“This category matters because design is one of the closest and most direct points of contact between a brand and its audience. Great design does more than function well — it creates presence, desire, and memory.” – Yoshihiro Yagi, Executive Creative Director / Growth Officer dentsu Japan, Tokyo
LIA has curated an enviable list of industry leaders for its 2026 Design and Package Design judging panel to be held at Encore @ Wynn Las Vegas. As one of the top five (5) global shows included in the WARC Creative Rankings, the winning work from these competitions will set the standard of creativity for 2026.
This year, the jury will be presided over by Yoshihiro Yagi, Executive Creative Director and Growth Officer at dentsu Japan. He is one of the country’s most awarded creatives, with over 750 awards from both within Japan and internationally. His work for “My Japan Railway” won the Grand LIA for Design in LIA 2023.
“Design and Package Design are where brands and users meet in a tangible way. They shape first impressions, create emotional connections, and turn strategy into something people can immediately experience. I’m excited to see work that goes beyond surface appeal to express clear meaning, true essence, and a strong connection to culture,” said Yoshihiro Yagi, Executive Creative Director / Growth Officer dentsu Japan, Tokyo.
Great designs can persuade in any medium. It is the art of making a brand stand out. As technology progresses, there’s no denying the importance of user-centric designs that delight the audience and make them take action.
Coca-Cola’s ‘Share a Coke’ is a good example. The personalized label design made the brand name even stronger despite ‘Coca-Cola’ being removed. The proof of its success saw sales increase.
Christina Shaw, VP – Awards, LIA added: “These are such important competitions. Design makes aesthetics and function work together cohesively to create an emotional impact. Every one of our Design and Package Design jurors were chosen because they have used their creative skills as a powerful tool to increase brand visibility and make memorable impressions on the consumers.”
There is no pre-judging or shortlist jury. All rounds of judging are done onsite. Every member of the jury will see all the submissions in their respective categories and decide which work to award without limitations or quotas.
The Entry system is now open with a 20% Early Bird Discount.
LIA 2026 Entry Kit here.
LIA website here.
