CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Jan 7, 2014) - Anthem, a global creative agency that actively connects brands with consumers by amplifying desirability from package design to brand campaign to drive brand performance, announced today its San Francisco, New York and Battle Creek, Mich. offices have been honored with eight packaging design awards recognizing outstanding new work and design excellence.

The American Graphic Design Awards is the five decade old flagship national design competition managed by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) magazine, and is open to everyone in the graphic arts community -- graphic design firms, advertising agencies, in-house corporate and institutional designers, publishers and other media. Each year, roughly 1,000 winning entries representing all media are showcased in the printed GDUSA Design Annual, on the Web, and on an iPad app and seen by over 100,000 colleagues and clients each year.

"As media continues to fragment, a brand's packaging, whether seen at shelf or online, continues to grow in importance," says Tom Holownia, managing director of Anthem's San Francisco office. "It's the last thing the consumer sees before deciding to grab or click it (or not), so it must generate desirability, trust and ideally, an emotional connection."

"We are pleased that our package designs were rewarded by the judges for the powerful role packaging plays in driving brand performance," said Janice Jaworski, managing director of Anthem's New York office. "Packaging is the face of the brand -- the design that customers come to know and love -- and the bond that leads to repeat purchase."

In the Packaging category, Anthem (San Francisco) was awarded for its package design:

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: Safeway Select Gelatos
Brand Owner: Safeway

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: Safeway Select Salad Dressings
Brand Owner: Safeway

In the Packaging category, Anthem (New York & Battle Creek, Mich.) were awarded for its design:

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: Kellogg's Retro Cereal Boxes
Brand Owner: The Kellogg Company, Design: Anthem (New York & Battle Creek, Mich.)

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: Kellogg's Fruity Snacks
Brand Owner: The Kellogg Company, Design: Anthem (Battle Creek, Mich.)

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: Gardenburger
Brand Owner: The Kellogg Company, Design: Anthem (New York & Battle Creek, Mich.)

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: Keebler Simply Made Cookies
Brand Owner: The Kellogg Company, Design: Anthem (New York & Battle Creek, Mich.)

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: MorningStar Farms
Brand Owner: The Kellogg Company, Design: Anthem (New York & Battle Creek, Mich.)

CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE: Kellogg's Spiderman Promotional
Brand Owner: The Kellogg Company, Design: Anthem (Battle Creek, Mich.)

To view all 2013 American Graphic Design Awards winners, click the following Web site address: http://gdusa.com/contests/agda13/winners/

Anthem is a global creative agency that actively connects brands with people by amplifying desirability -- creating an insatiable thirst for brands from package design to brand campaign. Anthem sells brands to drive brand performance. Anthem is part of the brand development group of SGK (NYSE: SGK), formerly marketed as Schawk, Inc. For more information visit: http://www.anthemww.com.