Baltimore - Vertis Communications, a results-driven marketing communications company that delivers inventive advertising, direct marketing and interactive solutions to prominent brands across North America, has received five Certificates of Excellence from Graphic Design USA's 2010 American Packaging Design Awards for its creative packaging designs for Hershey. The annual competition celebrates the power of design to advance a brand and forge an emotional link with the buyer.

In 2009, Hershey turned to Vertis to create innovative designs that would achieve consistent brand messaging for multiple products in various stages of retail availability and consumer acceptance. From ideation for new-to-market products to holiday-targeted packaging for established products, Vertis' solutions for each Hershey product advanced brand recognition and created the desired effect with the consumer at the points of influence and purchase.

"We are honored to receive this distinct recognition from Graphic Design USA for Vertis' consumerfocused and innovative packaging designs for Hershey," said Quincy Allen, chief executive officer of Vertis Communications. "Marketers are challenged as never before to convey their message and promote their brand in an era of fragmented audiences, global competition and tight budgets, and we are proud that our packaging solutions not only helped Hershey address its specific product sales needs but also made an impression on the greater design and packaging industry."

Vertis was awarded for its work on Hershey's Bliss, Y&S, Kit Kat, York Mints and Good & Fruity packaging. For its efforts with Hershey, Vertis concentrated on ideation, conceptual graphics through branding, icon development, illustration, display and advertising.

Graphic Design USA received more than 1,500 submissions for this year's competition, and in the end, awarded Vertis five of the less than 150 total Certificates of Excellence. The goal of the awards is to spotlight areas of growth and opportunity for graphic designers, recognize the best work being done, and emphasize the value of design to business and society.

Winners receive an embossed Certificate of Excellence for each piece selected and become eligible for reproduction in the GDUSA American Package Design Awards Annual,that appears March 2010 in print and online, seen by more than 100,000 graphics, marketing and business decision makers. Vertis' awardwinning Hershey package designs will also be featured on the cover of GDUSA's March 2010 issue, out in print this week.