Celebrating Excellence: The Brand Impact Awards 2026 Unveils Visionary Winners

London, UK – October 26, 2026 – The design world is abuzz with the announcement of the Brand Impact Awards 2026 winners. Following a rigorous selection process and a celebratory event that honored the prestigious Best of Show and Social Impact Award recipients, the full roster of Gold, Silver, and Bronze awardees has been unveiled. This year’s competition saw an exceptional display of creativity, strategic thinking, and impactful execution, recognizing 29 agencies and their 41 outstanding projects.

A Rigorous Judging Process for Unparalleled Excellence

The Brand Impact Awards 2026 embraced a refined, three-stage judging process, designed to identify and reward the most compelling and effective brand work globally. An esteemed panel of international experts meticulously evaluated each submission. The process culminated in a specialist panel that benchmarked the Gold winners, ensuring that only the most exceptional projects reached the pinnacle of achievement. This discerning jury also had the honor of selecting the coveted Best of Show winner, while a separate, dedicated panel championed the Social Impact Award.

This meticulous approach resulted in a distinguished list of accolades: four Gold Awards, 17 Silver Awards, and 31 Bronze Awards. Each winner will receive one of the coveted Brand Impact Award mallets, a symbol of their significant contribution to the field of branding. The full list of winners stands as a testament to the innovation and dedication within the design and branding industry.

Best of Show: Reimagining the Museum Experience

This year’s most prestigious award, the Best of Show, was bestowed upon V&A East Storehouse, a transformative project by Fieldwork Facility. This groundbreaking initiative redefines the museum experience, offering the public unprecedented access to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s vast collections. Spanning 16,000 square meters, the Storehouse houses over 250,000 objects, 350,000 books, and 1,000 archives.

The primary challenge for Fieldwork Facility was to craft an intuitive and welcoming environment for this novel museum typology, particularly for younger and more diverse audiences who might feel disconnected from national collections. Their ingenious solution treated the Storehouse as a digital "operating system." Wayfinding was reimagined as a dynamic search and discovery interface, while interpretation encouraged visitors to decode and even "hack" the museum, empowering them to forge their own paths of exploration. This core concept permeated every aspect of the design, from typography and signage to digital content and operational design, creating a cohesive, modular system perfectly suited for a living, evolving collection.

Judges were effusive in their praise. One juror admitted to being "totally obsessed" with the project, while another declared that it "completely reinvented what a museum could be." The V&A East Storehouse has not only secured the highest honor but has also set a new benchmark for cultural institutions, demonstrating how design can foster radical access and personal discovery.

The runner-up for Best of Show was Rail Clock by Design Bridge & Partners. This remarkable experiential project, which also secured a Gold Award, was lauded for its innovative approach to a long-standing public utility.

Social Impact Award: A Powerful Voice for Environmental Advocacy

The Social Impact Award, recognizing brands that drive positive change, was presented to Where There’s a Tree for WWF, a powerful campaign by Johnson Banks. This initiative marks a significant new direction for WWF UK, fostering direct engagement with trusts, corporations, and philanthropists to support its critical work on tropical deforestation, now the charity’s top strategic priority.

The campaign skillfully addressed the challenge of connecting the public’s perception of WWF with its iconic animals (orangutans, elephants, pandas) to the urgent issue of their rainforest habitats. Johnson Banks developed a compelling narrative that explained the importance of these ecosystems for both wildlife and indigenous communities, while also dissecting the complex supply chains driving forest loss.

Instead of resorting to the typical doomsday messaging often associated with environmental campaigns, the agency flipped the narrative. The campaign centers around the simple, poetic opening line, "Where there’s a tree…" This approach highlights everything a tree, and by extension a forest, provides. The shift in tone has reframed the conversation around deforestation, offering a flexible structure that can deliver potent messages when necessary, starkly illustrating the consequences of loss.

Judges hailed the campaign as an "infinite storytelling device" capable of "express[ing] the complexities of ecological challenges and relationships in a pithy, meaningful way." The versatility of the structure and its ability to convey realities with wit and empathy were particularly commended.

The runner-up for the Social Impact Award was For What Matters in Childhood by UnitedUs, a project lauded for its ambitious concept and excellent execution. This brilliant initiative also earned a Bronze Award in the Not-For-Profit category.

Gold Award Winners: Setting the Standard for Brand Excellence

The four Gold Award recipients represent the pinnacle of brand strategy and creative execution, showcasing projects that have demonstrably made a significant impact.

New York Philharmonic, by JKR: This comprehensive rebrand repositioned the New York Philharmonic as an inclusive, contemporary institution deeply connected to the city. JKR drew inspiration from New York’s own visual language, employing tall, condensed typography to echo Manhattan’s verticality, illustrations that imbue classical symbols with street-level attitude, and a palette balancing stark monochrome with vibrant city energy. The system masterfully integrates across all touchpoints, reflecting New York’s layered scale, rhythm, and diversity, and presenting classical music as a current, shared experience woven into the fabric of city life.

Rail Clock, by Design Bridge and Partners: Marking 200 years since Britain’s first railway, this project addressed the long-standing absence of a unified clock design across the national rail network. Design Bridge and Partners’ winning entry, Rail Clock, animates Gerry Barney’s iconic Double Arrow symbol, incorporating the passage of time into its design. The physical build features back-to-back screens that echo the arrow’s profile, utilizing a modular, low-cost, and low-maintenance British-made design. Enhanced accessibility features and an updated Rail Alphabet 2 typeface ensure clarity and inclusivity. Rail Clock has garnered significant praise and is set for gradual rollout across 2,500 mainline stations.

Stella Artois – Dressed for Wimbledon, by JKR x GUT Amsterdam: In a nod to Wimbledon’s strict all-white dress code, this campaign saw Stella Artois embrace convention by introducing a limited-edition White Can. Almost entirely white, save for a subtle rim trim, the can adheres to the tournament’s aesthetic. Brand marks are debossed for understated visibility, akin to sportswear logos. A Wimbledon-inspired purple and green rim trim and individual numbering from 1 to 148 (for each year of the dress code’s existence) added unique touches. The can anchored a 360-degree campaign that leveraged Wimbledon’s traditions for contemporary relevance and historical resonance.

V&A East Storehouse, by V&A East / Fieldwork Facility: As detailed in the Best of Show section, this project’s innovative approach to museum branding and visitor experience earned it a Gold Award alongside its top honor. The V&A East Storehouse is celebrated for its "operating system" concept, transforming wayfinding and interpretation into tools for radical access and personal discovery, setting a new standard for cultural engagement.

Silver Award Winners: Innovation and Impact Across Sectors

The 17 Silver Award recipients showcase a diverse range of industries and demonstrate exceptional creativity and strategic prowess.

Aperol, by Design Bridge and Partners: This bottle redesign for Aperol captures the essence of the Italian aperitivo, emphasizing slowing down and savoring moments. The tactile bottle design features subtle nods to Venetian culture and craftsmanship, grounding the brand in its history while embracing a contemporary aesthetic.
Aqua Libra – Refreshingly Good, by Magpie Studio: Aqua Libra sought to make hydration more appealing without sugar or additives. Magpie Studio developed the "Refreshingly Good" platform, creating unique water-based worlds for each flavor through the charming illustrations of Chris DeLorenzo. The loose, handcrafted linework and imperfect details imbue the brand with warmth and humanity, prioritizing imagination and discovery over functional health claims.
Blueprint AI – Human Powered, by Squarespace / ManvsMachine: For Squarespace’s Blueprint AI film, ManvsMachine framed artificial intelligence through the lens of human creativity. The film traces a website’s origin from a designer’s sketchbook, blending practical effects with 3D animation to maintain a sense of physicality. By centering the act of thinking, the film grounds AI in relatable human experience.
Canva Affinity: Zero Bucks Given, by Canva / ManvsMachine: This launch campaign for Canva’s Affinity software reframed "free" as creative freedom. ManvsMachine created an expressive visual system combining 2D and 3D animation, kinetic typography, and hand-drawn illustration, focusing on the emotional experience of creation. A unique element included building a key animation sequence from frames submitted by real Affinity users, fostering a sense of community.
Character.ai, by PORTO ROCHA: Character.ai aimed to be an immersive entertainment platform. PORTO ROCHA developed "Chippy," a "good glitch" character inspired by early internet culture and companion misfits. Chippy’s voice of creative disobedience and internet-native phrasing makes the brand feel as alive and imaginative as the platform itself.
Eleven as One, by Saboteur: Addressing the lack of women-designed football kits, Eleven as One focuses on the emotion and connection of grassroots women’s football. The brand’s voice, guided by player stories, emphasizes humor and warmth, encouraging women to wear the feeling football gives them.
Heineken StarMark Glass, by Design Bridge and Partners: This project aimed to create a signature, globally iconic Heineken glass. Design Bridge and Partners drew on the brand’s recognizable elements – the "smiling e’s" and the red star – to create the StarMark Glass. The design integrates the "perfect pour" ritual into its physical form, leaving a distinctive condensation mark on the bar.
Holt Art Projects, by Studio Sutherl&: The identity for Holt Art Projects is inspired by flint, a material deeply tied to Holt’s history and architecture. The system uses multifaceted forms that reference flint’s fractured surfaces, echoing the knapped flint walls found throughout Holt’s buildings. This modular language reflects the breadth of the program’s offerings.
KFC, by JKR: Facing declining sales, KFC sought to re-establish relevance. JKR transformed the iconic bucket into an organizing system for the entire brand experience, creating the "Bucketverse." This system ensures consistency across over 34,000 restaurants globally, positioning KFC as a "quick-experience" provider.
League of the Lexicon, by Studio Sutherl&: This trivia game for word enthusiasts is supported by an identity that celebrates typography, history, and linguistics. Glyphs from ancient alphabets are woven into the logo and gameplay icons, forming patterns inspired by traditional bookplates. Custom roundels and bespoke illustrations bring the game’s eccentric characters and artifacts to life.
Ostara, by Here design: For Fortnum & Mason’s Easter packaging, Here design drew inspiration from the pagan festival of spring and the lesser-known myth behind Easter’s origin. Commissioned illustrator Lou Benesch brought this world to life in watercolor, focusing on the hare as the protagonist and creating a cohesive visual language across more than 20 products.
PJL, Premier Jumping League, by NOT Wieden+Kennedy: To reframe showjumping as a high-adrenaline sport, NOT Wieden+Kennedy anchored the identity in the sport’s iconic rail. The logo subtly incorporates the moment a horse clears the rail, and the tone of voice is bold and confident, emphasizing the partnership between horse and rider.
Plymouth City Brand, by DNCO: Recognizing Plymouth’s potential beyond tourism, DNCO developed a brand strategy centered on "adventure." The identity draws on the city’s unique position between a national park and a national marine park, its high quality of life, and its legacy of exploration, encapsulated in the tagline "Make life an adventure."
Probably Serif, by Taxi Studio: This project translates Carlsberg’s 150-year heritage of balancing science and imagination into a full typeface. Taxi Studio deconstructed the 1904 brandmark to build a system that ensures Carlsberg remains recognizable even without its logo, a critical advantage in markets with restricted alcohol promotion.
Schweppes, by JKR: To reclaim its craft credentials amidst a surge of artisanal newcomers, Schweppes underwent a strategic redesign. JKR unified the brand’s fragmented global look around a saffron-yellow beacon, drawing on archive research to incorporate ornate detailing and patterns. The redesign emphasizes Schweppes’ position as the world’s original soft drink.
Somer Valley Brewing, by Supple Studio: The identity for Somer Valley Brewing is built around the concept "From our land, to your hand." Supple Studio collaborated with illustrator Simon Spilsbury to create brand assets directly on the farm, using textures from hay bales and tractor wheels. Beer names draw on farmyard sayings and West Country slang, giving the brand a distinct regional voice.
WKD, by Continuous: WKD revitalized its brand for 18-24-year-olds with the platform "All Fun. No Filters." This approach embraces self-aware humor and honesty, moving away from aspirational tones. A "Humour Matrix" co-created with the target audience ensured the messaging was appropriately cheeky.

Bronze Award Winners: Demonstrating Diverse Excellence

The 31 Bronze Award recipients represent a broad spectrum of outstanding brand work, each contributing significantly to their respective fields.

Best of the Bone, by Universal Favourite: This brand for bone broth emphasizes blunt honesty and real ingredients, eschewing wellness mysticism. The tone is dry, irreverent, and deliberately unpolished, fostering a deep connection with its loyal following.
Blood Cancer United, by JKR: This rebrand unified the efforts of the Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society under a new name, Blood Cancer United, and a consistent visual language. The identity ensures that everyone affected by blood cancer knows they are not alone.
For What Matters in Childhood, by UnitedUs: This rebrand for Buttle, a charity supporting children in crisis, shifts from deficit-based narratives to one of dignity, agency, joy, and hope. Co-designed with young people, the identity amplifies children’s voices and influences national policy.
Hellmann’s Lifts It, by Design Bridge and Partners: Centered on the insight that consumers are tired of food fads, this campaign positions Hellmann’s as the enhancer of everyday meals. The refreshed identity features an amplified blue ribbon symbol and a new "H" monogram, leading to measurable gains in consumer perception.
Joby Aviation, by TinyWins: To convey the promise of all-electric flight, TinyWins developed a motion language inspired by aviation’s golden age. Typography, transitions, and interface elements move with the rhythm of flight, building wonder while explaining innovation.
Kiko Martins: A Culinary Journey, by Peter Schmidt Group: This identity for Michelin-starred chef Kiko Martins uses geographic coordinates to represent his travels and culinary influences. The minimalist yet story-rich approach positions him as a cosmopolitan figure and his dishes as cross-cultural creations.
KFC, by JKR / JKR x Studio DRAMA: This project reoriented KFC’s expression around the slogan "Finger Lickin’ Good." Illustrations by global artists and a storytelling typographic system using red stripes create a consistent yet localized brand experience.
Lenovo Legion – Always Get Back Up, by Design Bridge and Partners: This campaign for gamers highlights the journey of loss before victory. The film transforms a student flat into a battle zone using advanced VFX, and a community competition allowed fans to design a boss, fostering engagement.
Little Dish – Happy Healthy Mealtimes, by Derek&Eric: The rebrand for Little Dish shifts focus from nutrition to the joy of family mealtimes. A refined icon, playful illustration world, and bespoke typography create a flexible system designed for growth and maintaining parental trust.
Lost and Found by King’s Culture, by Alphabetical: This identity for a year-long arts program about displacement and sanctuary behaves like the stories it represents. Fragmenting letterforms express journeys of resilience, with individual letters serving as flexible frames for artists and events.
Moncler x Gilga Farm, by Moncler / WeSayHi / ManvsMachine: This collaboration reinterprets Moncler’s heritage care-label comic strip with Donald Glover’s Gilga Farm. A dreamlike film blends hand-drawn animation and 3D cloth simulation, linking Moncler’s heritage to the new collection with originality and craft.
Nordeste, by Design Bridge and Partners: The "Nordeste Além" (Northeast Beyond) campaign reveals the diverse and exuberant Brazilian Northeast. A bird symbol, built from geometric shapes and colors inspired by local traditions, synthesizes diverse cultures into one modular identity.
NYCFC – The Five Borough Flight, by Tavern Agency: To engage New Yorkers during the FIFA Club World Cup, Tavern Agency created a guerrilla activation featuring a giant inflatable pigeon. This stunt, coupled with smaller teasing content, generated significant buzz and social media engagement.
Plymouth City Brand, by DNCO: This comprehensive brand strategy positions Plymouth as a city for adventure, drawing on its unique geography and legacy of exploration. The identity incorporates a bespoke arrow logo and a flexible pattern system inspired by contour maps.
Saboteur, by Saboteur: The brand studio Saboteur finally has an identity that reflects its rebellious, freedom-first spirit, drawing inspiration from the historical "saboteurs" who resisted automation. The clog motif runs through all aspects of the brand, setting it apart in the sector.
Saudi Now, by Alphabetical: This platform for Saudi-UK cultural exchange features a single bilingual wordmark that gives equal weight to both Arabic and English, expressing dialogue. A flexible graphic device derived from the Arabic letter ‘N’ extends into pattern and animation.
Somer Valley Brewing, by Supple Studio: The identity for Somer Valley Brewing emphasizes its farm-to-glass ethos with textures created on the farm and farm-inspired illustrations. The brand’s distinct regional voice is evident across all touchpoints.
St John’s College Rebrand, by Kit Studio: This rebrand establishes an independent visual identity for St John’s College, Durham, distinct from its parent institution. A restored coat of arms, refined shield, and SJ monogram form the core of a system drawing from the college’s architecture and traditions.
SZCZĘSNY | Amazon Prime Video, by Studio Sutherl&: The identity and motion graphics for this documentary about goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny are built around his ability to fill the goal. A variable typeface expands and compresses to fill the frame, creating a dynamic visual narrative.
The Creative I for Imperial College London, by The Click: This repositioning campaign moves beyond generic credibility to own Imperial College London’s unique strengths. 24 bespoke marks, each representing a department, share a geometric footprint and single-color discipline, creating a unified institutional identity.
UEFA EURO 2028, by VML Branding: The central idea, "We All Speak Football," uses the sport as a universal language to unite communities. The identity translates fan chants into a flexible visual system, with the logo depicting a roar emanating from the trophy.
Where there’s a tree (WWF), by Johnson Banks: This campaign for WWF UK’s deforestation work reframes the narrative from doom to the provision of life. The opening line, "Where there’s a tree…", emphasizes the positive aspects of forests before highlighting the consequences of loss.
Zudo, by DNCO x Victory: This development project for a new mixed-use site in Amsterdam is branded as a "village." Multi-layered illustrations by Luis Mendo depict village life, with individual scenes adaptable across various platforms and designed to grow with the development.

The Brand Impact Awards 2026 once again celebrates the transformative power of design and branding, recognizing the visionary work that shapes our world and influences culture. The awarded projects serve as inspiring examples of creativity, strategy, and impactful execution, setting a high bar for the industry in the years to come.