Early reviews are suggesting this is going to be big! Now we’re looking for you to be a part of it - send us your ideas and images for gifts.

The game is called GiftTRAP and Nick needs pictures for the game - images of anything that would make perfect gifts (products, experiences, services, etc). Images can be submitted to the GiftTRAP website (www.gifttrap.com), where you can also find more information on the game. Winning images will be featured in the game, along with the winner’s name. Winners also receive a copy of the game.

For the launch in September, the goal is to have 1000 games being played simultaneously… globally. Working with the charity ‘right to play’ we are expecting to make some serious donations to their organization and have pro-athlete support for the event. We are also applying for a Guiness Book of World Records placement.

Brand designed by Madhouse

NEW OKANAGAN “BRAND” UNVEILED AT WHISTLER CONFERENCE
The new logo designed to reflect the new Okanagan Strategic Advantage “brand” was unveiled at the International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) Western Canadian Conference in Whistler last week. Colleen Bond of the Economic Development Commission, Central Okanagan, joined economic development representatives from throughout the Okanagan Valley at the annual event which was attended by more than 2,500 delegates looking for retail, commercial investment and development opportunities.

The Commission, working in partnership with the Okanagan Science & Technology Council (OSTEC) and the Okanagan Valley Economic Development Society (OVEDS), initiated a major valley branding exercise in 2005 aimed at using consistent local and regional branding messages to market the Okanagan. The logo will be used at numerous trade events, recruitment shows and on marketing materials by the Commission and joint initiatives with the OVEDS.

Madhouse Creative a finalist

“The greatest achievements are rarely the work of one individual, but rather the collective effort of a dedicated and talented team of committed professionals. This is what the Stora Enso ‘What Teams Can Do’? Competition celebrates - the greatest print design work produced by the most talented teams in the United States and Canada.” states the Stora Enso website.

The Tolko Annual Report - We are Tolko. is the project that was entered into this highly competitive program. Working in close collaboration with the client, Tolko Industries, photographer Tim Swanky and the production house, Wayside Press of Vernon BC, Madhouse Creative of Kelowna designed this annual report to celebrate the individuals throughout Tolko’s operations.

“There are thousands of entries into this program, it is a great honour to be selected for excellence in design.” explains Tammy Moore, principal of Madhouse Creative. “This is truly a team effort to get a project to come together this well and look this good.”

This weekend will see Kelowna hosting the 2005 Canadian National Triathlon Championships.

This event has now been recognized as one of Canada’s premier triathlons and is sanctioned as part of the 2005 Continental Cup Race Series by the International Triathlon Union. This local event is attracting Canadian elite athletes who are competing for National standings as well as attracting an international field of elite athletes who are competing for points towards their world ranking! This ranking system is the stepping stone for these athletes to make the Commonwealth Games, the Pan-Am Games, as well as the next Olympics.

The Kelowna Apple Triathlon has become a marquee event for the past 22 years, attracting athletes from British Columbia, across Canada and from many different parts of the world. The National Championships and the Continental Cup are expected to attract both athletes and spectators from around the world.

Canada has already produced an elite group of Olympic athletes, including Simon Whitfield, Jill Savage, Carol Montgomery, as well as nationally ranked local - Gillian Moody and former World Champion and local - Joanne Ritchie.

Come out and cheer on our local heroes, those personal challengers, elite athletes and the many Olympians who will be going the distance. Support the Kelowna Apple Triathlon in a big way, we are fortunate to have such an elite event in Kelowna.

Visit the Kelowna Apple Triathlon website for more information - www.appletriathlon.com

It took the apricot tree in the back yard, and the branches heavily laden with fruit to remind me that it was exactly a year ago that we took possession of the house and suddenly became the owners of an apricot tree.

As I think back over the past year, so much of it is a whirlwind. From getting the new property – a heritage house on Bernard Avenue, to renovations, moving in, getting comfortable and down to work. We’ve had quite the time. Even some of the people that are at Madhouse Creative have changed. Aaron and James joined our team, Erica is out on maternity leave.

We’ve had the privilege to work with many great clients, to continue to build the relationships established over the past few years – Pacific Safety Products, Tourism Kelowna, The Quarry in the Mission, Synergy Events, Spiegel Skillen + Associates, Mountain Realty, Legato Centre, Rent Chalets, Solidó Group, Economic Development Commission of Central Okanagan and BC Tree Fruits, to name but a few.

And we’ve found some new friends along the way – Legend Resorts – Sundance and Verand Beach, the Rykon Group - Manteo Resort and Sonoma Pines, R&B Construction - Legacy, Assured Software, Rutland Glass and Hester Creek Estate Winery.

We’re looking forward to reconnecting with clients. Quails’ Gate Estate Winery worked with us 10 years ago when Madhouse was a one person design studio, then known as T. Moore & Associates. We are very happy Quails’ Gate has chosen to work with us again. And to entering into new relationships, doing more great creative work, and having fun.

Well, I’m off to the backyard to grab a handful of the apricots hanging low on the branches, and to be thankful for the great year that has just passed while thinking about the years to come.

When the competition for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games logo was first launched, Madhouse Creative took a stand against the process that was chosen to develop this very important identity.

It was and continues to be our opinion that this type of speculative competition has a negative impact on our industry. If every agency in Canada participated in this process with the professional approach that a project like this warrants, it would drain millions of dollars of lost billable hours out of our industry. If the proper approach is not taken, it reduces the work that we do to mere sketches void of meaning.

When important buildings are up for design, teams of qualified architects are identified, selected and invited to participate in the process. These groups are provided with full details and direction and are paid a fee for their submissions. Why should it be any different in creating a mark where the rights to use it will be sold for millions of dollars.

It was interesting that the day the logo was released, our office received a faxed letter from the Vancouver Olympic Games Committee stating their unwavering protection of the identity and that no unauthorized use would be tolerated. The letter went on to explain that the licensing of the identity is an important source of income for the Olympic Committee and the fees from these rights help to fund the games. How is it that this important mark isn’t worth proper process or fair professional fees?

In our opinion the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games got what they paid for.

After a month of travels, our Madhouse sign has returned home.

During the night on March 5th our sign disappeared. We assumed it was foul play. The days passed. We began to receive strange postcards and polaroids in the mail. Bizarre articles began to appear in newspapers and magazines. Then we came to work one morning and found our sign standing in the front yard again, just as if nothing had ever happened.

It was a dark and stormy night, and sometime in the wee hours of Friday March 5th, scoundrels made off with our sign.

We always thought we had a clever Madhouse sign, now it’s become a collector’s item. We would like to apologize to all our clients and couriers who have been having difficulty finding our advertising agency at 770 Bernard Avenue in Kelowna.

We were very pleased to discover that our own client, Pacific Safety Products recently nominated Madhouse Creative for the joint Kelowna Chamber of Commerce and Business Development Bank’s - Business Excellence Award.

As we are anxiously awaiting the results from the judges, with the final presentations set for the Awards dinner on Thursday, October 21, we will already feel like winners as a result of the recognition of our business style, from such a strong client like PSP. We are very proud of the relationships we establish with our clients, based on trust, respect and good work with proven results. This is an example that our clients appreciate the same qualities.

Our hats are off to our client Pacific Safety Products.

Another international award was added to our wall this week.

Madhouse Creative of Kelowna, was the recipient of a Mohawk Award of Excellence for the identity package developed for Red Crayon Design. Our client, Tara Sullivan-Woll, Principal of Red Crayon Design, wanted to push the boundaries of stationery design to develop highly visual, playful materials that she could use for her interior design studio. The multi-colour letterhead and plaid drawing pads, and set of business cards have been a big hit and a strong representation of Tara’s progressive design approach.