Award win is the business for United by Design
A Yorkshire graphic design agency is celebrating the news that it has won a second prestigious industry award for 2015.
United by Design, based in York, has been included in the list of 61 agencies that will receive one of the internationally-renowned Design Effectiveness Awards from the prestigious Design Business Association. The agency was selected for its branding and packaging for York’s Treboom brewery.
These authoritative awards recognise not only creative talent, but also the measured benefits that are delivered by design, proving its value to the client. Since working with United by Design Treboom has exceeded its monthly sales targets by an average of 122% and has outperformed the market sector by 723%.
After two rigorous rounds of judging, United by Design found itself in the company of some of the biggest graphic design agencies in the UK that have created branding for prominent businesses such as Twinings, Fortnum & Mason and Diageo. Entries were judged on a demanding range of criteria, with the panel consisting of CEOs of globally renowned businesses, including TV ‘dragon’ Deborah Meaden, as well as top marketeers from organisations such as Coca Cola, British Airways and GlaxoSmithKline.
Chairman of the Judges, Andrew Summers of Design Partners, says “The DBA Design Effectiveness Awards are unique in focusing on the commercial results of design, and it’s fantastic to see such a diverse shortlist this year, demonstrating the wide-ranging impact design is increasingly wielding across many different sectors of industry and areas of activity”.
The United by Design team will be presented with its award – and discover whether it is gold, silver or bronze – at a black tie dinner in London in February.
United by Design’s owner and Creative Director, Owen Turner, says “We are absolutely delighted to be receiving an award at this level, especially in the company of many agencies much bigger than ourselves. To be named alongside major industry player such as Elmwood, Pearlfisher, The Engine Room and Brand Opus is a real honour! Our concept behind the Treboom bottle labels was to tell a story in a simplified and entertaining way, with a central focal point for each design. The personality of each ale is brought to life, but the whole range still has a similar distinct look and feel”.
Jane Blackman, co-owner at Treboom, says “For a relatively new microbrewery we needed to make people aware of Treboom and tempt them to try our beers for the first time. The label designs have made a huge impact on our confidence in promoting our brand. Without a doubt they have grabbed the attention of buyers and consumers in a very crowded market. We feel the designs portray the right image for the brewery, making us proud not only of our beers but also the image they project”. Treboom’s bottled ales are now on sale in esteemed locations such as the Tate Modern museum and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The DBA award is the latest in a series of accolades United by Design has recently received for its work. Earlier this year the company won bronze for its Treboom work in the packaging category of the prestigious A’ Design Awards, and was also included in The Drum Independent Agencies Census for 2015. This is an industry report compiled by The Drum, a leading design publication, in partnership with the Recommended Agency Register. Design businesses listed in this are considered the best in the country, and United by Design was included in the top 25 small agencies in the peer-to-peer category.
Owen Turner concludes “It is absolutely amazing for a small agency like United by Design to receive international recognition of this kind, particularly as the DBA Awards are not simply about design but also design effectiveness; helping businesses to grow by providing unique creative solutions that make a real difference to their bottom line – which is what we always aim do for all our clients”.
