It’s almost another year around the sun and Mother Nature put the pedal to the metal in 2024. In what was a lightning-fast year, there is so much to be grateful for and to remember! Thank you to our friends and clients who supported us all year long. We can’t do this without you. Your continued partnership means the world to my team and to me.
This year marked some fun highlights, such as our launch of ICONIC LIFE Longevity, “Your Guide to Living Long and Living Well.” I loved our inaugural issue in January because we used so many fresh and beautiful images and having a single theme throughout this issue made everything work so well together. It’s one of my faves this year.
In April, we published our historic Black & White issue, an issue that was printed in black and white on special paper. Our own Nakayla Shakespeare suggested the idea early in the year, and her vision was fully realized when we recently won an award for this single issue at the national magazine Folio Eddie and Ozzie Awards in New York last month. Seeing our clients get excited about this issue was so fun, and it will always be a part of the ICONIC legacy.
We partnered with celebrity fashion designer Zang Toi in August for this cover. His national status as one of the leading names in fashion is impressive. He served as creative director for our fashion shoot alongside our cover photographer, Mark Sacro, who has shot every ICONIC LIFE cover minus one, and the result was mind-blowing. Enjoy this fashion spread. It’s a good one! Thank you, Zang and Mark; we love you!
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In September, we did the unimaginable; we got 26 designers in one room for an ICONIC photoshoot celebrating the culmination of four years of our Top Designer recognition. Our Vanity Fair-style pull-out showcases all these unique talents in our community.
The second year of the ICONIC Design Awards doubled in size with entries and attendees. Our September awards gala has become the design industry’s biggest night out in full black-tie glamor. I loved seeing our friends and clients on stage presenting awards to their peers, and this year’s award, produced by Allan Rosenthal of Linear Fine Woodworking and designed by Alfonso Verduzco, should win an award itself! We can’t wait to celebrate year three on October 11, 2025. The entry portal opens on January 15, 2025.
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By the end of the year, we will have produced 20 original and comprehensive events for our clients in Scottsdale, Orange County and two in Palm Desert. We must be creative in our approach and deliver a first-class event. That is the ICONIC brand.
Speaking of Palm Desert, we will launch The Desert Collection of ICONIC LIFE magazine in 2025, serving Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio, Rancho Mirage, La Quinta and Indian Wells. We are super excited to launch this brand extension in a growing market.
Thank you mostly to my team, who works tirelessly and passionately to produce the leading luxury magazine in Scottsdale. I couldn’t be more proud, excited for the future and appreciative of your support!
Wishing you happy holidays and a new year filled with health, success, new pursuits and new passions!
With Gratitude,
Renee M. Dee
Publisher
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