A packed room of Connecticut’s most talented designers, buzzing with energy. Glasses clinking, ideas flying, applause echoing, and in the midst of it all, our team from ZGM soaked it all in.
This year at the CADC Awards Show, ZGM’s creative team brought home four Excellence Awards, celebrating the kind of work that pushes boundaries, tells stories, and shows just how much creative design can do.
Here’s a peek inside the night, the work that got us there, and why these wins matter.
What Is the CADC and Why Does It Matter?
A Legacy of Creativity in Connecticut
The Connecticut Art Directors Club (CADC) has been spotlighting great design since 1975. It’s a creative community built to inspire designers to live, act, and create with authenticity and integrity. Each year, CADC recognizes excellence across eight categories:
- Advertising
- Environmental design
- Graphic design
- Illustration
- Online/interactive
- Photography
- Student work
- Video
With 250+ entries, the CADC Awards are no walk in the park. Earning an Excellence Award means your work rose above an incredibly competitive field.
ZGM’s Winning Projects
Email Design Excellence – Autumn Moon Kids Clothing
Designer: Lauren Fall
“Designing for Autumn Moon was a lot of fun. We brought in a sense of whimsy to the email designs to reflect the brand’s vibe and the colorful patterns of their clothing.”
This eCommerce email series brought together illustrations, soft pastel palettes, and clever copy that spoke directly to style-forward parents. The cadence of the emails told a story, not just pushed a product.
Logo Design Excellence – Resilient Align
Designer: Katie & Imani
“This logo is more than a symbol – it’s a tribute to generations of hard work, resilience, and unwavering commitment. It reflects a legacy built on family values, enduring relationships, and a promise to always put customers first.”
Rooted in the long-standing heritage of Gilman Brothers, the Resilient Align logo was crafted to honor a company known for quality, innovation, and trust. The design incorporates strong, grounded shapes that mirror the brand’s durable product lines while introducing a modern feel to appeal to new markets. Every element was chosen to bridge past and present-paying homage to decades of excellence while signaling a forward-thinking vision for the future.
Print Design Excellence – H.J. Baker 175th Anniversary Desk Calendar
Designer: Katie Marrotte
“We wanted this calendar to feel like a tribute – not just a promotional piece. Every detail, from the paper texture to the layout and imagery, was chosen with intention. It honors 175 years of dedication, craftsmanship, and connection – with each page turning a new chapter in the company’s legacy.”
To mark H.J. Baker’s 175th anniversary, we created a print calendar that honored both tradition and timelessness. Each month celebrated a chapter in their legacy, using historic images, thoughtful typography, and tactile materials. It wasn’t just a calendar-it was a legacy piece.
Printed locally by Cannelli Printing in West Haven, CT.
Environmental Graphics Excellence – Excel Blades Tradeshow Booth
Designer: Lauren Fall
“Designing a trade show booth is a great challenge. It needs to stand out from across the room and spark curiosity, drawing people in to learn more.”
For Excel Blades, we created bold visuals that showcased their precision tools in high contrast, paired with a sleek takeaway postcard to fully capture the brand’s essence. Design met utility-and stole the show.
A Night to Remember & a Seat Near Design Royalty
Sitting 5 Feet From Gerard Huerta
Yes, the Gerard Huerta. The legend behind logos for AC/DC, HBO, Calvin Klein’s Eternity, and more.
“Hearing his story and learning about the iconic logos he’s created was truly inspiring.”
Gerard’s story-his cross-country journey from California to NYC to becoming a Hall of Famer-was a reminder that great design outlasts trends.
Why Nights Like This Matter
Design can be heads-down work. Nights like the CADC Awards pull us out of the grind and remind us: we’re part of a larger creative force.
They reignite our passion, connect us to other local talent, and give us space to simply celebrate great work all for clients, community, and for craft.
Your Brand Deserves More Than Clip Art. Let’s Talk.
These four awards are just the beginning. The ZGM creative team is fired up, inspired, and already dreaming up what comes next. We’re grateful to the CADC and our local creative community for the recognition and for continuing to champion design in all its forms.
Whether you’re reimagining your logo, building a booth, or transforming your email experience, we’re here to bring ideas to life.
