time flies! No one wants to wake up one day blaming himself for not “living”. Do you really want your work to take over the precious moments that you could have lived with your kids?
Going into a work coma can be life threatening and destructive. It usually happens so slowly that you don’t even notice it.

Here are the red flags you should look out for in order to avoid going into a work coma:

• Working day and night with an outcome that is not as satisfying as expected highlights the imbalance. The drastic difference between how much effort your are putting into your work and the outcome are a sign that your productivity is at stake. One should be working efficiently and effectively.
• Insomnia: If you go to bed at 10 pm but can’t sleep before 1 am for many consecutive nights, this is a sign that you are carrying too much on your plate. It’s a dangerous, self-fulfilling cycle too; if you can’t get to sleep because your mind is too active, you’ll be even more tired the following day.
• You missed out on your best friend’s engagement party and your niece’s 1^st birthday? Have you been hearing from your family and friends that you’re never around? Well, this is a clear indication that you’re neglecting your relationships. Yup, this is a sign that work is taking over your social life.
• Where did this additional weight come from? How did I lose so much weight? When you ask yourself one of these questions, try to remember when the last time you had a real breakfast was, or when the last time you had a proper lunch break was. Don’t forget that a happy body leads to a happy mind.
• Headache, stomach pain, and blurry eyes! If you start experiencing one or all of these symptoms at work and they are affecting your focus, then stress and fatigue have taken over your body, your work, and hence your life.
• Do you wake up in the morning thinking of how unlucky you are with your job? If so, you’re not working with love, which is the generator of positivity and success. You’d better change your attitude, or start searching for another, more convenient job for you!

All those quotes and sayings we hear about life are not cliché; they are a result of decades of life experience.
Two of my favorite ones:
“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Abraham Lincoln
“Live every moment as if it were your last”.

Layal Harfouche
Business Developer