Shortlist announced for 2021 Transform Awards MEA

Transform magazine is proud to announce the shortlist for the 2021 Transform Awards Middle East and Africa, the only awards programme celebrating the transformative power of rebranding and brand development in the region.

“The Transform Awards continues to benchmark the best of brand strategy, creativity and design. Remarkably this has been a record year for the awards programme within the Middle East and Africa, and I would like to thank all of those who understand its importance and who have continued to support the Transform Awards," says Andrew Thomas, publishing editor of Transform magazine and founder of the Transform Awards.

Some of the most hotly contended categories were ‘Best brand experience,’ ‘Best implementation of a brand development project,’ ‘Best visual identity from the financial services sector,’ and ‘Best visual identity from the public sector’ all of which had six companies shortlisted.

Each entry was examined by a panel of judges from the likes of TikTok, BMW Group, Toyota UAE and BANK ABC,  among others. The judges focused on creativity, innovation, strategic excellence and implementation when they determined which organisations demonstrated excellence in rebranding and brand strategy.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner held in Dubai on 25 May.

The full shortlist is as follows:

CONTENT

Best use of a visual property

Dubai Culture and Bellwether

Dusit Thani and RUYA

Hala and Bellwether

Shahid and Landor & Fitch

Yelo and Landor & Fitch

Best brand architecture solution

MKU and Brand Lounge

Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) and Landor & Fitch

Waqf Sulaiman Alrajhi and Brand Lounge

Best use of copy style or tone of voice

Al Fay Park (DMT) and All About Brands

Black Stripe and Unisono

Jumeirah and Brand Lounge

Ministry of Tourism and Bassmat Integrated & Digital Agency

Piramal Mahalaxmi and RUYA

Best brand experience

Dubai Airports - Learning and development festival and KNOW Creative

Etihad and Sixieme Son

Ministry of tourism and Bassmat Integrated & Digital Agency

Razin and Blue Hat

Shahid and Landor & Fitch

TYM and MBLM

Best use of packaging

Almarai and Lonsdale

Bushra Meat and OHI Leo Burnett

Messinis Olive Grove S.A. and Multiply Marketing Consultancy

PepsiCo

URBO and Landor & Fitch

Best wayfinding or signage

Al Fay Park (DMT) and All About Brands

Best use of audio branding

Etihad Airways and Sixieme Son

Majid Al Futtaim

National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Landor & Fitch

Best use of typography

Hinu and Skyne

SARVEST & Brand Lounge

The Emirates and RUYA

Zohoor and Unisono

ZY and Skyne

Best place or nation brand

AMAALA and Landor & Fitch

Hinu and Skyne

Public Diplomacy Office and Landor & Fitch

The Emirates and RUYA

PROCESS

Best internal communication during a brand development project

Salehiya and Brand Lounge

TGT Diagnostics

Zohoor and Unisono

Best implementation of a brand development project

Dubai Culture and Bellwether

Ma'an and All About Brands

Mobily and Bellwether

Nupco and Bellwether

OSN and Bellwether

Salehiya and Brand Lounge

STRATEGY

Best creative strategy

AMAALA and Landor & Fitch

Dubai Culture and Bellwether

Nupco and Bellwether

OSN and Bellwether

Yelo and Landor & Fitch

Best brand evolution

Mobily and Bellwether

OneHive and Skyne

OSN and Bellwether

Saudi Sports for all Federation and Landor & Fitch

Shahid and Landor & Fitch

Best strategic or creative development of a new brand

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and Gulf Advertising in Business FZLLC (ADinB)

Hala and Bellwether

Pitstop Lagos and Arden & Newton

SARVEST and Brand Lounge

Yelo and Landor & Fitch

Best development of a new brand within an existing brand portfolio

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and Gulf Advertising in Business (ADinB)

Ajyal Space and Landor & Fitch

Kenya Commercial Bank and Landor & Fitch

SARVEST and Brand Lounge

TGT Diagnostics

Best naming strategy

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and Gulf Advertising in Business FZLLC (ADinB)

Ardova PLC and Arden & Newton

MKU and Brand Lounge

OneHive and Skyne

SARVEST and Brand Lounge

Yelo and Landor & Fitch

TYPE

Best corporate rebrand following a merger or acquisition

Ardova PLC and Arden & Newton

MAG Group and RUYA

Best brand development project to reflect changed mission values or positioning

AMAALA and Landor & Fitch

Dubai Culture and Bellwether

OSN and Bellwether

Saudi Sports for all Federation and Landor & Fitch

Yelo and Landor & Fitch

Best rebrand of a digital property

Ajdan and Unisono

Barka Desalination and OHI Leo Burnett

Goody Kitchen and Landor & Fitch

OSN and Bellwether

Papercut Factory and Brand Provoke Consultants

TYM and MBLM

SECTOR

Best visual identity by a charity, NGO or not-for-profit

Click Learning and Epic Lion

Elevate an initiative by Nama and Brand Lounge

GoLokal and Skyne

Shamsaha and Unisono

Waqf Sulaiman Alrajhi and Brand Lounge

Best visual identity from the education sector

Abu Dhabi Youth Barzah and RUYA

Ajyal Space and Landor & Fitch

Click Learning and Epic Lion

Emirates Youth School Competitions and RUYA

Best visual identity from the energy and utilities sector

Ajman Sewerage and Brand Lounge

Ta'ziz and All About Brands

TGT Diagnostics

Best visual identity from the engineering and manufacturing sector

Trans Asia Pipeline Services and Jpd

Best visual identity from the farming and agriculture sector

Fertiglobe and All About Brands

OneHive and Skyne

TYM and MBLM

Best visual identity from the financial services sector

ADQ and All About Brands

Ellae Branding Agency

Esterad and Unisono

National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Landor & Fitch

NBK - National Bank of Kuwait and Landor & Fitch

SARVEST and Brand Lounge

Best visual identity from the FMCG sector

URBO and Landor & Fitch

Best visual identity from the food and beverage sector

Almarai and Lonsdale

Black Stripe and Unisono

Goody Kitchen and Landor & Fitch

Knorhoek Gin and Navy Creative

Lexx at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi and Fludium

Best visual identity from the healthcare and pharmaceuticals sector

Digitum and Brand Lounge

Nupco and Bellwether

Salehiya & Brand Lounge

Best visual identity from the lifestyle and wellbeing sector

AMAALA and Landor & Fitch

Le Joyau d'Olive and Tagbrands

RWRD and RUYA

Saudi Sports for all Federation and Landor & Fitch

URBO and Landor & Fitch

Best visual identity from the professional services sector

Gulf Researcher and Unisono

HLO and K&i

Kayishha and Skyne

Raees & Co and Unisono

Best visual identity from the property, construction and facilities management sector

AlDyar Alarabiya and Brand Lounge

Chaimaa Avenue and RUYA

MAG City and RUYA

Best visual identity from the public sector

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) TAKWEEN and Gulf Advertising in Business (ADinB)

Abu Dhabi Youth Forum and RUYA

Dubai Culture and Bellwether

Public Diplomacy Office and Landor & Fitch

Saudi Sports for all Federation and Landor & Fitch

The Emirates and RUYA

Best visual identity from the retail sector

Mo'an and Skyne

Rasasi and Landor & Fitch

Royse and RUYA

Zohoor and Unisono

Best visual identity from the sports, travel, leisure, and tourism sector

AMAALA and Landor & Fitch

Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts and The Adroit Agency

Hinu and Skyne

Pura and RUYA

Best visual identity from the technology, media and telecommunication sector

Mobily and Bellwether

OSN and Bellwether

Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) and Landor & Fitch

Best visual identity from the transport and logistics sector

Bahri and Landor & Fitch

Hala and Bellwether

Yelo and Landor & Fitch

The ‘Best overall visual identity’ and ‘Grand Prix’ winners will be revealed at the ceremony 25 May, at the V Hotel, Dubai.