African team to revitalise Kenya Airways brand

The revamp will affect all aspects of its customers' experience with the airline – its website, lounges in Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport and at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta Airport, retail outlets, cabin interiors, design of uniforms, catering equipment and all brand communication items.

The award of the contract follows a stringent selection process that took a year and saw BLACK compete with top brand communication agencies from across the globe.

The international pitch was advertised in the Economist and Design Week and attracted a large number of entries. Of the 48 international entrants who participated in the pitch exercise, however, only eight were invited to present their proposals to the airways' selection panel.

BLACK was the only Africa-based agency to make it onto the list of the top three candidates – and the rest, as they say, is history…

Commenting on the win, BLACK's CEO, Veejay Archary said, "To compete with some of the best international agencies in the world and make it through such a strict evaluation process … speaks volumes of the level of strategic and creative talent in Africa's branding industry.”

Kenya Airways' CEO, Titus Naikuni, said, "Kenya Airways is specific in its ambition to create a world-class flying experience and make the airline the preferred carrier in Africa, while at the same time remaining true to its African roots and cultural heritage … [we want] to merge world-class design standards with authentic African warmth and humanity.”