Transform Awards North America 2026 shortlist announced
Transform magazine is proud to announce its award programme will celebrate the transformative power of rebranding and brand development in North America for a 12th consecutive year.
Following on from the 2026 edition, which saw Yum! Brands and ROWE crowned ‘Grand Prix’ winners, Transform will return to New York City.
Those who made the cut for this year’s shortlist will also aim to emulate the success of last year’s ‘Best Overall Identity Award’ winner, Bank of America and Lippincott, along with numerous high-quality projects that boosted the reputation of brand design on the continent.
The shortlisted projects listed below were, as always, examined by a panel of expert judges. This year’s cohort, who hailed from some of the region’s top companies including Nappr, PwC and WestJet, focused on creativity, innovation, strategic excellence and implementation when determining the best entries throughout each category.
Some of this year’s most hotly contended groupings include the ‘Best Brand Evolution’ categories – each with six competing entries – while ‘Best Brand Development Project to Reflect a Change of Mission, Values or Positioning’ sees seven projects vying for Gold.
The winners of the Transform Awards North America will be announced at the iconic Edison Ballroom in New York City on October 13. Reserve your table now.
And that’s not all. On the morning and afternoon of the awards, Transform will host Transform Live North America 2026. Following on from the success of previous conferences, this edition will once again bring together industry leaders, branding experts and creative visionaries for a day of dynamic discussions, standout case studies and meaningful networking opportunities.
You can find out more information here.
The full shortlist for the Transform Awards North America 2026 is as follows:
CONTENT
Best Use of a Visual Property
CFM International and tmp
Kotex and Landor
Lenovo Yoga and Design Bridge and Partners
SimonMed and Brandpie
The Ford Motor Company and Interbrand
Best Brand Architecture Solution
eFax and Tenet Partners
Ronald McDonald House and Interbrand
Best Use of Copy Style or Tone of Voice
AGS and Fazer
B&O and Fazer
Fetch and Prophecy
Morningstar and Creative Business Company
The Ford Motor Company and Interbrand
Best Use of AI
Microsoft 365 + Copilot Campaign
Perficient
Best Brand Experience
Buffalo Trace Distillery and ChangeUp
Gretsch Golf Academy and ROWE
IHC and Teneo
Microsoft - Pride for each other
Octave and FutureBrand
TAG Restaurant Group (HashTag) and ROWE
Best Wayfinding or Signage
IHC and Teneo
FedEx and Teneo
Best Use of Typography
B&O and Fazer
Epic Theater Ensemble and Prophecy
Neuberger and Prophecy
Ronald McDonald House and Interbrand
Best Place Brand
Konterra Realty and Gould Property Company with Sighthound and Nessen Company
Navy Yard and Planthouse Studio
Starfish Branding and Creative Agency
PROCESS
Best Internal Communications During a Brand Development Project
ams OSRAM and GW+Co
Securian Canada and Brandpie
Sheppard and Living Group
Best Implementation of a Brand Development Project
Sunward and Monigle
The Bancorp and Tenet Partners
STRATEGY
Best Creative Strategy (Business)
Parloa and Further
PitchBook and Creative Business Company
Medecision and Agenda
Sheppard and Living Group
SimonMed and Brandpie
Best Creative Strategy (Consumer)
Blood Cancer United and Jones Knowles Ritchie
Kotex and Landor
Pennsylvania Tourism and Monigle
SimonMed and Brandpie
The Ford Motor Company and Interbrand
Best Creative Strategy (Corporate)
Applebee’s and M+C Saatchi Consulting
PwC and FutureBrand
Kindle Energy and FUNDAMENTALco
Best Brand Evolution (Business)
BRG and DeSantis Breindel
CFM International and tmp
Gifthealth and Monigle
Polarity Bio and is + at
MasterBrand and HLK
SimonMed and Brandpie
Best Brand Evolution (Consumer)
B&O and Fazer
Brawny and Bulletproof
Konterra Realty and Gould Property Company with Sighthound and Nessen Company
Pernod Ricard and JDO Global
Norwex and The Workroom
The Ford Motor Company and Interbrand
Best Brand Evolution (Corporate)
Elavon and FutureBrand
Ellwood and Joe Smith
Kindle Energy and FUNDAMENTALco
Norwex and The Workroom
Ronald McDonald House and Interbrand
Transamerica
Best Strategic or Creative Development of a New Brand
Bedrock Robotics and Studio Everywhere
Cotality and Siegel+Gale
Gretsch Golf Academy and ROWE
Rolliefest and Bulletproof
Magnera and Beardwood
Best Development of a New Brand Within an Existing Brand Portfolio
Constellation Brands - Corona and Beardwood
Paysafe
Best Naming Strategy (New Name)
Aluminz and Tenet Partners
Archer Student Lending and Additive Impact
Qnity and Lippincott
Verdara and Fazer
Vylor and Landor
Best Naming Strategy (Rename)
Mobia Medical and Waterhouse Brands
Ronald McDonald House and Interbrand
Ridgepost Capital and Prophecy
Best Naming Strategy (Naming System)
Johnson & Johnson Medtech - Dualto and Landor
Ronald McDonald House and Interbrand
TYPE
Best Corporate Rebrand Following a Merger or Acquisition
Illumia and DeSantis Breindel
Lumelight and Taillight
Ridgepost Capital and Prophecy
SES and Sequel Studio
Best Brand Development Project to Reflect a Change of Mission, Values or Positioning
ams OSRAM and GW+Co
Cotality and Siegel+Gale
Morningstar and Creative Business Company
Norwex and The Workroom
Ronald McDonald House and Interbrand
Sheppard and Living Group
The Ford Motor Company and Interbrand
Best Brand Consolidation
AdRoll and UPRAISE Marketing + PR
CardWorks Financial and Monigle
Best Digital Transformation
AGS and Fazer
Coupe Health and Accenture Song
Starfish Branding and Creative Agency
Sheppard and Living Group
SimonMed and Brandpie
Best Employer Brand
Kohler and Joe Smith
Microsoft
AUDIO
Best Audio Brand
Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sixième Son
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Sonicbrand
Johnson & Johnson and Antfood
PwC and FutureBrand with Sonicbrand
Best Sonic Brand Activation
Coalesse and Antfood
Mastercard and amp
Octave and FutureBrand with Sonicbrand
YNAB and Antfood
Best Sonic Brand Evolution
Netflix Animation Studios and Antfood
Oscar Mayer and amp
WRAPPED
Best Use of Packaging (Glass)
Pernod Ricard and JDO Global
Yankee Candle and Beardwood
Best Use of Packaging (Print and Card)
Kotex and Landor
Best Use of Packaging (Other)
Gallo and Tavern Agency
Snyder's of Hanover and Bulletproof
Suntory Global Spirits and Tavern Agency
Tavern Agency
Best Use of Packaging (Limited Edition)
Chips Ahoy! and Bulletproof
SECTOR
Best Visual Identity from the Automotive Sector
Dauch and Siegel+Gale
The Ford Motor Company and Interbrand
Best Visual Identity by a Charity, NGO or Not-For-Profit
American Library Association and Landor
Archer Student Lending and Additive Impact
Epic Theater Ensemble and Prophecy
Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center and Tenet Partners
Ronald McDonald House and Interbrand
Best Visual Identity from the Education Sector
Archer Student Lending and Additive Impact
Starfish Branding and Creative Agency
Best Visual Identity from the Engineering and Manufacturing Sector
ams OSRAM and GW+Co
Bedrock Robotics and Studio Everywhere
CFM International and tmp
Dauch and Siegel+Gale
Ellwood and Joe Smith
Magnera and Beardwood
Best Visual Identity from the Farming and Agricultural Sector
American Farmland Trust and Curious Plot
True Tart Cherries and Curious Plot
Best Visual Identity from the Financial Services Sector
Elavon and FutureBrand
Banner Life and DeSantis Breindel
Verdara and Fazer
Transamerica
The Bancorp and Tenet Partners
Best Visual Identity from the FMCG Sector
Brawny and Bulletproof
Yankee Candle and Beardwood
Best Visual Identity from the Food and Beverage Sector
Doritos® + Cheetos® Simply NKD™ and PepsiCo
Zaxbys and ChangeUp
Gallo and Tavern Agency
New Amsterdam Vodka and forceMAJEURE
Chips Ahoy! and Bulletproof
The Happy Crane and Kith&Kin
Best Visual Identity from the Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Sector
R1 and FUNDAMENTALco
LSMC and is + at
Medecision and Agenda
PointClickCare and Minds + Assembly
Polarity Bio and is + at
Best Visual Identity from the Hospitality Sector
HD Expo and forceMAJEURE
Qian Wei and Lulu Liu with Good Alley
Best Visual Identity from the Lifestyle and Wellbeing Sector
Starfish Branding and Creative Agency
Norwex and The Workroom
Coupe Health and Accenture Song
Best Visual Identity from the Oil, Gas, Mining and Extractives Sector
Kindle Energy and FUNDAMENTALco
Best Visual Identity from the Professional Services (Advisors and Consultants)
Experis and we-do-co
Huron and Monigle
Neuberger and Prophecy
Perficient
PwC and FutureBrand
Best Visual Identity from the Professional Services (Legal and Accountancy)
Fisher Phillips and DeSantis Breindel
Sheppard and Living Group
Proskauer and Agenda
Best Visual Identity from the Property, Construction and Facilities Management Sector
Starfish Branding and Creative Agency
Bedrock Robotics and Studio Everywhere
Konterra Realty and Gould Property Company with Sighthound and Nessen Company
MasterBrand and HLK
Transwestern and Fazer
Best Visual Identity from the Public Sector
Starfish Branding and Creative Agency
Pennsylvania Tourism and Monigle
Best Visual Identity from the Retail Sector
B&O and Fazer
Monument Grills and Fazer
Best Visual Identity from the Sports and Leisure Sector
Concacaf
HBSE - Loew’s Jersey Theatre and Smith Design
Rolliefest and Bulletproof
Best Visual Identity from a Startup
Aluminz and Tenet Partners
ProRata and Agenda
Tabld and FUNDAMENTALco
Best Visual Identity from the Technology, Media and Telecommunications Sector
Belden and Joe Smith
Medecision and Agenda
Parloa and Further
ProRata and Agenda
Qnity and Lippincott
Best Visual Identity from the Transport and Logistics Sector
PHL Airport and Jacobson Strategic Communications
Pittsburg International Airport and UFFINDELL
Best Visual Identity from the Travel and Tourism Sector
Pennsylvania Tourism and Monigle
Pittsburg International Airport and UFFINDELL
SkyReserve and Tenet Partners
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Brand Strategist of the Year
Ally Carter (Landor)
Helin Tu (EssilorLuxottica)
Todd Irwin (Fazer)
Creative Director of the Year
Helin Tu (EssilorLuxottica)
Thijs de Jong and Landor
Young Contender of the Year
Emily Kendrick (tmp)
Kruti Mehta (Additive Impact)
Pierre Bonnet (Landor)
