Last night the industry gathered at Sky City to celebrate the 40th annual Axis Awards. The Grand Axis went to that of Clemenger BBDO, while DDB was heralded as Agency of the Year.
It was the 40th anniversary of the Axis Awards, and the crowds gathered to celebrate the work put out over the last year. The usual suspects of our larger agencies took home a significant part of the golds, yet wine flowed and voices grew louder as more and more golds were distributed.
Clemenger BBDO came up to Auckland and showed Wellingtonian style by winning the Grand Axis for their work for the NZTA ‘Belted Survivors’. It also scored Clemenger BBDO three golds in Craft for their Image, and multiple golds in outdoor, magazine, PR for social and digital, before going on to win a coveted Integrated Gold and a well-deserved Grand Prix for Integrated.
The 2020 Client of the Year Award was also taken away by NZTA.
Brigid Alkema –executive creative director, Clemenger BBDO: “Last night’s wins were testament to the power of smart ideas and the strength of a passionate and talented team bringing them to life. After NZTA deservedly earning Campaign Brief’s Client of the Decade last year, these wins ring in the next chapter of an incredible partnership.”
Colenso BBDO also took home five Golds for DB Breweries “I’m Drinking it for you”, which went on to win a coveted Film and Video Grand Prix.
Quote from Scott Coldham, MD of Colenso BBDO:
“We’re incredibly proud of our results last night. Seeing 13 campaigns across 8 of our clients win big was amazing.
“Winning a Grand Prix, nine golds and a shed load of others is a testament to the partnerships we have across our entire client spectrum. Congratulations must be given to our friends in Wellington at Clemenger BBDO for a stellar showing and also to DDB for pipping us at the post for Agency of the Year. It’s hard to do great work at scale and it’s great to see NZ’s industry thriving.”
DDB, also won eight golds across two campaigns, “LOST” for Lotto NZ won in User Experience, Creative Use of Media – Integrated, Direct Broadcast and Direct Campaign plus a coveted Grand Prix in Direct.
“Black Laundry” for Lion also won gold in Ambient Outdoor and then Brand Experience and Activation. DDB also took home a multitude of silvers and bronzes across the evening, as well as winning the important Brand Axis Award for their enduring brand work with Lotto NZ.
DDB went on to win the coveted 2020 Agency of the Year Award.
Says Justin Mowday, CEO, DDB New Zealand: “We are immensely proud to be recognised as Axis Agency of the Year. International recognition is obviously really gratifying but Axis is our local show and to be recognised by our peers at home is special. This is a true testament to the incredibly talented and nice people behind the work. A special thanks to our brave clients who’ve trusted the vision.”
Stanley Street picked up three Gold Axis Awards this year with two for Auckland Transport’s “The Most Dangerous Stunt in the World”. As well as a third gold for the “Thank-you Button” in Direct Physical for BP.
TBWA scored gold in Design for the loveable work for ANZ called “Mr Humphreez”, and Special Group lifted a worthy gold for Uber Eats “Shark bait” in Transit Advertising along with a clutch of silvers.
The 2020 Emerging Talent Award went to Eliza Romanos & Gina Morgan from Colenso BBDO and the winners of the Google Student Challenge were Ashleigh Reid & Luke Ryan from Media Design School, for “Lotto – What Could You Skip”.
The Coopers were recipients of the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the crowd stood and applauded Jon Cooper to the stage to receive his acknowledgement.
“Axis remains an important moment, and one that we all respect in the New Zealand creative calendar because it celebrates our best creative work; the work our industry is justifiably proud of because it has looked at the world through a new lens, challenged the existing paradigms, permeated popular culture and influenced behavioural change; well done to all the winners this year” said Paul Head, CEO of The Comms Council.
For the complete list of results including silver, bronze and finalists, please visit the Comms Council website: www.commscouncil.nz
