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About the Awards

Good design means good business.

The Design Business Association is the UK's most vocal champion of the role of effective design in the creation of business growth. The DBA was founded in 1986 to recognise, communicate and reward the integral role that design effectiveness plays in commercial success.

The most important way of communicating the value of design is by measuring its true effectiveness. The DBA's annual Design Effectiveness Awards are both prestigious and authoritative, the only award scheme that uses commercial data as a key judging criteria. Year after year, winning case studies demonstrate that successful projects require the integration of the design brief with business aims and objectives from the outset. This sets the stage for a transparent and accountable relationship between client and designer that provides the best creative and commercial environment for success.

The case studies also serve to demonstrate the excellent value for money and return on investment that a coherent, well-thought-out and professionally executed design strategy can achieve. In a crowded marketplace, there is no place for one hit wonders; good design and good business are a long-term relationship.

Design delivers. Here’s the proof.

Every year the results from the Design Effectiveness Awards are plotted into the Design Effectiveness League Tables. These show the successful companies who are consistently outperforming their competitors because they value, invest in and effectively manage design.

Gold = 15Grand prix = +10
Silver = 10International Export Award = +5
Bronze = 5 

 

Design Consultancy League Table

This Year Last Year Agency Total 3 Years
1 1 Elmwood 135
2 5 Pearlfisher 90
3 2 The Team 65
4 3 Good 60
5 15 BrandOpus 50
6 15 Blue Marlin 45
6 7 Lewis Moberly 45
6 20 Tayburn 45
9 20 999 Design Group 40
9 15 Design Bridge 40
9 6 Honey Creative 40
9 4 Jones Knowles Ritchie 40
13 - Smith and Milton 35
14 8 Coley Porter Bell 30
14 10 Creative Leap 30
14 8 PDD Group Ltd, London 30
14 - Ziggurat Brands 30
18 10 20/20 25
18 10 DCA Design International 25
18 - Design Activity 25
18 15 Waitrose Graphic Design - Packaging Team 25