The Financial Times was honoured last night for its newspaper redesign at New Zealand’s Best Design Awards. The refresh earned the top prize in the graphic design category.

An initiative of The Designers Institute of New Zealand, The Best Design Awards is the annual showcase of excellence in graphic, spatial, product and interactive design. The top prize, the Purple Pin, is awarded for work that raises the bar of New Zealand design.

Judges commented, “[The FT's redesign] moves the needle … but more than that, it takes all the skills exhibited in this competition and creates a truly remarkable, rigorous, design system.”

The redesign, which also won an Award of Excellence from the Society for News Design last year, was led by Creative Director Kevin Wilson and Design Director Mark Leeds, with support from Christopher Campbell, Kari-Ruth Pedersen, and the New Zealand-based font designer Kris Sowersby.

Kevin Wilson commented, “We are honoured to be recognized among an impressive group of competitors. The redesigned paper was the result of extensive user testing and feedback, and underscores the FT’s belief in the lasting value of print.”

You can read more about the redesign here.