Though the recession has hit advertising hard, the Kansas City chapter of the American Advertising Federation continues to boast of the largest local advertising awards competition in the U.S. The big event, the 2009-2010 Addys, was Saturday night, and the crowd was treated to a splashy, “Space Addysy” themed show.

Willoughby Design, a group of 14 strategists and artists based in Westport, led a visual and content overhaul to modernize Jet, starting with this week’s issue and timed to make its debut during Black History Month.

The first KC Design Week kicked off with a design challenge intended to solve a practical problem: how to most effectively stack and store the iconic blue food collection barrels used by Harvesters, the local community food network.

Kansas City Design Week (KCDW) hits the UMKC campus and the Crossroads District this week. The event is a celebration focusing on architecture, urban planning, fashion, and sustainability and, of course, many areas of design such as interior and graphic.

Ann Willoughby was named one of the most influential brand designers in the country, and was among the selective list of international designers profiled in the recent book, Masters of Design Logos & Identity. Willoughby’s Kansas City-based firm has been at the forefront of design for thirty years.

Local design and innovation firm, Willoughby Design, took home three design awards in Print magazine’s prestigious 2009 Regional Design Annual. In addition, Kansas City ranked sixth in the nation for total number of winning entries, landing just behind Seattle and Dallas.

Established in 1978, Willoughby Design is a brand design and innovation firm made up of strategists, designers and writers. Our commitment to design thinking, sustainable design and corporate social responsibility is reflected in our work, our studio in Westport and our Design Barn in Weston, Missouri.

When it comes to going green, designers can take on a much bigger role than many might think. Zack Shubkagel of Willoughby Design challenges designers to create Living Communications – here’s how.

I love real entrepreneurs. Kevin and Christie are obviously good at what they do. They have tasted opportunity along with a modicum of success (they paid back a bank, secured another loan and line of credit — in today’s world, that’s successful). They have a direction, now gearing their efforts to a more upscale clientele.

For Willoughby Design, 2008 and the company’s 30th anniversary marked the start of a yearlong evolution toward a brand poised for growth. Willoughby Design recently expanded its ownership to include members of a newly created leadership team and unveiled its new, dynamic Web site.