Archive for the ‘Awards’ Category

In early 2010, Q-COMP engaged decoder to develop their 09/10 Annual Report. They were looking for a new approach; something that was more than just a collection of facts and figures; a piece that reflected their core values of Pride, People, Integrity and Innovation.  

To meet the brief, decoder’s strategy was to develop a theme that captured the essence of Q-COMP’s core values and emphasised the work they do. Our ‘together’ theme encapsulated the partnerships that Q-COMP fosters with many of their stakeholders, while key headlines and images of staff and stakeholders really brought the Annual Report to life.

Another of Q-COMP’s goals was for this report to win awards for its design and functionality. Well, together with Q-COMP, we did just that!

At the recent 2011 Australasian Reporting Awards (ARA) – arguably the region’s most respected awards ceremony for financial and business reporting – the Q-COMP Annual Report won an overall gold medal. Additionally, it took out the ‘Online Reporting Award – Public Sector’ category and gained a finalist nomination in the ‘Communication Reporting Award – Public Sector’ category.

Needless to say, both the client and everyone here at decoder were over the moon. We’re currently in the process of developing Q-COMP’s 10/11 Annual Report and are hoping it can achieve as much success as last year’s.

Shannon Smith (left) and Keren Cooksey from Qcomp.

Visit decoder at www.decoder.net.au

Not that I’m complaining or anything, but the incredibly high quality of work coming out of the studio at the moment made it particularly tough to pick a top three. This month, we had a good eight or ten campaigns vying for metal.

So, Tracey and I sat down with the nominations and, after much to-ing and fro-ing (and a few rounds of rock, paper, scissors), we narrowed it down to the following.

Bagging the bronze…the Macarthur Coal visual style guide.

Macarthur Coal approached decoder to refresh its branding, and create a visual style guide to help its employees and suppliers interpret and implement their new brand. Along with a new logo, we developed a range of brand elements, including stationery, PowerPoint templates and vehicle signage. Intricate thought and craftsmanship resulted in a beautiful style guide that both Macarthur Coal and decoder are very proud of, and one that expresses the company’s past and where it plans to be in the future.

Snaffling the silver…the AustSafe Super co-contribution pieces.

To let AustSafe Super members know about the federal government’s co-contribution scheme (which matches members’ contributions dollar-for-dollar), we developed a couple of nifty direct mail pieces. The first was sent to lower income earners, giving them a very tangible, first-hand look at how they could double their money under the scheme. The second was sent to higher income earners, encouraging them to create a more comfortable future for themselves. Although we’re still awaiting official results, the client was delighted – and so were we!

And grabbing hold of the gold…the Metro South TAFE mid-year campaign.

For its 2011 mid-year enrolment campaign, Metro South TAFE wanted a fresh approach. So, taking all of the institute’s incredible courses and facilities into consideration, along with the brilliant opportunities these presented prospective students, we came up with the ‘AMAZE’ campaign. Along with press ads in both local and city-wide newspapers, and a radio spot, we developed campus-specific magazine-style mailers, which were delivered to all households within a 5km radius of main campuses. The result was a bright, engaging and inspirational campaign that repositioned Metro South TAFE both within the community and within the education category.

So there you go: another month, another three crackers. Keep an eye out for more Eugies winners next month!

Visit decoder at www.decoder.net.au

Sure we love the creative side of things and all the awards and accolades that go with it. But there’s a behind-the-scenes engine that drives decoder – a dedicated, hard-working management and admin team that don’t often get the opportunity to be recognised for their efforts. 

So it was very exciting to find out that we’d been nominated for the 2011 Telstra Business Awards! Acknowledging not just ultimate success in business, these Awards also recognise the courage, skills and innovation needed to breathe life into a fresh business idea.

While it was great to be nominated, we needed to get cracking on the very comprehensive judging form. Business planning, HR, risk management, marketing strategy, finance, social responsibility, approach to innovation – it was all there. Together, Lisa and I created a submission that we are truly proud of; one that reminds us of all the great things that happen each and every day at decoder.

So, entry submitted…now we wait.

But in the meantime, we need your support! As part of the Awards process, there’s also a people’s choice category, which allows the public to vote for their favourite businesses. See where we’re going with this?

Vote now!

It’s easy. Click here to be taken through to our Awards profile page, where you just need to click on the VOTE button at the top (or click RECOMMEND if you’re logged in to Facebook).

Voted? Great, but the fun doesn’t stop there! While you only get one vote per computer, you can also vote on your phone, your iPad, your Mum’s phone, your sister’s computer…you get the picture. And then get all your friends and family to vote too!

Thanks for your support! Stay tuned for updates on how we’re tracking in the Awards.

While we’re serious about creating great work at decoder, we like to have a laugh along the way. So now, a few months into the year, it’s probably a good time to break out a very timely joke. Ready? Okay – here it is.

Can February March? No, but April May.

Geez, tough crowd. Alright, enough of the funny business. Here are the winners of the March Eugie Awards.

Bringing home the bronze…the Qantas Broome campaign. Instead of having to fly to Broome via Cairns or Darwin, Qantas is now offering Brisbane customers the chance to fly direct – significantly reducing travel time. To get this message out, we developed the line “Brome time, in half the time” and used a series of evocative Broome landscape shots to show the region’s beauty. Concourse banners were hung at the airport and keyring tag ‘leave-behinds’ were produced, for travel agents to hand out to interested customers.

Snaffling the silver…the Ergon Energy BPAY piece. Rather than basing our concept around the product or even the benefits for this job, we decided to use our incentive as the main focus. Our task of encouraging customers to use BPAY (an intangible product) was driven through the Apple laptop computer prize. The piece itself took the form of a laptop, complete with brushed metal effect and a raised vanish finish on the ‘keyboard’. A follow-up ‘how to guide’ will be sent to customers with their next bill.

And grabbing hold of the gold…the TechnologyOne software launch invitation. We needed to develop an engaging piece to be sent to key people in the Australian water industry, inviting them to the launch of TechnologyOne’s new software solution, OneWater. Our concept revolved around the newfound sense of optimism running through the industry, and involved a neatly packaged drinking glass, with the line “Glass half full” etched into it. This piece was accompanied by details of the launch event and a nice positive vibe.

See – seriously good work. And well-deserved winners. Right now things are really ramping up at decoder, so expect to see even more brilliance coming out of the studio over the coming months.

Visit our website:  www.decoder.net.au

With some blazing hot days during February, the weather wasn’t the only thing heating us up here at Halford Street. The work coming out of the studio was smokin! Here’s a rundown…but be careful you don’t get burned by the molten lava…

Bagging the bronze…the Suncorp Bank Medicare Easyclaim campaign. In response to a proposition that urged customers to ‘investigate their options’, a striking, minimalist DM execution was created in the shape of an actual Medicare card. Placed in a clear envelope ‘evidence bag’, the pack gave just enough information to sell in the benefits – and nothing more. The concept was extended across postcards, press ads, in-branch TV and On Demand flyers.

Snatching silver…the bureau^proberts website. After rebranding this award winning architectural firm and creating its new identity, we needed to roll the new look and feel across to the online sphere. Stunning images of the firm’s projects create a beautiful backdrop on each page, while navigation has been kept simple and content kept to a minimum – maintaining bureau^proberts’ elegance and measured approach.

And grabbing gold…the Suncorp Bank Business Lending X-ray DM piece. Building on existing outdoor and press ads already in the market for this campaign, this direct mail piece needed to again reinforce to both current and prospective customers that Suncorp Bank really does know business lending inside out. We extended our x-ray idea by having visuals and messages printed on clear sheets of plastic, making them look like actual x-rays, with a note simply attached. The piece was delivered to customers in a plain-looking C4 envelope with “X-ray inside” printed on the outside to create intrigue.

So there you go. Another month, another three magnificent Eugie Award winners. With more incredible work moving through the agency at the moment, 2011 is set to be a fantastic year here at decoder.

Visit us: www.decoder.net.au