Several times a year the American Design Awards open their competition to graphic and web designers looking to get noticed. The group is geared towards students and amateurs in the field. While they are currently judging the August 2006 entrees, I thought I would make a special recap of last season’s winners for logo design. Sadly, the winners seem to be less impressive each year. The American Design Awards panel has never had a formidable reputation anyways, but they seem to be losing some edge.

Part of the problem with any design awards is that you cannot compare each individual piece. They are all uniquely marketed to promote different ideas and products. What’s more, marketing options are not considered, so it does not matter if a logo “works” on a product or not. All judging basically dumbs down to how aesthetically pleasing the pictures are.

Last spring, Sun Ah Kim of Korea took home first place in logo design for her work with Korea Star Cruise Line. The logo is very well done and has a precise color scheme.

Sun Ah Kim, Logo Design

Second Place went to LogoBee Inc located in Canada for their work with the Royal Bank of America. Again, the logo looks amazing. How well does it promote the Royal Bank of America though? It feels more like a sports logo, not a bank trademark.

LogoBee Inc., Logo Design

Third place went to Object 9, a company that specializes in beverage container designs. No doubt it is a good piece and has great principle values, but used in context would not be very brandable.

Object 9, Logo Design

I’m remotely curious about the August winners, just to see if anything unique pops up this time around. Stay posted!