Some favs from the Oscars of the web.

For a decade now, I’ve had the privilege of judging the Webby Awards. I think it's the ultimate authority on the web, the equivalent of the Oscars for the online world. This annual event is a treasure trove of trends and opportunities, offering a comprehensive view of how design approaches, emerging technologies, and digital trends are permeating the mainstream. The cherry on top? The chance to win an award alongside icons like Prince, Jerry Seinfeld, and The Sopranos.

I look forward to it every year. So, I thought I’d explore something familiar for my first blog post and highlight some work that caught my eye.

I've done dozens of agency websites, which are always tricky projects. While the brief is often simple, a ‘shop window’ for the organisations, the challenges are many—there are too many cooks with contradictory agendas and no time or resources. So when you see one that stands out, it's extra special. Raw Materials is an unusual design agency (their words) that uses bold, colourful simplicity to stand out. I love this site. From the bold typography to the vibrant colour palette, I’m jealous. And I bet it's a great place to work.

The Climate Realism Exhibition blends art, science, and technology to transform 8 famous artworks into moving modern content that educates the viewer on the impact of the climate crisis. It uses climate data, historical and projected, and AI to show the impact of climate change in the portrayed scene. Beautifully done, with a powerful AI model at its heart, it's a sobering reminder of how we’re trashing our world.

Polaroid cameras are making a comeback—although I’ve had one for over 20 years. Alongside vinyl records, they signal a return to real, tactile objects in a growing and invasive digital world. Their latest offering, the Polaroid I-2, shows that great web design can start with a great product design. This site does nothing more than mimic some of Apple’s beautiful designs of the past, but when the UX, Design and Development are this slick, it's worth celebrating. I want one!

And finally, this campaign, XXXX Postcodes, caught my eye while judging. It didn’t win a Webby (tough crowd) but demonstrates that a simple but brave design change can be huge. For its sponsorship of the Queensland Rugby League team, the local beer brand XXXX changed the design of its logo from XXXX to a Queensland area code. The area code on each player's jersey was the player’s area code; on beer cans, it was replaced with a single number, inviting fans to ‘make’ their postcode out of cans and share it on social media. It ignited fans, giving them a way to show their support with the sponsor's product front and centre. Convincing an organisation to change its logo is almost impossible, but with an idea this awesome, it can be everything. Queenslander!