9 people from Ghent. 9 categories. 9,000 reasons to vote.

How do you shape an award show? From the visuals on stage to the award winners take home. And how do you build a show and the full platform around it properly from the ground up? With social media, outreach brochures, a bold tone of voice and all the bells and whistles?

That’s exactly what Community Gent came to us with. Would we help think, build and bring to life De Wijste Gentenaar, their brand new, buzzing initiative? As proud Gentenaars ourselves, we were instantly intrigued. Spotlighting talent is one thing, but how do you turn it into a timeless brand? And how do you capture the soul of an authentic city like Ghent, without losing its international character?

We started where it matters: the brand proposition. De Wijste Gentenaar is the platform that makes Ghent talent visible. No more, no less. From that clear mission, we built a distinctive tone of voice: plainspoken and direct, with the occasional Jawadde and Da zal wel thrown in. The foundation was clear: Ghent, the nine winners and the nine categories, but just as much, the people around them.

A nine point star

For the visual identity, we looked for a logo that could speak for itself, paired with a playful colour palette that could carry the platform’s versatility. The nine point star symbolises the nine Gentenaars who take home the award each year. The shape stretches, morphs and shines in all its facets. With animation, we brought that dynamism to life even more.

With that visual style in hand, we created print ads for De Gentenaar, posters for the streets, and a presentation for the award show.

Socials and ambassadors

In the run up to the show, Gentenaars could nominate and vote for fellow residents. To activate as many people as possible, we needed a broad call to action. So we built a communications plan in several waves, with playful content. With colourful templates and interactive video content, our Instagram and Facebook followings grew into the thousands in just a few months.

For one last warm push, we brought in an ambassador: Frances Lefebure. With her unmistakable Gent accent and effortless style, she recorded promo videos for social media and hosted the award show in September.

Showtime!

And then 24 September arrived. During the show, we delivered live social content and got to enjoy the outcome of an intense journey. Together with 400 guests, nominees, winners and Ghent based companies, we experienced an unforgettable night. The best moment? The proud look on Amandine Grulois’ face as she accepted her award. Or the surprise performance by Meskerem Mees.

After the show came an aftermovie and wide press coverage. And just like that, De Wijste Gentenaar 2026 was already a reality.

More than a moment

Today, De Wijste Gentenaar is more than a one off award show. It’s a widely supported platform that organises events throughout the year and actively engages the city. It brings together worlds that rarely meet: neighbourhoods and entrepreneurs, culture makers and scientists, and more. That creates cross pollination and new connections.

A strong brand identity helps that story keep growing. And a key engine in that? The website. With a clear homepage and a smooth digital flow, the 2025 success could be handled with ease and the platform is ready for a new edition in 2026. If that’s not wise, what is.