We attended the UK StartUp Awards 2026 East of England ceremony in Colchester on 3rd June. A room full of founders building real things, taking real risks, doing it with genuine conviction. We left with an award — and a clearer sense of why this work matters.
What the Judges Said
The feedback from the judging panel is the part we keep coming back to:
"Noran Design impressed the judges with its international reach, having supported more than 120 organisations across 15 countries. Its combination of accessible digital systems, responsible AI, cross-cultural fluency and support for mission-driven organisations showed a business with both global relevance and clear values." — UK StartUp Awards Judges
That quote names, clearly and from the outside, the things we have tried to build toward since we started. It is one thing to hold values internally. It is another to have an independent panel reflect them back to you unprompted.
What This Recognition Means
The Work Behind It
Noran Design was built on a simple belief: that great design should be accessible to organisations doing meaningful work, wherever they are in the world. Not just to those with the biggest budgets or the most established names.
Over the years, that belief has taken us across 15 countries and 130+ organisations: cultural institutions, nonprofits, AI startups, and founder-led businesses at every stage of growth. We have built digital systems, shaped brand identities, and helped organisations find the language to communicate what they actually do.
What Comes Next
We are heading to the national final at IdeasFest in September 2026. We will approach it the same way we approach every project: prepared, clear on what we stand for, and genuinely curious about who else is building something worth caring about.
Thank you to everyone who has worked with us, referred us, and trusted us with their organisations' digital presence. This recognition belongs to that whole community.
