Roses awards announces winners

Corporate identity and promotional literature work stormed last week’s Roses Design Awards in Manchester, but packaging work was ‘weak’ and no work was nominated.

‘The quality wasn’t there in packaging,’ says events manager Sally Matheson at Carnyx Group, which organises the awards. Design judge chair Bruce Duckworth agrees. ‘Packaging design was poor and not up to standard. It needs improving,’ he says.

Newcastle-based Karol Marketing, which entered the awards for the first time, took the Design Grand Prix for its limited-edition clothing catalogue for Nigel Cabourn.

The Ascent of Cabourn, inspired by Sir Edmund Hillary’s ascent on Everest, successfully mimicked Hillary’s original account of his climb, according to Duckworth. The catalogue ‘nailed [every detail], from the battered and torn cover to the details and presentation of the smallest woven labels in the product range’, he adds.

Elmwood scooped four awards, for its corporate identity, promotional literature, direct mail and stationery work for Envirotech, Curtis Fine Papers and Hot Tin Roof PR.

Manchester-based True North won the Design Chairman’s Award for an announcement card it created for fireman-turned-painter and decorator Alf Maurer.

Manchester’s Love won awards for its annual report for the Youth Justice Trust and a self-promotional item called Aprons of Distraction. Glasgow’s Graven Images won the exhibition design award for The Lighthouse’s Re:Motion exhibition.

The design judging panel at this year’s event included Duffy London creative director Adam Whitaker, Hat-Trick Design director David Kimpton, NB Studio designer Ian Pierce, GBH director Jason Gregory, Harriman Steel creative director Julian Dickinson and The Partners creative director Nina Jenkins.

The Roses Design Awards recognises work from consultancies based outside the M25. Judging took place in August.