Life itself breeds innovation

thebrandeffect is passionate about creativity. Competitive innovation is driven by inspiring experiences so when you love life you live life to the full. Here’s how the agency’s founder has been inspired recently…

Trekking across the Juneau ice field in Alaska puts life in perspective and working out in Arctic air is definitely surreal. The awe-inspiring landscape is guaranteed to take your breath away and the unearthly silence is penetrated only by the creaking echo of rolling icebergs as building-sized chunks of ice fall off the retreating glacier face.

I love this lady for her effortless cosy toes class. Cath’s vision and passion for the past have enabled her to transform a one shop business into an international iconic brand with a cult following.  Since the company was founded in 1992, Cath Kidston has remained at the forefront of the business by remaining both Designer and Creative Director.

The F1 World Championship has been supported by the Porsche Supercup since the early ‘90’s and this year Jaap Van Lagen blazed onto the track for Kadach Racing Team securing pole position in Istanbul. Getting up close and personal with the likes of Van Lagen, Massa and Hamilton in Monza made my 2008 truly great.

Thirty years of war, foreign occupation and genocide have affected this battered country deeply but Cambodia’s abandoned children are some of the most remarkable and beautiful people I’ve ever met. Thanks to the amazing work of organisations like Sunrise and the Red Cross they have food, shelter, practical skills and a lot of love.

Assistant Producer on ‘Brick Lane’, Ameenah Ayub is relentless in climbing the movie-making ladder and proves that strong vision, hard work and deep commitment can turn dreams into reality.  Two decades of dedication have transformed this starry-eyed school friend into one of the most inspirational young Producers of our time.

Snowboarding off cliffs is not recommended so make like a tree and leave this to the experts. If I’m honest I never intended on encountering such a snowy predicament but one bad decision later I can safely say if something looks really big and really dangerous – don’t do it!

It’s an amazing thing to encounter one of these revered animals in its natural habitat. Asian elephants inhabited the lush mountain forests in Thailand long before people arrived but these days local hill tribes use elephants for trekking across areas where vehicular access is impossible. Their power, intelligence and gentleness is really incredible.

Awe inspiring construction and development continue on a massive scale in the UAE as the government carves a metropolitan economic hub out of the desert. The Burj Al Arub, Dubai has its place in the history books but The Palace, Jebel Ali is where it’s at. As the new Burj Dubai towers over the City the world’s largest shopping mall opened its doors in 2008.

Locations, creation, people and experiences form the lifeblood of progressive thinking and because happy people are more creative and productive, they do better work and generate positive results. Thank God for every new day and count all your blessings.

Such a perfect name to wear close to your skin, Emmanuel is an iconic designer who consulted for the likes of Valentino and Nicole Farhi before launching his own company. His designs are adored by independent thinkers who like a little ‘avant garde’ in their collection.  I love his lush fabrics, asymmetric lines and striking colours that turn compromise completely on its head.

Driving across the Yucatan Peninsular is a road trip worth taking. Mayan temples, authentic food and sunny days are fun, but driving past ‘the last petrol station for 300 miles’ isn’t. So grab your MP3 player, take plenty of water and restore your faith in mankind - the sign's spot on.

From historic wrecks to drift dives through underwater gardens, a good scuba dive can transport you to another world and a bad one can take you straight to the panic station!  I can’t fault the coast of the Riviera Maya, home to the largest Coral Reef in the northern hemisphere. This Caribbean coast is renowned for its crystal clear visibility, spectacular Cenotes and magnificent sea life. It certainly has my vote.

What a pleasure to interview Henry Harrison at 100% Design. Henry has overturned traditional British attitudes to fireplaces and his designs are prized by the likes of Terence Conran and Sir Norman Foster. Thank Henry for pioneering fire pebbles, originating the hole-in-the-wall fireplace and initiating the demise of unsightly imitation logs – hurrah for Henry!

Image courtesy of www.platonicfireplaces.co.uk

Encountering the Arabian Desert by quad bike or dune buggy is liberating. Ride a magical sea of sand that rises and falls like waves and track the changing colour of the moving sun - but steer clear of Friday’s as the locals are likely to squash you in their huge two-wheeling Nissan Patrols!

There are two great complexes of ancient temples in Southeast Asia including the Angkor temples. Completed in 1220 AD, the Khmer Kings ruled a vast domain from here stretching from Vietnam to China and the Bay of Bengal. Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm are arguably two of the most spectacular and as Cambodia has not been plighted by mass tourism it’s well worth visiting the area before they arrive!