The objective of the Benchmark Awards is to set a standard in the recognition of excellence in brand communications. They differ subtly, but significantly, from traditional awards schemes. In terms of scope, the entry Categories represent market sectors rather than design applications.
The 2009 Benchmark Awards took place at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Tuesday 1st December. On the night Williams Murray Hamm was awarded first place in the Retail category for its design of the Recipease food kits for Jamie Oliver Enterprises.
Entrants are judged on the consistency of the brand message (within the programme or across the campaign), overall creativity and innovation achieved within the constraints of the brand guidelines. The judges also consider the appropriateness within the relevant market sector.
Recipease is an original food outlet developed by Jamie Oliver. Williams Murray Hamm created the new retail concept for ‘food explorers’, targeting customers who get excited about preparing and learning to cook food. To communicate the sense of meal assembly, the consultancy devised the idea of an Airfix-style food kit, and used illustrations to create a witty language that talks about good food and how easy it is to cook.
About Williams Murray Hamm
Established in 1997, Williams Murray Hamm set out to offer clients an alternative to the intrusive logos and graphic formulas that had become commonplace in the world of 80s and 90s brand design. It seemed to us that robust ideas were of much greater value to clients than decoration and derivation.
With the help of some fearless clients, WMH has gained an international reputation for creative and commercial success. We have won major awards at D&AD, Design Week, Clio and New York Festivals and been named No 1 for Branding in 2004/05/06/07/08 (Design Week) and No.1 for Design Effectiveness 2003/04/06 by the DBA for work with clients like Clipper Teas, Cobra and Sainsbury’s.
This has led to Garrick Hamm being appointed D&AD President for 2008/9 and WMH featuring in The Guardian’s ‘Top 50 Hottest Names in Design’.
For more information on Williams Murray Hamm designs log on to www.creatingdifference.com