Colenso BBDO dominates 2012 CAANZ AXIS Awards with 15 Gold trophies – Doggelganger wins Grand AXIS + Titanium and Interactive AXIS

The Grand AXIS for 2012 was awarded to Colenso BBDO for its work on Mars NZ’s Doggelganger campaign, at the CAANZ AXIS Awards tonight.

Doggelganger scooped a total of eight gold awards, and earned Mars NZ the 2012 Creative Business of the Year accolade.

Colenso BBDO’s outstanding advertising year was rewarded with a total of 38 awards, including 15 gold trophies.

Other agencies celebrating on the night included Special Group, which took home four Gold trophies, Saatchi & Saatchi, which won three (two with AIM Proximity) and RAPP Tribal with two Gold trophies. Whybin\TBWA won one Gold trophy, as did DDB and Barnes Catmur & Friends.

Other big winners included The Sweet Shop, awarded Production Company of the Year, and Murray Grindlay, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award for his musical creation of many iconic kiwi ads – including BASF Dear John and Cadbury Crunchie.

The Emerging Talent award was presented to Kim Fraser of Special Group, who the judges believe demonstrated outstanding talent as a newcomer to the industry.

Thirasak Tanapatanakul, Worldwide Chairman and CEO of Creative Juice Bankok and 2012 AXIS International Judge, was impressed with the quality of thought demonstrated by the winners.

“Creativity in New Zealand advertising is very fresh and yet very effective. I loved the winners’ campaigns. Doggelganger earned the top metal for its interactive innovation. The campaign was highly crafted and superbly executed – a very solid idea which encouraged social engagement with the brand.”

The winners were chosen from 578 entries, judged by 45 local creatives and five internationally recognised judges – including Thirasak Tanapatanakul, Duncan Marshall, Executive Creative Director of Droga5 Sydney, Sir John Hegarty, Worldwide Creative Director and founder of BBH, Paul Silburn, Creative Partner of Saatchi & Saatchi London and Richard Flintham, founding partner of 101 London.

CAANZ President Sandy Moore said that the work on show was testament to the exceptional talent within the local industry, and proves how powerful creative thinking can change businesses: “AXIS is about celebrating ideas; ideas that have captured the imagination of New Zealanders, ideas that have effected change, and ideas that have ultimately achieved business results for our clients. AXIS remains the pinnacle of creativity in New Zealand.”

Below is the list of all AXIS Gold winners: