GRAPHIC DESIGN ENEWSLETTER / SPECIAL WEB AWARDS REPORT SPONSORED BY HP

PUBLISHERS NOTE: LONG OVERDUE

Graphic Design USA was founded in 1963 as a news, projects, people and trends magazine, and for four decades we have sponsored national competitions that spotlight the most important, fast-growing and valuable areas of design for business and society. Our well-established programs and annuals — focusing on Graphic Design, Inhouse Design and Package Design — have provided long-deserved recognition to award-winning creatives. In 2009, we have add a new sibling — admittedly long overdue — the American Web Design Awards. This newest annual competition celebrates the power of well-designed websites and other online communications to attract audiences, generate engagement and response, and promote products, services and ideas.

And, today, we announce the winners of the inaugural American Web Design Awards competition.

— GK

A LITTLE TRENDSPOTTING

But first, a little industry trendspotting. The results of our most recent reader survey, executed in 2008, shows that graphic designers are embracing internet and interactive projects — out of preference or pragmatism or both — in record numbers. Indeed, the internet has changed everything: how we communicate, interact, gather information, do business and conduct politics. The 2008 results show three things.

First, online design has clearly taken its place as a mainstream activity in terms of how professional graphic designers earn a living. Second, there is a continued upward trajectory in frequency, involvement, time and commitment. Third, and perhaps even more important, the data — combined with extensive commentary by respondents — reveal a fundamental transformation in the way designers think about internet and interactive design: the language of future promise, potential and possibility has given way to a consensus that the opportunity is here and that the future is now.

With this as background and impetus, GDUSA instituted its American Web Design Awards program.

Shown here are two of the 60 winners. Above: Organic Grid’s website for Steve Prezant Photography. Below: Brian Miller Design Group’s own website. Each firm was a multiple winner in the American Web Design Awards

THE WINNERS

The inaugural competition has generated more than five hundred entries from around the country, in categories running the gamut from websites to enewsletters to blogs to banners, and from companies ranging from independent design firms to ad agencies to corporate and non-profit inhouse departments. Of the hundreds of entries, 60 were selected as winners, representing a highly selective 40 individual companies and organizations. Here is a list of the winning organizations in alphabetical order.

2Sisters Design
5 by 5 Design
A. Bright Idea
A&R Edelman
Access Communications
Blackfin
Blue Water Media
Bradham Design / bradhamdesign.com
Brand New Thing
Brian Miller Design Group
Canyon Creative
Desert Rose Design
Design The Planet
Emkay, Inc.
Evenson Design Group
Executionists
Ferroconcrete
How2Design
Iconix Inc.
Image Craft Design
Incitrio
Kelsey Advertising & Design
Langton Cherubino Group
Lform Design
Liberty University
Loewy Design
Marketsplash by HP
Mightybytes
MINE
MSDS
ohTwentyone
One Fast Buffalo
Organic Grid
Paper Tower
People Design
PixelGood
rkstudio6
SMG Directory Marketing
STUN Design + Advertising
Susan Newman Design
The Edelman Group
Two Dogs Design
Two Twelve

To see all the winning pieces with images, credits and URLs in our newly-posted American Web Design Awards Gallery please click here.

THANKS TO HP

A special thanks to HP for sponsoring this special enewsletter. HP is making the computer personal again. To see information about the new HP Z Workstations, with a sleek new design, professional graphics and other technologies, please click HERE

Again, to see all the winning pieces with images, credits and URLs in our newly-posted American Web Design Awards Gallery please visit...
http://www.gdusa.com/ads_eblast/090414/gallery.php