Today winners of the 15th Annual Webby Awards, more fondly known by web obsessed as the Oscars of the Internet, were announced.
The award show was founded by one of the first self proclaimed web designers, Glenn Davis, who ran a website called “Cool Site of the Day.” He featured a new site every day and ultimately gave out a “Cool Site of the Year Award.” Since that first award was given in 1995, the Webby Awards have expanded to now include four major verticals that encompass websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, as well as mobile.
One of the best parts about the Webby Awards is that each of the 70 categories awarded features two winners: one selected by the International Academy of Arts and Sciences and one selected by the people through the Webby People’s Voice voting.
2011 Webby Award Winners were officially announced today with broadcast of the always entertaining award show slated for June 13th. Six Boston area companies (well, one a little further north from Maine) made this year’s award show as winners:
Webby Award Winner
Category: Websites – Community
Built by: IDEO (Cambridge)
About: OpenIDEO is a place where people design better, together for social good. It’s an online platform for creative thinkers: the veteran designer and the new guy who just signed on, the critic and the MBA, the active participant and the curious lurker. Together, this makes up the creative guts of OpenIDEO.
The Architect’s Virtual Capitol
Webby Award Winner
Category: Websites – Government
Built by: CampusTours Inc. (Maine)
About: The Architect’s Virtual Capitol is the official virtual experience of the Architect of the Capitol and includes the United States Capitol, the Supreme Court, The Library of Congress, the US Botanic Gardens, the House and Senate office buildings, the Capitol Visitor’s Center, and other locations and information relating to the AOC.
The Responsibility Project (Liberty Mutual)
Webby Award Winner
Category: Websites – Insurance
Built by: Hill Holliday (Boston, as is Liberty Mutual)
About: Liberty Mutual is a provider of auto, home, and life insurance for consumers, as well as risk and disability products and services for businesses. Because responsibility is integral to who we are, we also support a range of community service programs around issues like fire safety and responsible sports. The Responsibility Project explores what it means to do the right thing.
People’s Voice Winner
Built by: KAYAK (Boston)
Category: Mobile – Travel
About: KAYAK.com optimized for your iPhone. The ultimate travel assistant. Find flight, hotel and car rental deals, book your travel, track your flight status, view and organize your trip itinerary, look up baggage fees, get airline numbers and airport info, and more.
People’s Voice Winner
Built by: Arnold Worldwide (Boston)
Category: Interactive Advertising – Best Integrated Media Plan
About: It’s the worst economy in 70 years. People are out on the street in record numbers. Seems like you might do anything for work, right? Well, would you sell a product that kills its customers when used as directed? This campaign gets to the bottom of that question.
People’s Voice Winner
Built by: Modernista! (Boston)
Category: Interactive Advertising – Mobile & Experience Marketing
About: The DEXTER ARG kicked off at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con. The rabbithole was inside DEXTER Game On, a promotion that invited players to step inside Dexter’s world and score 100,000 kills to unlock exclusive content from the new season of DEXTER.
