UDI Awards for Excellence

Since 1972, the Urban Development Institute (UDI) has united thousands of professionals in land development and planning. Every two years, they host the prestigious Awards for Excellence, celebrating industry achievements and fostering high-level networking. Marking its 40th anniversary, UDI sought a refreshed event brand that would honour the awards’ legacy while remaining adaptable for future galas.

In response, I rebranded the event with a new logo and brand system centred on black, white, and grey, with a bold red accent to commemorate the ruby anniversary. Abstracted images of past winning projects formed textures within a grid-based system for a modern yet historically relevant touch. I also produced a brand guide and templates (Gala Program, Sponsorship Prospectus, and Presentation PowerPoint) to equip UDI’s internal team with the tools to easily extend the brand, successfully capturing the awards’ prestigious, innovative, and celebratory spirit.

The refreshed brand system elevated the event’s presence, earned praise from UDI’s team for its elegance and ease of use, and set a new standard to carry forward into future galas.

Deliverables

Brand Identity
Print Design
Copywriting

Credits

Agency – Pivot or Die

Legacy-Inspired Graphics & Flexible Branding

The new brand identity balances legacy and adaptability. Black-and-white images of past award-winning projects were abstracted into grid-based patterns, honouring UDI’s history while adding depth to event materials. Some images extend beyond the grid, symbolizing innovation and breaking the mold.

A minimal core palette—black, white, and grey—ensures longevity, while a rotating feature colour, like ruby red for the 40th anniversary, allows future galas to personalize the brand while maintaining consistency.