Project overview

The CorpComms Awards, established in 2007, serve as a prestigious accolade recognising excellence in corporate communications. This annual event celebrates outstanding achievements across categories like the best media relations campaign and best community initiative, making it a highlight in the communication industry’s calendar. The awards ceremony, complete with dinner, entertainment, and award presentations, creates a festive atmosphere.

The awards showcase the multifaceted work of modern in-house communications professionals, often in collaboration with agency partners. A panel of impartial judges, representing diverse industry perspectives, plays a crucial role in evaluating entries fairly and honestly. Importantly, judges maintain objectivity by refraining from assessing entries submitted by their colleagues or clients.

The CorpComms Awards boast a distinguished alumni of previous winners, including esteemed organisations like Accenture, Dogs Trust, Transport for London, the John Lewis Partnership, and Akzo Nobel. These recognised winners contribute to the rich tapestry of achievements celebrated at this esteemed event.

The challenge

The challenge was to design a memorable and enduring brand adaptable to feel timeless yet recognisable for each annual awards event. This included creating and maintaining a website and supporting social media assets to enhance engagement with Awards entries and facilitate ticketing for the ceremony.

Client Requirements

The client sought an adaptable and recognisable brand, along with supporting website design, entry guides, social media templates, and HTML emails. These assets were crucial for consistent communication in the lead-up to entry opening, closing dates, ticket promotion, and communication of judges’ effectiveness. Additionally, an awards ceremony presentation, showcasing shortlisted and winning entries was developed for the evening itself.

Having collaborated with CorpComms on the CorpComms Awards for over a decade, a fish in sea took an approach that balanced familiarity with innovation. The evolution of the design aimed to build on recognisable aspects from previous years while updating and refreshing the concept to create a fresh and vibrant feel. The branding had to work within a limited colour palette, suitable for use alongside sponsors’ logos.

The Execution

The website and branding, viewable at corpcommsawards.co.uk. The design reflects an understanding of the diverse audience, catering to both participants and attendees.

The carefully curated magenta and purple colour palette doesn’t just adhere to aesthetic preferences; it strategically aligns with the ambient lighting of the venue on the night, creating a cohesive visual experience. This thoughtful choice ensures that the online presence harmonises seamlessly with the physical environment during the awards ceremony.

The inclusion of supporting imagery acts as a storytelling device. Each image carefully selected and placed contributes to conveying the brand’s essence and the spirit of the awards. From captivating visuals of previous ceremonies to snapshots of award-winning moments, the imagery adds a layer of narrative that engages visitors and fosters a sense of anticipation for the upcoming event

The Deliverables

In addition to the digital space, tangible deliverables such as entry guides, a meticulously crafted presentation ceremony slideshow, and even the seating plan and tickets contribute to the immersive brand experience. The execution, both online and offline, is a testament to a fish in sea’s dedication to delivering a comprehensive and impactful solution that goes beyond visual aesthetics, resonating with the ethos of the CorpComms Awards.

Challenges Overcome

Navigating the evolving landscape of design trends and technological advancements posed an initial challenge. Ensuring the brand stayed true to its essence while adapting to contemporary aesthetics required meticulous attention. Additionally, coordinating with various stakeholders, managing iterative design processes, and aligning with the ever-changing criteria for award evaluation demanded a fine balance. Overcoming these challenges, a fish in sea successfully delivered a dynamic and impactful brand identity for the CorpComms Awards, fostering a sense of continuity and innovation.