Developing the concept
The process begins by exploring what makes each business unique. Initial concepts are sketched and refined to find the most compelling visual interpretation.
Bringing business stories to life
This year's campaign brings together businesses from across Australia, reimagined as a vibrant illustrated world full of creativity, innovation and possibility.
Discover the story behind the illustrations
Hear from the team behind the campaign as they share the thinking that shaped this year's creative direction and the role these illustrations play in celebrating small and medium-sized Australian businesses.
Presenter Sophie Checkley explains the inspiration behind the campaign for the Telstra Best of Business Awards.
What you'll see in the video:
- The thinking behind the campaign creative
- How businesses inspired the illustration concepts
- Artwork evolving from sketch to final illustration
- Examples from across the illustration collection
0:00–0:05
Footage: A woman sits in an orange armchair against a bright blue studio backdrop, speaking directly to an off-camera interviewer.
Audio - Sophie Checkley: The Telstra Best of Business Awards celebrates Australia’s most extraordinary businesses.
Audio - music: Soft, upbeat background music.
Text: Sophie Checkley, Telstra
0:05–0:15
Footage: The interview continues, intercut with close-up shots of illustrated artwork being developed on a computer screen.
Audio - Sophie Checkley: To promote the Awards we put real businesses at the heart of our new campaign, by commissioning illustrations as extraordinary as the businesses themselves.
Audio - music: Background music continues.
0:16–0:39
Footage: Screen recording of digital artwork being edited in design software.
Audio - Sophie Checkley: Each business has such a unique story to tell, and whether that’s a story of growth, or whether that’s one of purposeful impact, we really wanted to take a look at how do we thread those stories together into something that reflects each of these business’s diversity and where they’ve come from and bring that to life in a handcrafted, very playful and fantastical way.
Audio - music: Background music interspersed with sounds from the animations shown on screen.
Text: Names of illustrated concepts as they appear, including Li-ion Energy, Rahma Health, Wonder Pies, StoryBox Hub, Fulcrum Robotics, Dice Contracting, Leafe Life and Revo Fitness.
0:40–0:44
Footage: The animations of the illustrated businesses continue to transition from black and white sketches to coloured versions.
Audio - Sophie Checkley: The Awards are our commitment to partnership with small and medium-sized businesses.
Audio - music: Background music interspersed with sounds from the animations shown on screen.
Text: Names of illustrated concepts as they appear, including Leafe Life and Revo Fitness.
0:45–0:47
Footage: Cut back to the speaker sitting in an orange armchair against a bright blue studio backdrop, speaking directly to an off-camera interviewer.
Audio - Sophie Checkley: Wherever they go on their business journey we’re right there alongside them.
Audio - music: Background music continues.
0:48–0:51
Footage: Close up of speaker against bright blue studio backdrop.
Audio - Sophie Checkley: Nominate an extraordinary business today.
Audio - music: Background music continues.
0:51–0:53
Footage: Blue background with text.
Text: Telstra Best of Business Awards
0:54–0:55
Footage: Blue background with logo.
Text: Telstra logo.
How the illustrations are created
Each illustration begins with a real business. The creative team explores what makes that business unique before bringing it to life through illustration.
Shaping the artwork
Following feedback and refinement, the chosen concept is developed into a detailed illustration using a palette inspired by the Telstra brand.
Bringing it to life
The result is a collection of distinctive illustrations that feel individual while belonging to a broader visual world.
Inspired by extraordinary businesses
Explore the collectionExplore the businesses featured in this collection and learn more about the innovators, changemakers and industry leaders represented throughout this year's campaign.
Select a business below to jump directly to its illustration.
Help celebrate Australian businesses
The Telstra Best of Business Awards recognises businesses that are creating change, solving problems and helping their communities thrive.
Know a business that deserves recognition? We'd love to hear about them.