A Recipe for the Best in Worldwide Logo Design!

Nearly a year ago, good friend, mentor and author Peleg Top invited me to judge entries for his latest book entitled Logolicious – a pocket-sized treasure packed with today's most visually delicious logos. It was my honor to be part of the prestigious jury which edited and shaped the book. Each selected work captures a unique concept, stunning typography and a perfect balance of graphic design's formal elements. These logos personify a brand, promise a message and persuade an audience and I'm excited to announce you can now see the collected work first hand. The book is now available online and in bookstores everywhere.

So dig in and enjoy “a tasty collection of the best logos from around the globe.” Then, discover 9 more compact resources every designer should carry in their pocket.



1. 365 AIGA Year in Design 26 – AIGA
2. 1000 Stencils – Guido Indij
3. ABC 3D – Marion Bataille
4. Caffeine for the Creative Mind – Mumaw Oldfield
5. Creative Sparks – Jim Krause
6. ideaSPOTTING – Sam Harrison
7. idea index – Jim Krause
8. It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be – Phaidon
9. Strengths Finder 2.0 – Tom Rath

A Diamond Anniversary

In Greek, diamond means “unconquerable”. Formed under tremendous heat and pressure, it is no wonder that a diamond symbolizes strength. Diamonds are also synonymous with the 75th Year Anniversary - a milestone for relationships and a landmark event in pop culture.

It was 1935 and America was still going through the Great Depression while the rest of the world felt the uneasiness with Germany’s political activities. But, through all these tribulations, people found solace and comfort in pop culture. Movies in particular offered an escape to another world, free of despair and social upheaval.

Popular entertainers of the time included innocent Shirley Temple, rugged and daring Clark Gable, extravagant Mae West, debonair Bing Crosby, and America’s Sweethearts Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers. The top five films were “Mutiny on the Bounty”, “Top Hat”, “Bride of Frankenstein”, “Captain Blood”, and “David Copperfield”. These movies all promised adventure and escape audiences longed for. A new generation of Hollywood stars were also born this year including Lee Meriwether, Julie Andrews and Woody Allen.

1935 was also the year Penguin Books revolutionized publishing by producing the first paperback books. Parker Brothers released the “family-fun” board game Monopoly. Amelia Earhart paved the way for women with dreams of flying solo across the Pacific. And Babe Ruth, one of the greatest heroes in sports, hit his 714th and final home run of his career.

Menagerie Creative is proud to honor two other “diamonds” with recently designed DVD packaging for the 75th Birthday of Elvis Presley and Twentieth Century Fox’s 75 Years of Filmmaking. Fox’s Campaign included branded packaging for double-packs, triple-packs, and quad collections – over 73 packages altogether along with various in-store promotional and POP materials.





The glorious achievements and legendary performances celebrated here validate that strength and passion are key to forging a prosperous career and rewarding life.

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #07

07: AVOID JET LAG

Designers are only as good as their last project, so needless to say, the most recent pieces should be the best! Be sure there’s plenty of fresh content in your portfolio and avoid showing work that looks dated or overproduced. Also, since you may not always be in the room to justify and explain your methods and goals, keep descriptions & comments brief and to the point.

Cel-e-brate Big Time...Come on!!!!

It’s another BIG year for Menagerie and CSUF Entertainment Design students in the 39th Annual Hollywood Reporter Key Art Awards!

I’m pleased to announce that two of our most outstanding package designs – The Paul Newman Tribute Collection and Night At the Museum/Monkey Mischief Gift Set each received nominations in their respective packaging categories.

And, as if this mama hen couldn’t be more proud, 7 budding artists from my CSUF Entertainment graphics class received nominations in the Student Poster category. We then went on to win a clean trifecta of third, second and first places in the poster category. In the trailer category, Christian Hill’s AV students received 6 out of 9 nominations then walked home with both second and third place honors.

This year is the SECOND time that Entertainment Design Print students have taken the top 3 spots (last time was in 2008). CSUF has become by far the uncontested, highest winning school in the nation with the most student distinctions in this competition.

For a complete listing of all Hollywood Reporter Key Art Award nominees visit Key Art Awards Nominees

What a fantastic week and it’s only Tuesday!

Thank you istock users!

A special thank you to all our istock fans for their continued support as today we hit our 1000 download milestone.

If you’re looking for graphic styled explosions, transportation graphics, entertainment related photography or the ubiquitous red bow please feel free to visit us at our istock portfolio.

Film Industry by the Numbers

Encouraging news for all us entertainment creatives and a really nice visual representation. Click to view larger.

Via: Online MBA

Top 10 Flight Tips for a Portfolio that Soars! #06

06. DOCUMENT THE JOURNEY

Ultimately, your artwork and design best sells your talent, but employers and clients also want to tap into the creative process and understand how you think. What were the goals for each project? How did you go about researching and conceptualizing your unique solutions? What were the results of the project's success? A short 2-3 sentence description for most pieces is sufficient, but if the campaign is broader, consider writing a brief case study.

Smart and Wondrous Apple Goodies!

Yes, we all love them...those perfectly designed, expertly crafted adornments for our MacBooks. Here at Menagerie, we’ve gathered together an impressive list of truly creative accoutrements that will make any designer be the hit of the coffeehouse WiFi spot. Click on each image to find the original online source. A special thanks to our reader Angel V for his insight!

PIMP MY MAC!

LOCK AND LOAD!

THE FINAL BLING

What no Jedi master designer can be without...


Finally, if you can’t wait until the new ipad hits the Apple store nearest you, create your own surrogate version to grace your desk. Click Front and Back to download and print yours today.


And, If that wasn’t enough, see what mashable.com calls their 10 oddest Apple themed products.

Donuts Dunk Warner, Fox and Universal?

Dunkin’ Donuts sweetened their advertising impressions in November 2009 enough to crumble three of the largest entertainment studios in Hollywood. What is an image impression you ask? Any picture on a website or blog can be tracked for the number of times it is viewed. According to the latest report from Nielsen Online – via MarketingCharts.com – Sony Pictures had over double the image impressions over the nearest competition, Walt Disney Pictures.

Although Marketing Charts.com doesn’t offer any specific evidence, it appears that Michael Jackson’s This Is It could be the primary reason for Sony’s domination. What’s harder to explain is how chocolate glazed donuts out-fox Fantastic Mr. Fox, how rainbow sprinkles rained over Rhianna and how Warner Bros., the largest DVD distribution studio, was just plain slam dunked. It looks like increasing online viewer interaction means aiming straight for the stomach.

100’s of Classic Movies right in your Pocket

Turner Classic Movies has taken the lead in bringing home entertainment literally into your pocket. With TCM’s recently announced iPhone app, how long before the big guns like Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros., Universal, Sony and Paramount follow behind. The $2.99, TCM app, offers movie clips and trailers, photos and access to three months of TCM schedule.

On February 1, TCM begins its annual “31 days of Oscar” celebration. When a film is clicked, consumers will be able to read a full synopsis of the film, cast information, trivia and see any essays or other relevant information related to the film. Other Value Added Material (VAM) include film clips, trailers, photos, press kits, posters and lobby cards. The latest entries from TCM’s movie blog will even be streaming.

While the app is only designed for the iPhone right now, TCM plans to release a version for the Android and BlackBerry platforms next month.

As the home entertainment industry redefines itself amongst the downfall of DVD and the slow rise of Blu-ray, motion picture studios are redefining themselves as well. These behemoth corporations are realizing that in order to think big, they need to think small, literally. They have already been covering every marketing angle from partnering with Video On Demand providers such as Vudu and X-Box live, to cable subscriptions and now these iphone apps further capitalize on their rich catalog of film classics, it’s now become clear that the power of consumers really is in their hands.

How will this change the future of Entertainment Design? There’s no question that mobile media has become a key component to every consumer product marketing plan. Connecting to consumers is the number one mission and what better way than in the palm of their hands. But, with so many competing delivery formats, will consumers stop appreciating the films for their artistic nature and see them only as a passing time commodity?

We would love to hear what you think! Send us your thoughts

What’s the big “to do” about Teux deux?

If any of our readers are like me, you have lists for lists of tasks that need to be finished, appointments to be kept, birthdays to remember, then another set of lists for the things you WANT to do, places you want to see, books you want to read. I’ve been researching for several months to find just the right task listing software that works for my needs–one that moves seemlessly between my office mac, laptop and iphone and immediately makes my life simpler.

Enter Teux Deux.

I have just started using this online task master software, but I am already finding it a time saver. I used to write lists in journals, on buck slips and post it notes covering my desk and monitors – not to mention sending those ubiquitous reminder emails to myself when I’m completely away from the office. Teux deux makes that so much easier. Now, no matter where I am – home, office, at lunch with my mom or walking around Disneyland with my family, I can add to my list and rest assured everything will be there until I do it and/or remove it. Items are simply typed in a short statement (thank goodness for this on the iphone) then it’s added to a day, or even placed in the “someday” section if it’s something without a specific deadline.

Why is this a great tool for designers? How about when you are out with your friends or colleagues and someone mentions an amazing designer or resource worth investigating...Teux Deux it! How about when you’re attending a lecture at the latest AIGA event and a brilliant idea springs to your mind...Teux Deux it! My favorite is when I’m catching up on my google reader (usually at midnight) and I find something really incredible I want to share with my staff or students...Teux Deux it!

This browser based app is not nearly as sophisticated as google calenders, or other more robust software programs, but it is quick, clean and visually clear. Need even more incentive? It’s free!

This blog is not about pitching products, but since I started consistently using Teux Deux, and my tasks became much easier to “manage” I felt it was relevant and certainly worthy to share with our readers. No matter what you use to create your action lists, I recommend at the very least adding the investigation of this little wonderlist to your “to do” list.

Menagerie Blog hits the Alltop Design list

We are thrilled to announce that you, our audience, put us on the hot list for design at Alltop.com. Thank you everyone for your support! We promise to deliver even more insight into graphic design and other creative discoveries in the new year!

Do you have a sixth sense?

Did you ever watch films like Minority Report and wonder if you would ever drive a flying car, see the future or control a 3-D-hologram computer interface? Sixth Sense is a MIT experimental project; it's a mini-projector, camera and a cellphone which all act together as a computer controlled by hand gestures. In the age of information technologies, where everything is going online and mobile, this technology gives us a glimpse of what the future holds. Devices like this could revolutionize design as we know it. Advertisements such as signs, billboards and posters could literally be in the hands of the masses. There is a bold, new world waiting for us right around the corner — we can't wait to get our hands on it.

Menagerie Creative Nominated for 4 International Press Academy Satellite Awards!

We are thrilled to announce that yesterday it was reported that 4 of our recent DVD packages have been nominated for an International Press Academy Satellite Award in New Media. Congratulations to everyone who contributed long hours and their incredible talent to these packages.
http://pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2009.shtml

CLASSIC DVD
Paul Newman – The Tribute Collection Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment/ MGM Home Ent.

DVD RELEASE OF A TV SHOW
Ally McBeal: The Complete Series Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

BEST OVERALL BLU-RAY DISC
Rocky: The Undisputed Collection – 7 Disc Blu-Ray Set Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment/ MGM Home Ent.)
South Pacific – 50th Anniversary Edition Blu-Ray Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Augmented Reality — A New Era is Born!

What is this new “buzz” word hitting newsstands, movie theaters, music videos and cell phone technology? Its origins can best be traced back to the invention of virtual reality. As early as 1962, Morton Heilig, a cinematographer, created a motorcycle simulator called Sensorama, which allowed its user to simulate visuals, sounds, vibrations and scents. In 1966, Ivan Sutherland introduced the head-mounted display, followed by Myron Krueger’s Videoplace in 1975. With each new implementation, as well as countless others, what we now know as Augmented Reality was born.

It wasn’t until the early 90s, that the term “Augmented Reality” or “AR” was actually coined, by Tom Caudell. Even though the definition for AR has been defined and redefined many times, its purpose remains the same — to give real objects and space more meaning. In contrast to virtual reality, AR is not a simulation of an object or place; it is image recognition technology that enables viewers to expand their knowledge of a particular object or space in real time. It adds data about a specific location; its history or other content that can make an experience more meaningful, beyond anything the user would have without it.

How does it work? Most modern AR use devices such as digital cameras, optical sensors or GPS as part of image recognition technology. These combined with head mounted, hand held or spatial displays, project visual, audio, or text-based information into the user’s field of vision, corresponding to an object or location. In other words, the technology is designed to “see” its surroundings while simultaneously projecting additional and relevant content.

What industries are using Augmented Reality? Doctors use it to superimpose an image over a patient’s body to locate a tumor. Pilots use it to provide valuable information about location, weather patterns or surrounding terrain. Museums use it to tag exhibits with interesting historical content and other valuable information visitors may not get from viewing the exhibit alone. Most recently, John Mayer released one of the first AR music videos. As AR continues to become more “Mainstream”, more industries can implement new and innovative ways to enhance awareness, knowledge and experiences for its consumers.

Why is it significant? Every object or place has a story and valuable content. When the viewer is allowed to interact with this content, it makes for a more meaningful experience. Imagine traveling to a foreign country, not knowing the language or directions. Augmented Reality can provide more information about the surrounding area, its history, interesting facts and even help guide the user to where they want to go. For students, AR can document findings on a particular subject, which then could provide future generations with a deeper understanding of the subject matter. The possibilities are endless.

Augmented Reality can also benefit retail, entertainment and consumer product companies with new and more effective ways of reaching customers beyond traditional forms of advertising. Posters and other outdoor advertising in conjunction with Augmented Reality can offer immediate promotions relevant to their customers needs and desires. The iPhone has put this to great use with their Augmented Reality apps, such as Layar, Wikitude, Robotvision, Yelp Mobile, Urbanspoon. These apps use image recognition technology combined with a GPS and a compass to display information about a city, business, or point of interest just by viewing through the iPhone camera. This technology is revolutionary for businesses, because it offers new ways to reach customers with more personal contact.

Entertainment studios have utilized this technology in promoting upcoming movies and events. A great example was Focus Features’ outdoor Interactive Storescapes for Coraline. What is so interesting about this piece is that it is more than just a poster, it is an art piece and an installation. One particular display, features a mirrored surface on the outside of a store window, which, as people walked by, their reflection would appear with buttons in place of their eyes. While simple, the display grabbed attention; it brought awareness for the movie, and gave the user a more memorable experience. Thus, breaking through the media clutter and effectively introducing the film.

CLICK HERE to see video of the Coraline Outdoor Displays

The advent of Augmented Reality may also prove to be the answer “print” needs to stimulate new energy. With increasing popularity for the web, emerging interactive technologies and the widespread concern for a sustainable environment, magazines, newspapers and other forms of print publishing have become less efficient. Packaging is getting smaller. Brands are becoming more eco-friendly. And, as businesses such as Netflix, X-Box and other online book companies continue to arise; the need for printed DVDs, books and games is becoming obsolete. This leaves an added challenge for graphic designers to not only create new and fresh ideas, but to do so in an efficient and socially responsible manner. Augmented Reality may be a viable answer.

In early 2009, Menagerie Creative was hired to develop the home entertainment packaging and advertising campaign for the global release of Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian. Our team instantly recognized the perfect opportunity to propose concepts implementing AR in our creative exploration. To effectively capture the essence of this movie, it was imperative to portray the characters coming to life, Augmented Reality was the perfect vehicle to accomplish this. With the addition of a computer and a web camera, a stationary picture comes alive and interactive within the user’s hands. See the results of this creative, Sunday, November 29, 2009 in the L.A. Times and other newspapers nationwide.

Other examples of Augmented Reality continue to evolve in advertisements for the Mini Cooper, Walmart, General Electric and other properties such as Transformers and Star Trek. With each new implementation, Augmented Reality becomes more popular and increases its momentum with full force.

In the spirit of this emerging trend, Esquire Magazine has devoted an entire issue to Augmented Reality. The cover features Robert Downey Jr. sitting on this odd, irregular, pixel-like graphic known as a fiducial. It is this symbol that when placed in front of a camera activates image recognition technology and Robert Downey Jr. comes to life. Plus, the inside features five more ads employing Augmented Reality, including fashion, entertainment and even a photographer’s portfolio. This magazine is the first of its kind and will surely bring in a new era for print advertising.

What is the future of Augmented Reality? Computers and wireless devices are becoming increasingly more powerful, more widespread yet less expensive. New opportunities continue to arise offering more individuals greater knowledge, increased awareness within the convenience of one’s home or personal device. AR is leading the charge in creating a future filled with choice, accessibility and an enriched experience.

This is it! The Creative Process Immortalized

Imagine watching Michelangelo crush his own pigments, process comments and criticism from the politicians & clergy, and witness the technical prowess as he engineers and constructs a scaffolding system to support him as he masterfully creates one of mankind’s most treasured works of art.

Imagine seeing first hand as Ansel Adams transforms a seemingly common landscape into a relatively new visual expression of photography. Creating imagines, so rich in detail, they rival the most realistic sculptures for their musculature and textural nuances.

Imagine walking among hundreds of expert mathematicians, structural engineers and aviators working under the genius of Howard Hughes as he molds Hughes Aircraft into one of the nation’s most revered companies in American History.

This is the creative process in action
This is masterful talent in motion.
This is genius in the flesh.

THIS IS IT!

Like many of us who love music and dance, we’ve grown up listening and grooving to Michael Jackson. Legendary songs like Bad, Thriller, and the Man in the Mirror are indelibly engraved in our consciousness. We see flash mobs dancing to Beat It across the globe and kids of all ages want to master the moonwalk. But like much in history, the creative mind behind legendary cultural contributions such as these can often prove mysterious and elusive to comprehend.

As a visual artist who wants to leave a lasting impression on our culture and a musician for many of my formative high school and college years, I knew immediately upon the announcement of Michael Jackson’s This Is It film release that I would want to enjoy it with my family. But what surprised me most of all was not the iconic music, not the incredibly skilled dancers and musicians, not the spectacle of the concert performance. What impressed me most was the feeling the respect Michael and the entire creative ensemble had for each other and the gift they would share with their audience.

This film doesn’t just show Michael as the world's most gifted pop dancer – yes, he could still pop the moves with more precision than dancers less than half his age. The film doesn’t just show the many emotions he could evoke with the subtle nuances of his voice – the vocal performance for I’ll Be There is heart wrenching. What the film does better than anything else is to show all the creative contributions working together seemlessly and the creation of a stage show that would have undeniably marked each and every audience member.

Michael envisioned it all, and through his creative partner Kenny Ortega (the creative brilliance behind High School Musical) Michael perfected every aspect of the performance he wanted to celebrate with his fans. He also expected perfection of those who were talented enough to surround him. He didn’t threat, intimidate, use harsh language or disrespect a single musician, lighting technician, dancer or photographer. He surrounded himself with only the best, and the best wanted to impress the King of Pop. It was incredible to watch the creative process unfold as each craftsman and musician gave Michael their undivided attention and spoke with only the deepest admiration. As the show evolved and creative decisions were formed by hundreds of skilled lighting designers, choreograpers, coaches, musicians and dancers, Michael was there every step of the way to offer clear direction, support and congratulations on each success. When there was conflict – who could really argue with the King of Pop – it was shown resolved with humility and honor. In Michael’s words “all for love.”

It would be neglectful to ignore the other half of this film’s and performance’s creative brilliance – Kenny Ortega. This unassuming, caring, yet determined director brought out the best in everyone – including Michael. His direct, patient, respectful and fluid manner of keeping the production moving forward was truly inspirational to watch. The insight he showed by working with so many talented artists is worth the ticket price alone.

So, would I see it again? Aboslutely! In fact, I will likely add a few more dollars to the box office success before the weekend is up. And, I’ll definitely purchase the DVD and soundtrack. Why? This film represents the potential of true dedication and talent, not by seeing the finished result, but by capturing the magic that happens during the process of creative discovery.

Masters of Advertising Honored in Film “Art & Copy”

If you haven't heard about the new documentary Art & Copy by Director Doug Pray (Surfwise, Scratch, Hype!), then let me tell you, it is amazing! And, a must see for every designer and business owner.

Remember the legendary ad slogans: Just Do It, I Love NY, Where’s the Beef?, Got Milk? and Think Different ? In this film, Pray captures the work and wisdom of advertising greats such as George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney and others behind these memorable campaigns as well as some of the other most famous campaigns ever known. Watch as they share their stories in the most inspirational hour and thirty minutes you will ever experience. Of all the points these masters of creativity made in the movie, two really resonated with me – the effectiveness of truth, and emotional connections in advertising.

As technology and our society continue to evolve, these two things are more important than ever. Consumers are much more sophisticated and have become more immune to the tricks of advertisers. They now have even more media vehicles for which to receive advertising. Thus, making it more challenging for advertisers to effectively reach their target market. Having said that, by watching this film, I have learned that to effectively embrace these emerging media vehicles, it is important to remember where you have been to know where you are going. As these top ad professionals have proved, no matter what vehicle you choose, good advertising comes from finding the truth and the emotional connection between product / service and consumer.

Rich Silverstein demonstrates this with his Got Milk? campaign. In his interview, he claims his inspiration came from sitting down and really analyzing the Milk, it does a body good campaign. He says, “if you really think about it, that campaign really wasn’t true. Would you really go out and chug a ton of milk after a run? Probably not. It really wouldn't be good for you.” However, with the Got Milk? campaign, the focus is on what could happen without milk. For example, the famous "Aaron Burr" commercial. For anyone who doesn’t remember, the commercial shows a guy listening to the radio and eating a peanut butter sandwich. Just as he takes a bite, he gets a call by the radio show to answer a trivia question. With the answer staring him right in the face, he is confident that he has won. However, with his mouth full of peanut butter, the announcer cannot understand him. So, he reaches for his glass of milk and discovers he is out. Naturally, he runs out of time and loses the contest. True, simple and brilliant!

Advertising has also proved to be effective when there is a connection between the ad and its creator. After hearing these countless stories behind the campaigns, you really look at advertising in a different way. Hal Riney became famous for creating really emotional commercials, particularly Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign. He said in his interview that often times he finds himself creating scenarios that he would want for himself or missed out on in his own life. It is through this emotional connection that he makes with himself that gives his feel genuine and trustworthy and provides comfort for consumer.

Mary Wells too, expresses how her theatrical upbringing led to the first ads painted on airplanes. Interview after interview, I saw how the greatest creativity came from being yourself. Not trying to imitate someone else and not settling for something when you know it could be so much more. She proved that determination, research, and harnessing your own unique characteristics are the keys to success.

These are only a few of the brilliant examples discussed in the movie and don’t even scratch the surface. This is a film that really has to be experienced. It is truly inspiring to glimpse into the lives of these courageous artists. To hear their passion for effective communication and their fight against mediocrity. To witness their strength and see them dare to be different is such great motivation to push on in a time where our industry is so dramatically changing and reminds the audience that when done correctly, advertising is one of our more beautiful art forms.

Written by Michelle Manley

Reinvigorating Motion Picture Film Catalogs

While search engine optimization can be applied to nearly any media and market, potentially using this technology to rejuvenate the deep film catalog can become a key factor for the motion picture film industry.

Anyclip, and other similar SEOs can open the doors to not only revitalizing interest in the world's rich movie history, but could also reinvigorate the film libraries of studios like Warner Bros, Twentieth Century Fox and Sony Pictures, ultimately inspiring more in-store and online sales.

Click HERE if you would like to learn more about this.

Team Imagine... reaches the finish line and soars high for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!

We did it! After six months of fundraising, Team Imagine.. raised a grand total of $11,410.00 and still receiving donations. Well surpassing our goal of $10,000.00 for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

The time finally came for us this past weekend to set out on our journey in joining together with over 2000 participants from 33 different states and four countries to walk as one spreading awareness and taking one step closer in ending the fight against breast cancer. As a whole, we raised over $4.6 million, which was immediately distributed to local organizations specializing in advance access to care for those without health insurance and research to find a cure for breast cancer. These organizations include Project Angel Food, Northridge Hospital Foundation, Council of Community Clinics, University of Southern California, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Starting out bright and early day one, we set out from the Queen Mary in Long Beach on a course of 26.2 miles across Belmont Shores, Seal Beach, past the 22 and 405 Freeways and ending at El Dorado Park in Los Alamitos. Along the way, we were greeted by cheers from hundreds of supporters who could not make it on the walk, but took the time out to show their support of all of us and for this wonderful cause. In addition to our supporters, we were also blessed to have hundreds of volunteers catering to our every need. Everything from snacks, drinks, medics, massages, security to even ice baths to soothe our aching feet. They were truly an amazing crew and we were so lucky to have them.

The second day, tired and sore, we set out one more time, this time from El Dorado Park 13 miles back to the Queen Mary for a Closing Ceremony we will never forget. To look back over the two days, the distance we traveled, the stories we heard, and the experiences we had, it is truly a moment of pride and motivation to keep on fighting. To see these men and women that have survived this awful disease and hear their stories brings hope that with a continued effort, we will beat this disease. To top it off, special guest Patrick Dempsey, Actor and Special Ambassador to the Avon Foundation closed the event with a congratulatory speech and raffled off his racing suit and opportunity to attend a 2010 race with the Dempsey Racing Team.

It was a fantastic event and an even more amazing experience. This was one of those life changing event which restores faith in humanity and we encourage everyone to experience it first hand. If you are interested in helping this cause, donations are still being accepted. Please visit our team’s page HERE.

Furthermore, in celebrating this wonderful event, we have a limited quantity T-Shirts designed in support of Team Imagine... and the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. For $15.00 plus shipping and handling, you can own a Team Imagine... T-Shirt with all proceeds benefiting the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. If you would like to purchase a t-shirt, please email engage@menageriecreative.com and we will gladly follow up with you.

We've almost reached our goal!

Thanks to the generous donations from friends, family, colleagues and Menagerie Creative, Team Imagine... is only a few hundred dollars short of our fundraising goal. If you haven’t already donated or would like to purchase one of our Team t-shirts for $15 + shipping (all proceeds to benefit the Avon Walk) the time to make a difference is NOW. There is less than two weeks left before we walk together as one for 39 miles.


CLICK HERE to Donate Now!

CLICK HERE if you are interested in learning more about our Team t-shirts.