Auckland creative branding agency Milk wins Best-in-Show at Australia’s 2024 AGDA Awards

Auckland-based creative branding agency Milk has celebrated its recognition on the global stage, winning the prestigious ‘Best in Show’ award along with eight other accolades at the 2024 Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) Awards.

Held at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne on 14 November, the awards ceremony saw Milk stand out amidst a competitive field of Australasia’s most talented designers.

The agency took home the grand prize for their exceptional strategy and rebranding work with Blunt Umbrellas, marking a significant achievement for the agency.

“This award is a testament not only to our partnership with Blunt but also to the incredible team and the culture we’ve built together at Milk, where we believe in pushing boundaries together,” said Ben Reid (pictured below), Founder and Managing Director of Milk.

“Transforming Blunt from a beloved Kiwi brand into a lifestyle brand that can compete on a global scale has been immensely rewarding. This recognition reinforces that our work resonates far beyond New Zealand, showing that thoughtful, effective design can transcend borders and appeal to diverse markets worldwide.”

Adds Sarah Melrose, Milk’s Executive Creative Director (pictured below): “We’ve been working across the Tasman for a few years now, helping brands make their mark in the Australian market. Being recognised with ‘Best in Show’ at the AGDA’s for our work with Blunt is a proud moment for the team – it’s a great reminder of how New Zealand creativity and bold ideas can resonate anywhere. This award reinforces what we’re all about – creating work that truly connects with audiences, no matter where they are.”

This AGDA recognition follows Milk’s win of the prestigious Purple Pin in Graphic at New Zealand’s 2023 Best Awards, further celebrating the impactful work with Blunt Umbrellas. In addition to ‘Best in Show’, Milk received Distinctions in the Packaging and Design Effectiveness categories, and six Merits.

Kate Owen, a juror at the AGDA Awards, shared her admiration for Milk’s work, selecting Blunt Umbrellas as her ‘Juror’s pick’ in the Design Effectiveness category.

“Congratulations to all the AGDA 2024 winners, especially Milk for taking out Best in Show for their work with Blunt Umbrellas,” said Owen.

This recognition underscores the effectiveness and creativity behind Milk’s approach, reaffirming that their work goes beyond aesthetics to create tangible results for clients.

The AGDA Design Awards celebrate the best creative work across Australasia, recognising excellence across a wide range of disciplines each year.

The studio’s versatility and talent were evident, with nominations across 13 categories, including brand, packaging, design crafts, design effectiveness, publications, print and spatial. Milk’s excellence across disciplines reinforces its reputation in branding that delivers real impact.

In recent years, Milk was ranked 11th globally by D&AD, an achievement that placed the agency among world-renowned brands like Apple and The New York Times. This ranking highlights Milk’s ability to compete with the best in the industry, showcasing the strength of Kiwi innovation and the agency’s commitment to excellence on a global scale.

Milk has been at the heart of transformative branding work for iconic names like Clinicians, Caterpillar, Major Major, So Good, Weet-Bix, and Tegel. This latest recognition from AGDA further affirms Milk’s role in shaping brands that resonate across borders and markets.

Full list of Milk’s AGDA 2024 Awards:

Best in Show — BLUNT

Distinction
Packaging — Other — BLUNT
Design Effectiveness — Brand Strategy & Communication — BLUNT.

Merit
Brand & ID — Small Business — Asona
Brand & ID — Books & Guidelines — BLUNT
Brand & ID — Brand Expression — Physical — BLUNT
Brand & ID — Large Business — BLUNT
Print & Publications — Catalogues, Booklets & Brochures — BLUNT
Spatial — Installation Design — BLUNT

View the full list of winners here.