Wide-ranging group of typographic practitioners age 35 and under are recognized for their outstanding talent.

The Type Directors Club, the world’s leading typography organization, today announced the 35 talented winners from 14 countries in the Ascenders 2023 competition, celebrating typographers, lettering artists, and type designers age 35 and under.

Ascenders is the world’s premier portfolio-based competition dedicated to type in all its versatile forms, and the inspiring designers — individuals or duos — who are elevating the medium.

Ascenders 2023 winners are:

Maram Al Refaei, Archief, Cairo
Ximena Amaya, Los Angeles
Xing Chen and Li Xiang, Stone Design Lab, Beijing
Carlos Oliveras Colom, DonCarrrios, Fort Worth
Carlos Mignot Cordeiro, Plau, Niteroi (Brazil)
Cecilia del Castillo Daza, Barcelona
Julia Martinez Diana, Antipixel Type Studio, Buenos Aires
Fernanda Didini, The New York Times, New York
Elias Hanzer, Berlin
Jun Ki Hong, Base Design, New York
Hanna Karraby, Philadelphia
Heejae Kim, New York
Min Kim, US
Irina Koryagina, New York
Jérémy Landes, Studio Triple, Berlin
Beatriz Lozano, Brooklyn
Ruggero Magrì, Catania (Italy)
Fernando Marar, Nubank, São Paulo
MARTE (Martina Galarza), Brooklyn
Sabrina Nacmias and Maxime Gau, Faire Type, Brooklyn
Zin Nagao, Fukuoka (Japan)
Alex Nassour, Wieden+Kennedy, New York
Nubia Navarro, Nubikini Studio, Bogotá
Sean O’Connor, Mucca Design, Brooklyn
Seryozha Rasskazov, Typetension!, Lausanne (Switzerland)
Daan Rietbergen, Utrecht
Vojtěch Říha, Superior Type, Prague
Sanchit Sawaria, Brooklyn
Julie Soudanne, Jli Type Design, Paris
Yuan Wang, Auf Dich, Shanghai
Lin Xi, Linxi Design, Shenzhen
Simin Xu, Ningbo (China)
He Yuxuan, whynotdesign, Shenzhen
Rozi Zhu, New York
Zipeng Zhu, Dazzle Studio, Brooklyn

Entrants submitted curated portfolios of their top six projects alongside a short introduction to their practice, and were judged by an international jury of global leaders in the field, including a number of past Ascenders winners.

This group of 35 joins prominent past Ascenders winners include Au Chon Hin (Macao, 2022), Andrej & Andrej (Bratislava, 2022) Kevin Cantrell (Mantua, US, 2018), Fernanda Cozzi (Buenos Aires, 2019), Roxane Gataud (Brussels, 2022), Wael Morcos (New York, 2018), Gemma O’Brien (Sydney, 2022), Tré Seals (Washington, DC, 2018), and others.

First launched in 2018, the Ascenders competition was the idea of former TDC Advisory Board member Paul Carlos, principal at Pure+Applied, adjunct faculty, Parsons School of Design, The New School, New York, who remains active in the organization.

“While Ascenders was originally envisioned to celebrate those breaking into the field, it has very quickly become about recognizing those already leading, carrying our industry to new heights and aspirations,” said Ksenya Samarskaya, TDC managing director. “If you want to know what’s at the bleeding edge today, and what tomorrow is bound to look like, memorize these names.”

TDC, part of The One Club for Creativity, will host a public reception for the Ascenders 2023 winners on June 15, 2023, in the club’s gallery space in New York. Details and tickets are available here.

This year’s Ascenders branding is designed by Anıl Aykan at Barnbrook Design in London, a recent member of the TDC Advisory Board. The design depicts the “ascending” creatives by embracing the idea of growth and invasion, with the journey demonstrated by visual metaphors of steps toward further growth and expansion, and included accompanying audio from Fragile Self.

etisalat by e& informs its valued customers that it will discontinue beIN supplied channels due to commercial reasons, effective 1st June 2023. 

etisalat by e& remains committed to providing premium entertainment and sports options to its customers at affordable prices. While beIN content will no longer be available on eLife TV, we will continue to invest in sports content to deliver to our customers an extensive range of popular sports both directly and via our partners. This already includes AFC football, international cricket like the T20 World Cup and IPL, Italian Serie A football, rugby, UFC, Formula 1, pro cycling, and international golf among many others. 

Customers with eLife packages where beIN content was previously bundled will now receive an automatic and ongoing monthly discount of AED 184 on their bill for the period starting from 1st June 2023 onwards. Customers may change, downgrade or cease the affected eLife packages without penalty prior to the 30th of September 2023.

For customers subscribed to beIN as an add-on to their eLife service, the recurring add-on fees for the service will no longer be charged starting from 1st June 2023 and any exit charges for the beIN add-on will be waived.

Business customers will be contacted directly.

Customers who wish to continue accessing beIN content can do so directly through beIN official channels.

GOAL has sent a model of Erling Haaland into space to celebrate the striker’s out-of-this-world debut season with Manchester City and launch their new GOAL Galacticos series.

The launch of the 3D-printed Norwegian striker is the first of a new content series called GOAL Galacticos. The regular series will use innovative cross-platform activations across the site’s global editions and social channels to celebrate elite footballers and is kicking it off with Erling Haaland. The objective of the series is to delight fans with never-been-done activations that hero the biggest players in the game.

GOAL teamed up with Sent Into Space for the one-of-a-kind launch held to celebrate Haaland’s record-breaking debut season with Manchester City, which has seen him become the record holder for the most goals in a Premier League season with 36.

Haaland took off from a launch site in Sheffield (UK) and climbed for two and a half hours to 34km (111,549 feet or 21,127 miles) - the closest region of space to Earth - otherwise known as Near Space.

The journey was streamed across GOAL's YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram channels as well as hosted on GOAL's website.

The miniature Haaland was designed by Omar Momani, a regular cartoonist for GOAL who captured Haaland’s iconic meditation celebration. The models were created by the digital fabrication and rapid prototyping agency Duke Makes.

While it will take Manchester City fans months to come down from their Premier League title win, Haaland touched back down in the UK suffering only minor damage when he landed in Yorkshire, the county of his birth, after a two-hour journey.

Footballco’s Editorial Planning Lead, Miles Chambers, said: “Erling Haaland’s first year at Manchester City will surely go down as the greatest debut season in the Premier League’s history. He hit the ground running and never stopped. He is, simply put, a phenomenon.

“GOAL’s social and video team crafted this truly unique concept for Haaland’s out-of-this-world year as part of the first edition of GOAL Galacticos - a celebration of elite footballers with innovative content. We can’t wait to share what we have planned next.”

In total five ‘baby Haalands’ were 3D printed, with Manchester City fans to be gifted them in GOAL videos ahead of the FA Cup final, including one signed by the Norwegian striker. These videos are part of GOAL’s Fan Led Video strategy, where our hosts take to the streets to interview and challenge fans around matchday.

Watch Haaland’s journey, both up and down on YouTube.

Haaland’s Season in Numbers

Premier League Goals Scored - 36

Premier League Assists - 8

He holds the record for scoring the most goals (nine) in his first five Premier League games

He is one of only six players to score back-to-back Premier League hat-tricks

Haaland is the quickest player ever to reach three Premier League hat-tricks after getting there in eight games

Haaland has scored more hat-tricks in all competitions this season (6) than every other Premier League player combined (5)

Haaland is the fastest player to ever score 25 goals under Pep Guardiola

Flight Details

Haaland went into space carried by a hydrogen balloon travelling at 17-20 mph

At the top of his flight, Haaland would have experienced temperatures around −65°C (−85°F)

The expanding balloon expands as it rises and at peak altitude will have been the same height as Buckingham Palace

During Haaland’s first five minutes of descent, he would have reached a speed of 200mph before his parachute opened

TikTok MENA hosted an insightful panel discussion on May 29, delving into the important topics of online safety and digital well-being for teens.

The event provided valuable insights on navigating the digital world safely, while fostering a thriving community where creativity knows no limits.

The dynamic discussion, featuring panelists Kevin Morgan, Head of Trust and Safety at TikTok Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Hanan Ezzeldin of The Family Hub, an expert in parenting, education, and positive discipline, revolved around the precautions that users and digital platforms can take to protect young users and how TikTok is leading the way in creating a secure and uplifting online environment.

During the safety roundtable, held at East West Atelier in Al Quoz, Dubai, TikTok showcased its dedication to user safety, particularly for teenagers, discussing the common signs that a teen may be experiencing online harassment or cyberbullying and how TikTok’s Family Pairing feature promotes open communication between parents and teens and strengthens the parent-child relationship.

The panel also delved into details of how the platform's default weekly digital well-being prompts for younger members encouraged them to think more mindfully about developing positive digital habits, and how it maintains transparency with users and relevant stakeholders. The discussion highlighted TikTok's continuous efforts to nurture its growing community and promote a safe and positive environment for teens and their parents.

The panelists explored various topics, including the important role parents play in supervising their teens' online activities, promoting open dialogue between parents and teens about safe digital practices, and effective strategies for educating teenagers on responsible online behavior. Engaging questions addressed issues such as identifying signs of online harassment or cyberbullying among teenagers.

On fostering a safe online environment for teens without compromising their digital life and experiences, Hanan Ezzeldin said, "You cannot keep teenagers from being on digital platforms nowadays. Kids learn from parent modeling, not parent instruction. So besides having a conversation with your teens about privacy and boundaries online, it's important to walk the walk with them and foster the kind of trusting relationship that makes them not want to block their parents on digital platforms."

The event also shed light on TikTok's safety initiatives in the MENA region, including collaborations with the Emirates Safer Internet Society, aimed at creating a secure digital environment for users, particularly the younger generation. A vital initiative between TikTok and the UAE Media Regulatory Office in 2022 raised awareness of dangerous challenges and hoaxes in multiple languages, with popular creators highlighting the risks in a relatable manner. Kevin Morgan said, "We're increasingly thinking about content classification in global and local ways on the app for different age groups as we understand that there can be some content that isn’t comfortable for everyone – our Content Levels and new algorithm features will reduce the likelihood that teens are exposed to content that isn’t appropriate for them to see. We're also working closely with the Safety Advisory Council members in this regard, to help us identify challenges and ensure content is appropriate for users in the MENA region."

Morgan also stressed the importance of safeguarding younger generations in the ever-changing digital landscape, stating, "At TikTok, safety is a never-ending job. We are fully committed to creating a safer environment for our community", he said. "The highest priority in the digital world should be safeguarding its younger users and empowering creators to authentically express themselves."

"We are trying to educate the first generations of kids who don't know what life is like without digital platforms," said Ezzeldin. "We need not only parents but also schools to step up in improving awareness around digital safety."

TikTok reinforced its commitment to making the platform a safe place for teens to express their creativity, with a focus on its Transparency Reports that provide insights into community guidelines enforcement, information and content removal requests, privacy and more.

TikTok believes that everyone deserves to feel safe online, and that feeling safe is key to unlocking imagination and creative expression. That's why they continue their work to build a safe, inclusive and authentic home for their global community, to help people stay in control as they express their creativity, make meaningful connections, and enjoy culture-defining entertainment.

Envision Racing, the leading Formula E race team and Cartoon Network EMEA, Warner Bros. Discovery’s number one animated series network, have announced a new partnership to engage children and young people in the Race Against Climate Change. 

Cartoon Network EMEA will work alongside Envision Racing to create awareness of the global issue of electric waste through joint marketing campaigns, promotions, and gamification. This comes as annual electronic waste production is on track to reach a staggering 75 million tonnes by 2030 and includes items such as mobile phones, laptops, MP3 players, plugs and batteries.

Opportunities for participation include the Recover-E-Waste to Race competition, where kids can learn how to design and build a mini–Formula E race car using e-waste, with prize winners being showcased at the London Formula E-Prix on 29 July.

Cartoon Network’s Climate Champions initiative empowers and inspires children to act and help the environment. Kids aged 6-12 can become Climate Champions by taking up daily challenges and making a world of difference together.

With the help of beloved characters from hit shows that include “The Amazing World of Gumball” and “Craig of the Creek,” children can complete tasks and create real, tangible change in their lives while contributing to a community driving sustainability globally.

Since its launch in June 2021, more than 1.5 million challenges have been completed worldwide and this number continues to grow daily.

Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director and CTO at Envision Racing said: “Envision Racing exists to engage fans and the public on the urgency of the climate crisis with the Race Against Climate Change at the centre of our activity. As well as testing new battery technology for cars, we are on a mission to tackle e-waste and to help build a circular economy for electric vehicles.

 “This partnership is an incredible opportunity to engage children and young people in the creation of a sustainable future. We’re excited to be working with Cartoon Network to inspire action across the world and can’t wait to get started.” 

Monika Oomen, VP Brand, Communications and Digital Content Strategy, Kids EMEA at Warner Bros. Discovery: ”E-waste is an incredibly important issue, but we don’t pay enough attention to it. Through our strategic collaboration with Envision Racing, we want to raise awareness amongst kids and help educate them about how they can play a part in reducing it. We’re delighted to partner with Envision Racing because this will help open up to kids a whole new sporting environment and a world where they are even more empowered to impact the planet positively. Together, we can make a world of difference.

“We look forward to extending our Cartoon Network Climate Champions campaign to equipping kids with the tools to tackle electronic waste in their lives."

FIA Formula E World Championship is the only sport to be certified net zero carbon since inception and has been independently ranked and recognised as the most sustainable sport in the world by the Global Sustainability Benchmark in Sports.

In addition to being the all-time leading points scorers in Formula E, Envision Racing also has a leadership position for sustainability. Its Race Against Climate Change™ program is inspiring and empowering fans and the wider public to take climate action, using Formula E’s platform, Envision Racing aims to make electric mobility and renewable energy a global reality.

The wait is almost over! After a historic theatrical run, James Cameron’s global phenomenon “Avatar: The Way of Water” will debut June 7 on Disney+ and will include bonus content featuring filmmakers, cast and crew. In addition to streaming on Disney+, the movie will be available to stream on Max on June 7.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” debuted in theaters on December 16 and became the third highest-grossing film of all time worldwide with nearly $2.32 billion at the box office. Nominated for numerous Academy Awards® including Best Picture, the film also set a new benchmark for visual effects. Produced by Cameron and his longtime partner Jon Landau, the 20th Century Studios-Lightstorm Entertainment production stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis and Kate Winslet. Joining the illustrious adult cast are talented newcomers Britain Dalton, Jamie Flatters, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Bailey Bass and Jack Champion. The screenplay is by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver, with story by James Cameron & Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver & Josh Friedman & Shane Salerno. David Valdes and Richard Baneham serve as the film’s executive producers.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” reaches new heights and explores undiscovered depths as James Cameron returns to the world of Pandora in this emotionally packed action adventure. Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” launches the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. All of this against the backdrop of the breathtaking seascapes of Pandora, where audiences are introduced to new Na’vi cultures and a range of exotic sea creatures.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” is also available at all digital retailers including Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play and Movies Anywhere.

YouTube is live at Upfronts 2023, sharing even more ways for advertisers to tap into the creators and content viewers love on every screen.

Live from Lincoln Center Theater, we returned to the Upfronts to celebrate creators like Airrack, AllyiahsFace and MrBeast, share news about YouTube’s partnership with the NFL, highlight amazing brands like Hershey, and unpack world-changing shifts in video.

Major shifts in creation and consumption

Now that we have the power of a production studio in the palm of our hands, the universe of creators is growing every day. Today, creating is about participating in a cultural moment, and making the most of every kind of video format. From 15-second Shorts to 15-hour live streams, more creators are coming to YouTube than ever before—which means more fans coming to watch, which drives more engagement for advertisers.

We also see major shifts in how people experience content. YouTube is where people engage with Shorts in a big way, and of course, more viewers are tuning into YouTube on the biggest screen in their home. In the latest Nielsen Gauge Report, YouTube viewership increased last month, making YouTube the No. 1 most-watched streaming service for TV in America—again. The leader in streaming watch time, YouTube (including YouTube TV), reached over 150 million people on connected TVs in the United States.

Across every screen, genre, and format of video, in a world where they can watch anything, the world watches YouTube.

Introducing new ways to reach CTV viewers

More and more advertisers are eager to respond to these shifts in viewership, and reach the largest streaming audience. So we’re excited to share two announcements in YouTube’s streaming offering.

First, we’re bringing 30 second non-skips to YouTube Select ... Instead of seeing two :15 ads consecutively, they'll see one :30 ad.

First, we’re bringing 30 second non-skips to YouTube Select on CTV. We know that running longer-form creative on the big screen aligns with your objectives, and allows for richer storytelling. YouTube Select is now landing over 70% of impressions on the TV screen2, so we’re making it easier for you to use existing assets in front of the most-streamed content. This format also seamlessly fits into what viewers already expect and experience on the big screen. Instead of seeing two :15 ads consecutively, they'll see one :30 ad.

Next, we’re bringing new Pause experiences to CTV, so you can drive awareness or action by owning that unique interactive moment when people pause a video. This is seamless for viewers and allows them to learn more about your brand.

YouTube is where the fans are

YouTube is the new home of NFL Sunday Ticket. Tonight on stage at Brandcast, Roger Goodell, Commissioner of the National Football League, and Deestroying joined forces to share the highlights of football culture on YouTube—and how brands can get in the game.

As part of our NFL partnership, there’s even more original programming, like Game Day All Access, where you can listen in as mic’d up players bring you onto the sidelines during the game. And we’re launching a new original Shorts series on the NFL’s YouTube channel after the football season kicks off this year: “NFL Creator of the Week.”

Soon, advertisers can reach football fans across YouTube’s entire array of NFL content, whether they’re viewing live games on YouTube TV and Primetime Channels, or watching highlights, post-game commentary, and other related content across YouTube.

Sony Electronics used Google AI to seamlessly add relevant voice over into their products ads, and saw a 25% lift in ad recall.

Your marketing and creative, multiplied by Google AI

The world is experiencing the next major platform shift with AI. Google is ready for this moment—and in fact, it’s powered by our technology and innovations. Today, people’s viewing habits may be complex, but reaching them on YouTube isn’t. AI can help you find the best mix of formats to hit your campaign goals from reach to action.

Google AI can also meaningfully help scale and multiply one of the most critical drivers of ROI: your creativity. Sony Electronics used Google AI to seamlessly add relevant voice over into their products ads, and saw a 25% lift in ad recall.

This is one of the many examples of what’s possible with Google AI right now. From endless iterations of your ads to videos trimmed or flipped for the right formats, Google AI helps businesses market at the speed of consumers. And this is really just the beginning. Google AI is accelerating creativity, and the possibilities will extend beyond anything we can imagine today.

YouTube delivers superior returns

With the power of Google AI, YouTube works. And you see it in the returns. One brand that’s found sweet success on YouTube? Hershey. According to Nielsen MMM results, YouTube’s ROI has grown by 65%—making YouTube Hershey’s #1 ROI-driving media partner.

We’ve seen results like that at scale, so we asked our partners if they see the same. Nielsen, TransUnion and Ipsos MMA, confirm that on average, YouTube delivers higher ROI than TV and other online video.3

No place is better equipped to connect you with key audiences and drive the results you care about. The best of YouTube is yet to come—and we’re excited to get there, together.

Source: Nielsen's Streaming Platform Ratings, Live+7, YouTube inclusive of YouTube TV and YouTube Main, December, Total Day Reach with a 1 minute viewing qualifier

Source: YouTube internal data, US, December 2022

Source: Nielsen: Compass ROI Benchmarks for US including all available results for two years from January 2020 - March 2022. TransUnion: commissioned MMM meta-analysis for the US including all available results for two years from January 2020 - December 2021. Ipsos MMA: MMM results for US including all available results for 2022

Written by Anne Marie Nelson-Bogle, Vice President, YouTube Ads Marketing

The airline returns to Roland-Garros 2023 for the 11th consecutive year as the Official Airline and Premium Partner of the iconic Paris tournament.

Emirates is back in action as the Official Airline and Premium Partner of Roland-Garros 2023 for the eleventh consecutive year.  A long-standing partner of Roland-Garros since 2013, the airline recently renewed its commitment as Premium Partner of the Grand Slam until 2027. The premier clay court event is set to take place from 28 May until 11 June 2023 at Stade Roland-Garros. 

Boutros Boutros, Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand at Emirates, said: "We are delighted to be back on the clay courts for our eleventh consecutive year. Roland-Garros is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of tennis and Emirates is very proud of our long-standing association with the event, with the sport, and with France. As a global airline, we are committed to supporting world-class events that bring people together and showcase excellence, and Roland-Garros does just that. We look forward to another exciting year on the courts and to bringing fans from all corners of the world closer to the action."

Connecting with tennis fans worldwide  

Emirates will connect with tennis fans this year through a series of exciting "fly better" initiatives, including: an interactive game within the Roland-Garros app, offering fans a chance to win Roland-Garros tickets and La Griffe Roland-Garros gifts; and world-class hospitality.

Partners with Roland-Garros since 2013

Emirates’ longstanding partnership with Roland-Garros started in 2013. The airline became a Premium Partner of the Grand Slam in 2018 and the airline enjoys significant presence throughout the tournament, including branding on the Philippe-Chatrier centre court, Suzanne-Lenglen court and Simonne-Mathieu court.

Emirates is also the presenting partner of the Trophée des Légendes, which takes place from 6 June   to 11 June 2023.  The airline has partnered with a local organisation to offer children with mobility challenges a chance to meet world renowned tennis legends, watch the matches, and an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the stadium.

Emirates is the Official Airline and Premier Partner of the ATP World Tour. The airline’s tennis portfolio includes some of the highest profile events in the world, including three of the four Grand Slams, and 60 other tournaments across the year.

The airline’s extensive sponsorship portfolio also includes other top global sports such as tennis, golf, horse racing and sailing. 

Serving France with 35 weekly flights

Emirates has been serving France for more than 30 years. The airline currently serves the country with 21 weekly flights to Paris, 7 weekly flights to Lyon, and 7 weekly flights to Nice, with the iconic A380 returning to the city on 1 June 2023.   The airline’s extensive network of 140 destinations offers French customers access to an array of onward connections to Asia, the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia.

Emirates is also the Official Main Sponsor of Olympic Lyonnaise (OL); Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France (taking place in September this year); and a proud sponsor of UAE Team Emirates, supporting some of the biggest cycling tours such as Tour De France.

Unmatched travel experiences

Emirates is renowned for its exceptional services and luxurious amenities. The airline operates the world’s largest fleet of wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft, offering spacious cabins and iconic inflight features such as its A380 Shower Spa and Onboard Lounge, and its ice inflight entertainment system available in all seats across its fleet, which has topped "best in sky" awards for 17 consecutive years.

INMA reveals 40 Global Media Awards first-place winners, Bergens Tidende takes top prize

The International News Media Association (INMA) announced 40 first-place recipients in its 2023 Global Media Awards competition, with Bergens Tidende’s “Journey Around the World” taking the global “Best in Show.”

During the awards ceremony at New York´s Harvard Club, 40 first-place winners were unveiled across 20 categories aimed at surfacing innovation and best practices in news brands, optimising the use of media features, subscriptions, advertising, data and insights, product, and newsroom innovation.

The INMA Global Media Awards competition announcement was supported by the Google News Initiative.

Winning the coveted “Best in Show” was Schibsted-owned Bergens Tidende in Norway for “Journey Around the World,” an inventive storytelling format enabling users to travel around the world visually. Judges said that this campaign was a world-class execution of an epic journey featuring total immersion in an adventure.

The INMA competition, which has been rewarding media excellence since 1937, evaluates news media companies across two segments: national brands and regional brands.

Three companies won multiple first-place awards: Bennett, Coleman & Co., Schibsted across its brands in Norway, and Stampen Media. Four companies garnered two first places: Advance Local, Amedia, Jagran Prakashan, and Relevo from Vocento.

The 2023 Global Media Awards competition attracted 775 entries from 239 market-leading news media brands in 40 countries. Participants included newspaper media, magazine media, digital media, television media, and radio media.

An international jury of 54 media executives from 19 countries selected 198 finalists earlier this year.

Judges also selected the best in six world regions from the finalists:

Best in Africa: Media24 Group for “Adspace24 – Swipe Cards and Catalogue”

Best in Asia/Pacific: The Straits Times for “World Cup: A ‘Hat-Trick’ Special”

Best in Europe: Bergens Tidende in Norway for “Journey Around the World”

Best in Latin America: Editora Globo for “Um Só Planeta”

Best in North America: The Wall Street Journal for “The Future of Everything Festival”

Best in South Asia: Bennett, Coleman, and Co. for “The Times of a Better India”

In the spirit of innovation, INMA judges decided to give out a special award based on overall excellence across multiple categories. A “Special Jury Distinction” was awarded to Aftenposten, Bergens Tidende, Schibsted, and VG for their use of technology paired with outstanding multi-media narratives and excellent journalism.

“We were honoured to be able to celebrate these huge accomplishments in person for the first time in four years,” said Earl J. Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA. “The brilliance of this 2023 class really shined a light on the creativity and innovation taking root in the news media industry. We’re incredibly proud of all the entrants, and especially of this year’s winners.”

Click here to view the winners.

With the Transform Awards MEA having been celebrated in the Middle East and Africa region for the past decade, Transform is delighted to once again reveal its list of winners.

As always, Transform’s winners reflect the transformative power of brand strategy and design and the awards recognise best practice in corporate, product and global brand development work.

Along with being awarded a remarkable four Golds, two Silvers and three Bronzes, Charles Zuber and Brand Lounge capped off a lucrative evening by being awarded the prestigious ‘Grand prix’. The branding project for the watch and jewelry atelier blew judges away, who were particularly impressed by its “daring” nature and ability to connect with its target audience, unquestionably making it the star performer on the night.

Also having a successful evening at the luxurious, five-star Raffles Dubai hotel, Right Grain and Gene Branding picked up golds in ‘Best naming strategy’ and ‘Best visual identity from the food and beverage sector’, before being announced as the ‘Best overall visual identity’ winner. The project, which sought to give the new grab-and-go bakery a strong identity, caught judges’ eyes for being “original, beautiful and wonderfully executed”.

Another big winner, capping off a memorable night in Dubai, was Nakheel and Ochre, whose efforts won them three Golds, two Silvers and three Bronzes. All entries were assessed by Transform’s esteemed panel of judges, who this year hailed from the likes of Sky News Arabia, PepsiCo and Etihad Airways. The judges carefully scoured each and every project before concluding their respective merits.  

Andrew Thomas, publishing editor of Transform magazine and founder of the Transform Awards, says, “For the past 10 years, the Transform Awards has benchmarked the best of brand strategy, creativity and design in the Middle East and Africa region. I would like to thank everyone who has supported the Transform Awards, whose work over that time has made it such an emphatic success. Tonight’s ceremony truly demonstrated the transformative power of brand strategy and design, and we look forward to carrying on these celebrations over the next decade.”  

Transform would also like to thank our sponsor Principle Global and our supporting partner PRCA MENA, whose terrific support helped make this evening possible.

The winners were announced at the lavish Raffles Dubai hotel.