Davi Sing Liu and Xavier Teo–both formerly of Modernista!, the recently shuttered Boston boutique shop–have joined Deutsch LA as integrated creative directors. The two will work as a team, touching all pieces of business and reporting directly to Deutsch LA partner/chief creative officer Mark Hunter. The start date for Liu and Teo at Deutsch is May 31.
As a creative director at Modernista!, Liu spearheaded the development of inspiring creative for clients including Showtime, Nickelodeon, Product Red, and Food Should Taste Good. Prior to joining Modernista!, he worked as a creative in Asia for seven years, most of which were spent at Wieden+Kennedy developing innovative campaigns for Nike Japan and China. He also turned out several projects for Google Japan and W+K Tokyo Lab. An accomplished photographer, Liu has also taught photography at Temple University Tokyo and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
As a digital creative director at Modernista!, Teo worked with clients such as Cadillac, the National Parks Foundation, Nickelodeon, and Product Red. Last summer, he also spearheaded the development of the highly engaging Alternate Reality Game for Showtime’s hit series, Dexter. Before joining Modernista!, Teo in Singapore for 12 years on regional campaigns for international brands including Levi’s, DHL, Johnnie Walker, Yahoo!, and Unilever. He is also an accomplished artist outside of the office; his artwork has been featured in Computer Arts, Beautiful/Decay, the International Designers Network and at the Massive Territory Design Conference.
“I’ve had my eye on Davi and Xavier for some time now. They have a true love for the fine arts, and by combining their passion for design and art with technology, they have produced some truly innovative and engaging marketing efforts,” said Hunter.
Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More