Smirnoff Flavours has secured two Silver Awards at the World Brand Design Society Awards, while Bulletproof has been named among the Best Design Agencies globally. The recognition adds to an expanding list of accolades for the brand’s design transformation, underscoring its cultural resonance and market impact.
The global spotlight has turned once again to Smirnoff Flavours, as the brand’s design transformation continues to gather international acclaim. At the prestigious World Brand Design Society Awards, the Smirnoff Flavours work secured two Silver Awards, reinforcing its status as one of the most celebrated brand refreshes in the competitive spirits category. In a parallel achievement, brand design agency Bulletproof has been named in the Society’s Best Design Agency ranking, a list that recognises the most awarded and influential studios shaping consumer and corporate brand design globally today.
The twin honours mark a significant milestone not just for Smirnoff Flavours, but also for the creative team behind its reinvention. In an industry where shelf presence can determine brand fate within seconds, the award-winning work demonstrates how thoughtful design can bridge heritage and modernity, craft and culture, global consistency and local relevance.
“It’s fantastic to see the Smirnoff work celebrated and to feature in the WBS Best Design Agency ranking,” said Mark Armstrong, Executive Creative Director, APAC at Bulletproof. “We’re focused on creating design that connects craft with culture and shows up powerfully in market. Credit to the team who make it happen.”
The recognition from the World Brand Design Society is especially significant given the organisation’s reputation for spotlighting projects that not only achieve aesthetic excellence but also deliver measurable impact in the marketplace. Its awards programme attracts entries from leading global brands and design studios, making each accolade a marker of both creative distinction and commercial effectiveness.
For Smirnoff Flavours, the double Silver win signals the success of a design strategy rooted in clarity, vibrancy and cultural connection. The flavoured vodka segment is one of the most dynamic areas within the global spirits industry, with consumers increasingly seeking bold tastes and expressive branding. Against this backdrop, the refreshed Smirnoff Flavours identity needed to work harder than ever—standing out on crowded shelves while staying true to the brand’s heritage.
The award-winning work is understood to have sharpened the brand’s visual language, balancing its iconic cues with a more contemporary and energetic expression. Colour, typography and structural elements were orchestrated to enhance flavour differentiation while maintaining cohesion across the range. The result is packaging that not only captures attention but also reinforces the product’s personality and quality credentials.
The World Brand Design Society recognition adds to an already impressive tally of honours for the Smirnoff project. Earlier, the work clinched a Grand Prix at the Transform Awards APAC, along with three Golds and three Silvers at the same programme, which celebrates excellence in brand strategy and design across the Asia-Pacific region. The project also secured a Gold from Graphis Inc., the internationally renowned publisher and awards body known for celebrating outstanding creative work in design, advertising and photography.
Together, these accolades point to a campaign that resonates across juries, geographies and judging criteria. From strategic transformation to pure visual craft, the Smirnoff Flavours redesign has demonstrated versatility and depth—qualities that often distinguish enduring brand work from short-lived visual trends.
For Bulletproof, inclusion in the World Brand Design Society’s Best Design Agency ranking is equally noteworthy. The ranking aggregates performance across award programmes and recognises studios that consistently deliver high-calibre work across categories and clients. In a crowded global design landscape, being named among the most awarded agencies underscores sustained creative excellence and influence.
Operating across multiple regions, Bulletproof has built a reputation for translating brand purpose into distinctive visual systems that perform in real-world contexts. The agency’s work spans consumer goods, retail, hospitality and corporate identity, often blending strategic insight with strong storytelling. The Smirnoff Flavours project exemplifies this approach, marrying brand heritage with contemporary cultural cues to create a refreshed identity that feels both authentic and relevant.
Industry observers note that design in the beverage alcohol category has become increasingly sophisticated, driven by younger consumers who value authenticity, visual impact and social shareability. Packaging is no longer just a container; it is a storytelling device, a social media asset and a marker of brand values. In this environment, awards recognition can serve as both validation and amplification, signalling to retailers, distributors and consumers that a brand is at the forefront of innovation.
The success of Smirnoff Flavours also highlights the importance of collaboration between brand owners and creative partners. Transformative design work rarely emerges from isolated inspiration; it is typically the result of rigorous research, iterative development and close alignment between commercial objectives and creative ambition. Armstrong’s acknowledgment of the team effort reflects this reality, underscoring that award-winning outcomes are built on collective expertise.
As the global spirits market continues to evolve, the ability to adapt while maintaining brand equity will remain critical. For Smirnoff Flavours, the recent wave of awards suggests that its refreshed design has struck a chord—both aesthetically and strategically. For Bulletproof, the recognition reinforces its standing as a studio capable of shaping brands that not only look compelling but also perform powerfully in market.
In a year already rich with accolades, the double Silver at the World Brand Design Society and the Best Design Agency ranking serve as fresh confirmation that the Smirnoff Flavours transformation is more than a visual update. It is a case study in how design, when thoughtfully executed, can elevate a global brand and capture the imagination of judges and consumers alike.
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