Blacksheepdesign loves a challenge. And getting involved with Vision Manawatu and the business awards again in 2011 was an easy decision to make. Blacksheep sponsor, coordinate the campaign throughout the year and organise the awards night.

Faced with converting nominations into entries, we took a direct approach with our messaging and made no secret about the level of work required when entering the prestigious business awards. Our theme compared entering the awards with completing a marathon. ‘The Starting Line' marked the launch event, ‘Getting Business Fit' marked the workshops provided to assist businesses with their entries, and ‘The Finish Line' marked the sense of satisfaction at taking part and the celebration at the awards night. See pics here. This concept set the scene for advertising and collateral, all designed by our latest design recruit, Girish Parbhu.

Riding on the success of the previous year, we helped take the awards night from 370 guests in 2010 to 441 in 2011. Our events are design-led and focussed on entertainment, and less on the table arrangement. And so, we split the room in two, dressing half red and half white and in-keeping with the theme, we signed up comedic gentlemen Dai Henwood to lead Team Red, and Paul Ego to lead Team White.

A very talented crew of hip hop dancers and a musician also helped keep the night running smoothly. The careful planning and attention to detail really paid off when one guest commented "Ohh, I have a special gluten-free menu here, it even has my name on it!." Little did they know, there were 12 special dietary requirements in the room, we think that must be some kind of record.

The whole flock pull together to make the awards night hum, and there is a strong sense of achievement when it's all over. Stacey taking her first sip of wine as the guests begin to leave is our sign that the night went well and we can all finally relax!

Blacksheepdesign helped sponsor the talented MC's Dai and Paul from 7Days and managed to sneak a little lunch time grazing in with them just hours before the awards kicked off. There are no photos of this event unfortunately. But it did happen, we have the handsome Nero's receipt to prove it. Enjoy some Q&A with Dai and Paul here.