The past 2 years, I’ve enjoyed being a part of Ogilvy’s partnership with PENCIL and PS 123. Working with the kids (who are all around 11 years old) has certainly been challenging and rewarding. So, when the opportunity arose to attend this year’s PENCIL Spring Gala and get a larger view of the program, I wanted to check it out.

From the very first piece produced by HBO about a couple of the partnerships between the private sector and public schools through the very last award given to a PENCIL partner, I was truly impressed at the participants in the program and the ability of the program to really make a difference in the community.

Check out pencil.org for more information on their programs.

Sporting the new “More Flags More Fun” branding, the Six Flags Myspace relaunched the other day. Pay it a visit. Watch the breakdance video. Get some new Myspace page profile skins. Friend Six Flags. And enjoy.

This happened a while ago, but reporting on it is better late than never. A photo taken by Michael Warren and art directed by myself at last year’s Six Flags photo shoot down at Six Flags Over Texas was featured in this year’s Communication Arts Photography Annual 48. It’s a truly impressive image that takes a simple roller coaster and turns it into a mountainous, imposing figure few would dare tackle.

This work was done through Ogilvy with the help of fantastic creative directors, art buyers, producers, retouchers, and more.

It’s been a long time coming, but now available for your enjoyment is a new mostly vector based desktop called Kyoto Umbrella. This will be the first desktop in a group with a Japanese theme. Sometimes a good vacation is just the thing to get the creative juices flowing! Anyway, head over to the Downloads page and get downloading! Oh, and while you’re at it, check out the newly added Six Flags Redesign portfolio item.

Producing large websites the likes of sixflags.com for a company as unique as Six Flags Theme Parks is an undertaking so large, so full of potential pitfalls, and so amazingly complex that it’s no wonder complete interface to infrastructure redesigns of this size don’t happen all that often. That said, the all new web presence for Six Flags is a huge step into the future everyone involved should be proud of.

Highlights include large expanses of space for gorgeous new photography on nearly every page, massive video streaming at HD resolutions larger than many HDTVs, immersive 360 degree panoramic photography users can use to experience what it’s like to be at the top of the scariest rides on the planet, two original Flash games, over 2000 pages of rewritten copy, and more image assets depicting more rides, stores, events, entertainment, emotions and experiences than you can imagine across numerous park sites coast-to-coast!

The best part is that the new site will only just keep growing with more new content, new features, sweepstakes, partnerships with leading companies and more. So, sign up for the all new Team Six to stay up to date with the latest Six Flags news, but remember that despite the fact that this new site is chock full of experiential content, the only way to get the full Six Flags experience is to visit the one closest to you! Get your tickets, Season Passes, or VIP tours here and enjoy!