MENA 2016: The shortlist
Following the recent success of the Transform Awards Europe, which saw over 400 delegates enjoy a night of prizes, champagne and branding innovation, the Transform Middle East and North Africa Awards 2016 shortlist has been announced.
Recognising the very best in brand development, brand advancement and strategic partnerships, the Transform Awards MENA will be held in Dubai on 18 May. In recent years, the Middle East and North Africa has seen a surge in branding projects, expanding its remit to encompass a wide variety of visual identities and strategies.
Year on year, the quality of submissions continues to improve. Transform is now a truly global institution, with ceremonies to benchmark branding excellence also held annually in Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.
Such has this regional interest in branding and brand strategy grown, that the Transform Awards MENA 2016 this year enjoyed a record number of submissions. Making the shortlist are 68 brands and their agencies, in sectors ranging from education, to finance, to tourism – the variety on show highlights true diversity in the branding world.
Andrew Thomas, publishing editor of Transform magazine, says, “This year’s shortlist sees a record number of brands represented – a staggering 36% increase from last year. To some degree this highlights the importance that agencies and brands alike attach to winning at the Transform Awards.”
“It is mainly, however, a reflection of the brand work being done in the region, and through the awards programme Transform magazine is delighted to showcase the journeys these brands make.”
The most innovative, inspiring and transformational projects will be vying to win the prestigious Transform accolades, as decided by the Transform MENA judging panel, which includes individuals from Nestle, du, Abu Dhabi Media and Shell, to name but a few.
Also available will be the coveted ‘Best overall visual identity’ and Grand Prix awards, presented on the night to the collaborations with the overall highest scores.
The 2016 shortlist includes entries from Alef Group and Brand Union, Dettol and G Creative, Ajman Tourism Development Department and MBLM, Moroccan National Tourism Office and Spring, and Commercial Bank of Dubai and Industry.
Preceded during the day by the annual Transform Middle East Brand Summit, both events will take place at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah. For more information on the work Transform does, or to get involved in the awards ceremony, contact events assistant Amy Nguyen on +44(0)20 7998 6263, or email anguyen@transformmagazine.net.
For the full list of nominees, see below:
CONTENT
Best use of a visual property
Abu Dhabi Sports Council and CBA Memac
Alef Group and Brand Union
Bank Muscat and OHI Leo Burnett
Borouge and MBLM
Seha and G Creative
Vodafone and Brand Union
Best brand architecture solution
Al Habtoor City and Ruya
Bank Muscat and TBWA\ZEENAH
VOX and Bellwether
Best use of copy style/tone of voice
Sapphire
Jumeriah Restaurants and JansenHarris
General Motors Corporation and Grow
Best brand experience
Borouge and MBLM
Brown-Forman and JansenHarris
Commercial Bank of Dubai and Industry
Dettol and G Creative
Sapphire and Frog
Best use of packaging
ADCB and StartJG
Brown-Forman and JansenHarris
du and Bellwether
MMRCGI and Bellwether
Vodafone and Brand Union
Best audio branding
Al Aan and Turquoise Branding
Best use of typography
Ajman Tourism Development Department and MBLM
Awasr and Bellwether
Edara and Bellwether
GFH and Unisono
Makarem and Landor
Best place or nation brand
Ajman Tourism Development Department and MBLM
Alef Group and Brand Union
GFH and Unisono
Kenya Ministry of Tourism and G Creative
King Abdullah Economic City and Turquoise Branding
Moroccan National Tourism Office and Spring
PROCESS
Best external stakeholder relations during a brand development project
MBRCGI and Bellwether
Best internal communications during a brand development project
Boubyan Bank and MBLM
DP World and Brand Union
Best implementation of a brand development project
AZM University and Tagbrands
DP World and Brand Union
Grayling and G Creative
Kaya and Bellwether
AIBA International Boxing Association and Grow
VOX and Bellwether
STRATEGY
Best creative strategy
Arkad and Unisono
GSA and Bladonmore
Kaya and Bellwether
King Abdullah Economic City and Turquoise Branding
Moroccan National Tourism Office and Spring
VOX and Bellwether
Best brand evolution
Al Aan and Turquoise Branding
DP World and Brand Union
GSA and Bladonmore
Kaya and Bellwether
Makarem and Landor
VOX and Bellwether
Best strategic/creative development of a new brand
Abu Dhabi Sports Council and CBA Memac
AZM University and Tagbrands
edara and Bellwether
Sapphire and Lippincott
nawah and Brand Lounge
Sharjah Book Authority and Brand Union
Best naming strategy
Arkad and Unisono
Awasr and Bellwether
edara and Bellwether
Sapphire and Lippincott
MAF Finance and Unisono
TYPE
Best brand development to reflect changed mission/values/positioning
Abu Dhabi Sports Council and CBA Memac
Alo and Bellwether
Bank Al Bilad and Brand Union
Bahrain Finance Company and from6 communications
Commercial Bank of Dubai and Industry
Gulf Finance and StartJG
Gürallar and Landor
Union Bank and Landor
VOX and Bellwether
Best brand consolidation
Bank Muscat and TBWA\ZEENAH
VOX and Bellwether
Best rebrand of a digital property
Commercial Bank of Dubai and Industry
Entrepreneurs’ Organisation (Bahrain Chapter) and Unisono
MAF Finance and Unisono
QADIC and Industry
Red Bull Malja and Unisono
VOX and Bellwether
SECTOR
Best visual identity from the education sector
AZM University and Tagbrands
Jebel Ali School and Bellwether
King Abdullah Economic City and Turquoise Branding
Layton Preparatory School and Ellae Creative Design Agency
Sharjah Book Authority and Brand Union
Best visual identity from the energy & extractives sector
The Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) and Siegel+Gale
NPCC and Ruya
Best visual identity from the financial services sector
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and StartJG
Bank ABC and Brand Union
Commercial Bank of Dubai and Industry
Gulf Finance and StartJG
MAF Finance and Unisono
Union Bank and Landor
Best visual identity from the healthcare & pharmaceuticals sector
HealthBay and Omnia
Kaya and Bellwether
Best visual identity from the industrial & basic materials sector
Arkad and Unisono
CBG and Omnia
DuBox and Latitude
Best visual identity from the professional services sector
Edara and Bellwether
JLA Architecture and Omnia
Quadrat and Unisono
Best visual identity from the property sector
Al Habtoor City and Ruya
Alef Group and Brand Union
GFH and Unisono
King Abdullah Economic City and Turquoise Branding
Texture and Ruya
Best visual identity from the public sector
Abu Dhabi Sports Council and CBA Memac
Best visual identity from the retail sector
PRECISE Group and MBLM
Provedore and Ruya
Yamanote and Ruya
Best visual identity from the technology, media & telecommunications sector
Al Aan and Turquoise Branding
Alo and Bellwether
Awasr and Bellwether
Cognit and Omnia
Sapphire and Lippincott
Best visual identity from the travel & leisure sector
Shurooq (Al Noor Island) and Omnia
dans and StartJG
King Abdullah Economic City and Turquoise Branding
Makarem and Landor
Morrocan National Tourism Office and Spring
VOX and Bellwether
