Proving again that NZ creativity is up there with the world's best, Auckland firm Alt Group has beaten entries from around the world to take out a top prize in the prestigious international graphics design competition AGDA National Biennial Awards , held in Australia.

"The key thing for us is to support our belief that NZ design and the NZ design industry can compete on the international stage." - Dean Poole, Alt GroupProving again that NZ creativity is up there with the world's best, Auckland firm Alt Group has beaten entries from around the world to take out a top prize in the prestigious international graphics design competition AGDA National Biennial Awards , held in Australia.

"The key thing for us is to support our belief that NZ design and the NZ design industry can compete on the international stage." - Dean Poole, Alt GroupThis year's AGDA awards attracted more than 2700 entries from Australia, UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore and New Zealand, across 21 categories. Only nine Pinnacles (highest accolade), were awarded, with Alt Group winning one for innovative speech bubble signage it created for the Better by Design conference 2005 in Auckland.

Better by Design (BBD) is a programme offered by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and it works with New Zealand export companies to help them gain a competitive edge in global markets through improving their design capability and processes. Alt Group developed the initial brand concept and has been Better by Design's creative partner since its inception in 2004.

The inflatable speech bubble signage designed for the Better by Design conference, and which won it the Pinnacle, were created to "facilitate a conversation between design and business", explains Alt Group Creative Director Dean Poole.

"We suspended hundreds of speech bubbles from the ceiling, to form an interactive installation. Each had a question on the front, focusing on strategic business questions. The speech bubbles acted as a carrier, people could pluck them off the ceiling, take them home and pass them on. They were unusual, had presence and longevity outside the initial conference."

Mr Poole says Alt Group entered the AGDA awards to put its work up against leading-edge graphic design companies from around the globe.

"It's important to benchmark our work in an international context. The key thing for us is to support our belief that New Zealand design and the New Zealand design industry can compete on the international stage."

Alt Group, which was established seven years ago and has 12 staff, has worked on all aspects of the Better by Design project, including the launch, website and the conference.

"We believe that design is a truly international language which communicates across borders of geography and language through ideas," explains Mr Poole. "New Zealand is becoming recognised internationally for creativity across all business sectors. This is essential to compete in an increasingly globalised market. Ultimately what will differentiate products and services is the quality and creativity of ideas and the experiences they deliver - this is the role design has to play at a strategic level."

Judith Thompson, of Better by Design says, "Our core message is that design creates sustainable value for business, and to get that message across, our own design and brand work needs to stand out. Alt has worked with us as a creative partner, consistently producing exemplary work. We are obviously extremely pleased to see them get this level of recognition."