Celebrating Excellence: The 2025 Core77 Design Awards Branding & Identity Winners
The 2025 Core77 Design Awards have unveiled their outstanding winners in the Branding & Identity category, showcasing innovative designs that push the boundaries of creativity and brand storytelling. Join us as we explore the remarkable achievements in this year’s awards, where visual identity and branding meet compelling narratives.
Professional Branding & Identity Winner: We & I
Taking the crown in the Professional Branding & Identity category is the critically acclaimed project by We & I, spearheaded by the talented team at Dentsu, including Taichi Tamaki, Ryota Sugahara, and Miki Taguchi. They were commissioned by the renowned rock band RADWIMPS—a favorite among the youth—to craft a visual identity for their graduation song. This song holds a profound significance in Japan, marking a pivotal moment in students’ lives during high school graduation ceremonies.
The designers ingeniously employed overlapping line silhouettes to symbolize a high school chorus, creating a rich tapestry of imagery that resonates deeply with its audience. But there’s a twist: a hidden image cleverly embedded within the design can only be unveiled through a common study tool used by students. This not only fosters engagement but also enriches the emotional connection with the audience—a prime example of how design can transform experiences.
Student Branding & Identity Winner: Desert X
In the Student Branding & Identity category, the award goes to Desert X, a striking entry from Yingying Zhu at the prestigious ArtCenter College of Design. Known for its breathtaking land art exhibitions set against stunning desert backgrounds, Desert X’s rebrand beautifully encapsulates the intersection of cultures, humanity, and nature.
With a focus on digital technology, this project takes visitors on an immersive journey, seamlessly integrating space and time. By innovatively leveraging technological elements, the rebrand not only enhances the visitor experience but also emphasizes the importance of environmental awareness—a critical aspect in today’s world.
Meet the Visionaries: The Jury Behind the Awards
The esteemed jury for the 2025 Branding & Identity category was led by YanYan Zhang, an Associate Partner and Executive Creative Director at VSA Partners. The jury also featured luminaries from the design world, including Kelly Bjork, a Partner at IDEO; Michael Braley, the Creative Director at Braley Design; and Liz Oh, a Senior UX Design Manager at HubSpot. Together, they evaluated numerous entries, each showcasing the potential of design to convey brand philosophy and values.
The Essence of Branding & Identity Awards
The Core77 Design Awards recognize not just individual designs but entire visual design systems that effectively communicate a brand’s essence. This includes logos, custom typefaces, color palettes, and comprehensive brand identity systems. Winning designs embody the spirit and message of their respective brands, effectively conveying desired images of products, companies, or organizations.
For more information on the transformative power of branding, visit the official Core77 Design Awards page.
Explore All the 2025 Honorees
Curious to see more groundbreaking work in design? Check out the full list of honorees from the 2025 Core77 Design Awards:
- Apps & Platforms
- Built Environment
- Branding
- Commercial & Industrial Equipment
- Consumer Technology
- Design for Social Impact
- Emerging Technologies
- Furniture & Lighting
- Home & Living
- Interaction
- Lifestyle Accessories
- Medical & Healthcare
- Packaging
- Speculative Design
- Sports & Outdoor
- Sustainability
- Tools
- Toys & Play
- Transportation
- Visual Communication
Whether you’re a design aficionado or simply curious about the art of branding, the Core77 Design Awards exemplify how creative thinking and aesthetic innovation can inspire profound human connections. Dive into the world of design excellence and discover how these visionary projects set new benchmarks in the industry!
