Transform Awards proud to announce MEA 2024 shortlist

Returning for an eleventh year, the Transform Awards remains the only event in the calendar that celebrates the transformative power of brand strategy, creativity and design throughout the whole of the Middle East and Africa. This year’s shortlist represents the depth and breadth of exciting rebranding and brand development projects in the region.

Last year’s Transform Awards MEA was certainly a memorable one. Held at the lavish Raffles Dubai hotel, it was Charles Zuber and Brand Lounge who stole the show. Along with scooping up an impressive four Golds, two Silvers and three Bronzes, the entry also took home the prestigious ‘Grand prix’. Considered a “daring” design project by highly impressed MEA judges, it set the bar sky high for 2024 entrants. Another project which this year’s shortlisted entrants will hope to emulate was Right Grain and Gene Branding, whose “beautiful” work aptly earned it the ‘Best overall visual identity’.

As always, the entries were meticulously assessed by Transform’s esteemed panel of judges. Hailing from a wide background of prestigious companies, from EuroChem to Sky News Arabia, the judges scoured each and every project before scoring based on each project’s respective merits.  

Additionally, Transform magazine is also excited to announce it will be hosting Transform Live Saudi 2024, a one-day event hosted on 20 May in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – a day prior to the MEA Awards in Dubai, UAE. Offering delegates the chance to explore eight brand design case studies, ranging from audio branding to sustainability, the event promises to be just as exciting as it will be informative.

To be a part of this special event and for more information on it, please visit our dedicated Transform Live Saudi 2024 web page.

The winners of the Transform Awards MEA 2024 are set to be announced at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Jumeirah Beach on 21 May 2024. Reserve your table today.

The full shortlist is as follows:

 

CONTENT

 

Best use of a visual property

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB – ECD Fair

Emaar and Genius Loci – AT.MOSPHERE

iz app by Alinma Bank and Landor

Kerzner International and Birch Creative Limited

Seddiqi Holding and BOND

Trojena and Landor

 

Best brand architecture solution

Careem

Expo City Dubai and Bellwether

NEOM and Landor

Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Endowment and BOND

Saudia Group and Landor

 

Best use of copy style or tone of voice

Careem

Mindset Media and Unisono

Otto and Fludium

Saudiat and Landor

Sindalah and Landor

 

Best brand experience

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB ­– ECD Fair

Ministry of Culture and Accenture Middle East BV

Modon / Surf Abu Dhabi and Bellwether

Play Playground and Rogue

The Macallan and JansenHarris

The National Academy for Childhood Development and ADinB

 

Best use of packaging

Accor + Katara Hospitality and BOND – Vaya!

Century Burger and chemistry

LUFF and chemistry

PepsiCo – Pepsi Big Football Event LTO

Thryve, IFFCO Plant-Based Venture and WMH&I

 

Best wayfinding or signage

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB – ECD Fair

APG Kindergarten and inovaline

Emaar and Genius Loci – AT.MOSPHERE

Emaar and Genius Loci – The Dubai Mall Zabeel Extension

The Ellinikon / LAMDA and Genius Loci

 

Best use of audio branding

Aldar and Sixième Son

AROYA Cruises and MassiveMusic

Careem and MassiveMusic

Saudiat and Landor

The Ministry Of Culture and Sonicbrand

 

Best use of typography

Accor + Katara Hospitality and BOND – Blue Cigar

AROYA Cruises and Insignia Worldwide

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (ithra)

NEOM and Landor

Saudiat and Landor

 

Best place or nation brand

Expo City Dubai and Bellwether

Infracorp and Unisono

 

Best expression of a brand on social media channels

Otto and Fludium

Red Sea Int’l Airport and Brash Agency

Seddiqi Holding and BOND

UCR Qatar and Fludium

 

PROCESS

 

Best external stakeholder relations during a brand development project

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB ­– ECD Fair

 

Best internal communications during a brand development project

Abu Dhabi Airports and Brash Agency

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB ­– ECD Fair

Dubai Health and Landor

 

Best implementation of a brand development project

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB – ECD Fair

Expo City Dubai and Bellwether

Hassana Investment Company and Landor

Khaleeji Bank and Unisono

Modon / Surf Abu Dhabi and Bellwether

Seddiqi Holding and BOND

 

Best localization of an international brand

Innerspace Trading LLC

Safaricom Ethiopia and Landor

 

STRATEGY

 

Best creative strategy (business)

Al Futtaim and BOND

Al Khozama and KEANE

Solutions+ and KNOW Creative

 

Best creative strategy (consumer)

Bahrain Tourism & Exhibition Authority and Limefish Design

eyewa and Freedom.

iz app by Alinma Bank and Landor

Kerzner International and Birch Creative Limited

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (ithra)

LikeCard and Hive Innovative Group

 

Best creative strategy (corporate)

Arabsat and OMNIA

Bapco Energies and Interstate Creative Partners

Expo City Dubai and Bellwether

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company and Landor

Saudia Group and Landor

 

Best brand evolution (business)

ADSS and PINK GREEN

Al Futtaim and BOND

Al Khozama and KEANE

FlyAkeed and Gene Branding

IGC and OHI Leo Burnett

Solutions+ and KNOW Creative

 

Best brand evolution (consumer)

Careem

Century Burger and chemistry

National Finance and Zeenah LLC

Nestle Hot Chocolate and CBA Design

 

Best brand evolution (corporate)

Abu Dhabi Airports and Brash Agency

Arabsat and OMNIA

CATRION and Brash Agency

Expo City Dubai and Bellwether

 

Best strategic or creative development of a new brand

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB – ECD Fair

Accor + Katara Hospitality and BOND – Acoustic

Asteri and Dalziel & Pow Design Consultants

Designed In Saudi and Gene Branding

iz app by Alinma Bank and Landor

Kerzner International and Birch Creative Limited

 

Best development of a new brand in an existing brand portfolio

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB – DAA

Al Futtaim and BOND

House of Artisans and Heritage Comission

Kuwait Finance House / Tam and Bellwether

NEOM Beach Games and Landor

Seddiqi Holding and BOND

 

Best naming strategy (new name)

Accor + Katara Hospitality and BOND – Vaya!

Giddam and Gene Branding

iz app by Alinma Bank and Landor

Kuwait Finance House / Tam and Bellwether

Merwas and Tajalla Agency

Seddiqi Holding and BOND

 

Best naming strategy (rename)

Khaleeji Bank and Unisono

Masar and inovaline

MOTC – Qatar and ORIGIN

NLGIC National Life & General Insurance Company / Liva and Bellwether

 

TYPE

 

Best corporate rebrand following a merger or acquisition

Ethara

Nama and OHI Leo Burnett

NLGIC National Life & General Insurance Company / Liva and Bellwether

 

Best brand development project to reflect a change of mission, values or positioning

Bapco Energies and Interstate Creative Partners

CATRION and Brash Agency

Expo City Dubai and Bellwether

eyewa and Freedom.

Khaleeji Bank and Unisono

Solutions+ and KNOW Creative

 

Best brand consolidation

Bapco Energies and Interstate Creative Partners

Dubai Health and Landor

Expo City Dubai and Bellwether

Nama and OHI Leo Burnett

 

Best rebrand of a digital property

Careem

LikeCard and Hive Innovative Group

Ministry of Culture and Accenture Middle East BV

 

Best employer brand

GSK and Tonic

Hassana Investment Company and Landor

Hilti and Tonic

 

SECTOR

 

Best visual identity by a charity, NGO or NFP

Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Endowment and BOND

Saudi Heritage Preservation Society and Inssain Creative Group Co.

The Climate Tribe and BOND

 

Best visual identity from the energy and utilities sector

Apsco with 33 Advisory and Ishara Design

Bapco Energies and Interstate Creative Partners

Enowa.NEOM and Landor

indi and JansenHarris

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company and Landor

 

Best visual identity from the engineering, manufacturing, industrial and basic materials sector

Al Futtaim and BOND

Big5 and Unisono

Masar and inovaline

 

Best visual identity from the financial services sector

Aani with Al Etihad Payments and OMNIA

Hassana Investment Company and Landor

iz app by Alinma Bank and Landor

Khaleeji Bank and Unisono

Kuwait Finance House / Tam and Bellwether

 

Best visual identity from the FMCG sector

PepsiCo – Chipsy Equity Joy 3.0

PepsiCo – Mirinda Plus Restage

PepsiCo – MTN Dew Oman National Day LTO

Thryve, IFFCO Plant-Based Venture and WMH&I

 

Best visual identity from the food and beverage sector

42 Midtown and KEANE

Accor + Katara Hospitality and BOND – Acoustic

Accor + Katara Hospitality and BOND – Vaya!

Century Burger and chemistry

Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah and JansenHarris

Shangri-La Jeddah and JansenHarris

 

Best visual identity from the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector

Care Medical – Riyadh and Skyne

Dubai Health and Landor

 

Best visual identity from the lifestyle and wellbeing sector

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (ithra)

NLGIC National Life & General Insurance Company / Liva and Bellwether

 

Best visual identity from the oil, gas, mining and extractives sector

NEOM Green Hydrogen Company and Landor

TGT DIAGNOSTICS

 

Best visual identity from the professional services sector

Merwas and Tajalla Agency

Solutions+ and KNOW Creative

 

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

Kooheji Contractors and Unisono

Lootah Real Estate and JansenHarris

Pick Properties and Interstate Creative Partners

Trojena and Landor

 

Best visual identity from the public sector

Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) and ADinB – ECD Fair

Expo City Dubai and Bellwether

MOTC – Qatar and ORIGIN

Muslim Council of Elders (MCE) and ADinB

Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (SCMC) and Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) with ADinB

 

Best visual identity from the retail sector

eyewa and Freedom.

Scent Lab (VIVI) and Epic Lion

Seddiqi Holding and BOND

 

Best visual identity from the sports and leisure sector

Mindset Media and Unisono

Modon / Surf Abu Dhabi and Bellwether

NEOM Beach Games and Landor

Play Playground and Rogue

Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Gene Branding

 

Best visual identity from the technology, media and telecommunications sector

Dadabai Holding (Epix Cinema brand) and Unisono

Lifecycle Software and OMNI Creative

Nine66 and Landor

 

Best visual identity from the transport and logistics sector

DP World and DesignStudio

Port of Duqm and OHI Leo Burnett

Saudiat and Landor

 

Best visual identity from the travel and tourism sector

Abu Dhabi Airports and Brash Agency

Al Khozama and KEANE

AROYA Cruises and Insignia Worldwide

Expo City Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival and OMNIA

Kerzner International and Birch Creative Limited

Trojena and Landor

 

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

 

Brand strategist of the year

Ashish Banerjee – Landor

Ibrahim Lahoud – Brand Lounge

Nina Seredai Udalova – Ninth Space

 

Creative director of the year

Hala Sabbagh – ADinB

Mo Saad – Brand Lounge

Noel Tabb – Bellwether

 

Young contender of the year

Farah Ezz ElDin – ADinB

Rasha Kawar – Landor

Zeinah Khaled – Brand Lounge

 

GRAND ACCOLADES

There is no shortlist for the Best overall visual identity and Grand prix. Everyone shortlisted is eligible and the winner will be announced at the awards ceremony on 21 May 2024.