A universal characteristic found in all 38 award-winning projects was a minimalist approach to design: presenting one idea, one tool or one piece of functionality that’s relevant. We saw many projects get to the point quickly, and the development of mobile apps is driving this trend toward simplicity in design and interaction.

Video continued to be a dominant theme in this year’s 35 winning entries. We saw several innovative uses, including transitions, backgrounds and even a few customized paths. We also saw many projects taking advantage of the Web’s social culture by incorporating user-generated content.

Besides the proliferation of video, 2007’s 32 winning entries exemplify the trend towards increased engagement on the Web. At least a third of the winners used some form of entertainment to connect their audience with a brand. In addtion, corresponding production budgets have increased to reflect the growing importance of the Web in integrated campaigns.