Design companies bag Queen’s Award for Enterprise

AKQA and Priestmangoode are among design companies recognised with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The Ugokidase project for Nike, by AKQA
The Ugokidase project for Nike, by AKQA

This year 162 businesses have been recognised in total, with 110 winning awards for international trade, 39 for innovation and 13 for sustainable development.

WPP consultancy AKQA picked up an Innovation award for its ‘consistent contribution and outstanding achievement’.

AKQA founder and chief executive Ajaz Ahmed says, ‘It’s a tremendous recognition for our team to have its hard work and ingenuity recognised.’

Priestmangoode has picked up an award for International Trade. This is in recognition of having grown export sales earnings in the last three years, particularly in China, USA, Brazil and Thailand, according to the consultancy.

The World View Space Capsule concept, by Priestmangoode
The World View Space Capsule concept, by Priestmangoode

Paul Priestman, designer and co-founder of Priestmangoode, says, ‘Export has been an important part of our business over the last decade, and the support we’ve had in key markets has been instrumental to our growth.

‘It’s fantastic that a design company has been recognised for this achievement. It’s a show of support for the importance of the creative industries to the economy and the value of design to business.’

Other Queen’s Award for Enterprise winners this year include Glasgow-based animation studio Axis Productions and Wales-based furniture company Orangebox.

Start the discussionStart the discussion
  • Post a comment

Latest articles