The winners of this year’s Inside Out awards for in-house creative teams have been announced. Now in their 12th year, the awards, “identify and celebrate creative excellence, stand-out work and in-house talent.”
They are run by the Inside Out community, whose mission is to give, “in-house creative leaders the connections, insights, knowledge and recognition that will get them to the highest levels of influence and persuasion within the brands they are a part of.”
At the awards ceremony in London, Sofology was named in-house team of the year, while BAE Systems Digital Intelligence won the best small in-house team, given to entrants with 10 people or fewer.
It was one of two awards given to the defence and security technology firm, which also scooped the prize for best brand transformation, which is “awarded to teams that have successfully redefined or revitalised a brand, demonstrating measurable shifts in brand perception.”
In 2022, BAE Systems consolidated various units into a new Data Intelligence business, which aims to “deliver a greater range of digital capabilities alongside leading cyber, intelligence and security expertise to an extensive portfolio of government, defence and commercial customers around the globe.”
BAE Systems is the largest manufacturer in the UK, and the biggest defence contractor in Europe, but has attracted controversy. In the past couple of years, its factories have been targeted by protests against its contracts with the Israeli armed forces, due to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Emma Sexton, founder of the Inside Out community, said the awards focus only on the creative merits of the entries.
“Inside Out exists to celebrate creativity and the people who make it happen,” she said. “Our awards recognise the talent, craft, and dedication of in-house creative teams – not the wider business activities of their employers.
“We believe that creative professionals deserve recognition for their work, wherever they are, and we keep our focus firmly on individuals and their achievements, not company politics.”
Another multiple winners on the night included:
Merlin Entertainments, whose Nemesis Reborn rebrand at Alton Towers won best visual design. Candy Holland, executive creative director at LEGOLAND Resorts and LEGOLAND Discovery Centres was also named in-house creative leader of the year.
Maintenance and repair company Johnson Controls, which won best motion graphics and animation, best campaign, and whose creative resources manager, Cait McEnery, won creative champion of the year.
Accounting software Xero, which won best video production and best implementation of technology within creative operations for its collaboration with Canva.
Mobile provider Three UK, which won best use of technology in creative execution and best collaboration with an external specialist for its AI-powered interview with trailblazing footballer Lily Parr, who died in 1978.
Addressing the ceremony, Sexton said that the awards reflected the ongoing rise of in-house creative excellence.
“Looking back at my opening speech from last year, there was a theme of in-house going from strength to strength, from being a whisper to a roar,” she said. “Even in the past 12 months, it is very clear that in-house creative teams have fully arrived and are taking up the space in the creative industry that you have always deserved.”
She said four main themes had emerged from the judging process, which characterised the best in-house work around. These were measurable business impact and ROI, innovation and strategic use of technology, high-quality craftsmanship, and collaboration.
And Sexton said that while AI is still “largely restricted for the majority of in-house creative teams,” it is starting to “impact creative execution” and is most impressive when it’s used as “an enabler, not a gimmick.”
Deloitte’s Pride postcards
Other awards went to Deloitte’s 368 team, which won best photography/illustration for its Pride postcards, Canva-owned Flourish, which won best ROI/results on a limited-budget project,and Checkout.com, which won best creative collaboration with marketing.
The NSPCC’s Leng or Liar video, which challenged influencers The Charvas to work out which online people they spoke to were real, and which were fake, was highly commended in two categories.
Sky Creative designer Amber Skipper won the rising star award, Sainsbury’s studio director Emily Morris won the outstanding contribution award, while the Inside Out special recognition award went to Phil Hobday.
A key figure in the UK Government’s communication service design centre, Design102, Hobday passed away last year.
“Phil Hobday was the creative force behind many of the UK Government’s most trusted and recognisable communications,” the Inside Out tribute said.
“With over 30 years as a designer and creative director, he transformed public sector design through leadership, innovation and unwavering standards. Phil helped to set the standards for creativity in government communications.”