Zona wins Silver at A' Advertising Industry Awards

Zona, the first hard seltzer brand in Angola, won Silver in the A’ Design Award’s Advertising, Marketing and Communication Design category for branding and packaging by designer Cansu Dagbagli Ferreira. The recognition highlights how the project blends Angolan heritage with a clean, contemporary look aimed at a growing low-alcohol beverage market. Why it matters: - Zona shows how a new beverage brand can use design to introduce a category while signaling local identity and premium positioning. - The award spotlights branding strategies that pair cultural authenticity with minimalist packaging in a market where wellness-oriented, low-alcohol drinks are gaining traction. - The recognition may help position Angolan origins as a strength in both domestic and international brand storytelling. What happened: - The A’ Design Award named Zona a Silver winner in the Advertising, Marketing and Communication Design category. - The winning work is a branding and packaging project created by Cansu Dagbagli Ferreira. - Zona is the first hard seltzer brand from Angola. - The award announcement was made June 18, 2026, in Como, Italy. The details: - The A’ Design Award evaluates entries through a blind peer-review process across design disciplines. - Zona uses a flow concept built around a hidden water splash symbol inside its custom logotype. - The symbol is meant to reflect the essence of life and the connecting nature of rivers. - Each flavor uses a unique geometric icon. - Each flavor also uses a monochromatic palette drawn from the inside and outside colors of the matching fruit. - The packaging uses a white-based layout to create a clean, high-impact look. - The design aims to feel premium, approachable and energetic for a younger audience. - The concept draws inspiration from the springs of Huambo, which feed the Okavango River and support a diverse ecosystem. - The cans are printed directly with Pantone system inks. - A dedicated award page is available here . Between the lines: - The project’s emphasis on river imagery and local geography gives the brand a narrative beyond taste alone. - The award also reflects a broader industry preference for restrained, research-driven packaging that can travel across markets. - For designers, Zona is a case study in balancing regional heritage with commercial clarity. - For beverage brands, the win suggests that origin stories can be part of premium positioning when translated into a simple visual system. What’s next: - The Silver designation may increase visibility for both Zona and Cansu Dagbagli Ferreira across the branding and packaging field. - The recognition could encourage more projects that use local culture and sustainability themes in category-building design. - Interested parties can review the work on the A’ Design Award website and explore the competition’s broader portfolio at A’ Design Award . The bottom line: - Zona won for turning Angolan heritage into a polished, internationally legible brand system for a new beverage category.