Well, I finally did it, I got my entry submitted for the MIX Restyle Contest, and it only took me 2 years. 
(Also viewable here.)
Ever year when this contest comes around I try to get my coworkers at whatever company I'm working at to go in and help me design and submit an entry. You'd think that the various interactive marketing firms here in Portland would jump at this opportunity. I mean, it doesn't even cost anything. It's free advertising. You get to showcase your creativity and design skills (or lack thereof) in front of the top "movers and shakers" in this industry. I just don't understand why there aren't more entries in this contest. Perhaps it's because the creativity and design skills don't come from the firms, but from the individuals. There's a start to an interesting blog entry and subsequent discussion...
Now granted, this type of advertising isn't like a flash ad where you get to control every aspect of your branding and messaging, but look how at the Telerik entry is done. Their username identifies who they are, and therefore I assume understand that this entry is by an individual or team at Telerik. That's all the brand recognition needed. What's important is that I've previously heard of them, I've seen their other advertisements, I know of their products, and now I see them here. In my mind I'm thinking that these guys aren't just one dimensional. I'm thinking that a company which encourages and fosters this type of activity must be a very fun and exciting place to work at. But I believe the most important thing is that because I'm seeing their entry here next to mine it immediately takes them out of the vendor-space and brings them into my social network. They may have been here before as a provider of services, but now they are here as a community participant. So which companies are really grokking Web 2.0? (I'm not talking about marketing-speak, I'm talking about implementation and participation.) I'd have to say that the majority of the interactive marketing firms in Portland just don't get it, and that's sad because they're all using that buzzword.
I spent around 10 total hours on my entry, from concept to inception to submission. However I was lazy and procrastinated and obviously didn't spend enough time on it. You can tell just by looking at it, especially on the bottom half of the page. I came home from work last Thursday night and worked on it right up until the 12:00am deadline. If only I had more artistic skills. I think my concept was really good, though it needed to be fleshed out a bit more. I flat ran out of time in creating my graphical assets, plus I'm not very good at that stuff. 
All in all I'm very pleased with it, especially considering the circumstances. I finally got an entry submitted for this contest and in order to get it done I had to do the whole thing myself. I feel very good about that. Next year will be different. Next year I want to be one of the first entries and not one of the last. For me it's not about winning, but about competing. So many people don't even compete... *shaking head* Join me next year in competing, you don't need to have the skills necessary to win, and you definitely have skills which are better than mine. Join the social, become Web 2.0, be a part of the MIX.