The Ramco Cements’ construction chemicals brand, Hard Worker, has received three prestigious honours at the Kyoorius Design Awards 2026. The accolades include the coveted Grand Prix – Grey Elephant for the ‘Design in Action’ track, along with two Blue Elephant honours for ‘Design in Action’ and ‘Packaging’. These awards recognize the brand’s distinctive design philosophy and its effective market communication.
Hard Worker Brand Honored at Kyoorius Design Awards
The Ramco Cements Limited announced that its construction chemicals brand, Hard Worker, has achieved significant recognition at the Kyoorius Design Awards 2026. The brand secured a total of three prestigious honours, underscoring its innovative approach to design and branding within the competitive construction chemicals sector.
Grand Prix and Blue Elephant Wins
The most significant award was the Grand Prix – Grey Elephant, earned in the ‘Design in Action’ track. This top honour reflects the exceptional success of Hard Worker’s design strategy in its real-world application. Additionally, the brand was awarded two Blue Elephant honours, one also for ‘Design in Action’ and another for ‘Packaging’, acknowledging the distinctiveness and effectiveness of Hard Worker’s brand identity and packaging design.
Design Philosophy and Market Impact
Launched in 2025, Hard Worker entered the market with a strong design philosophy centered on the promise of “Hard-working products for hardworking people.” The brand differentiates itself by drawing inspiration from nature, using animal imagery to represent product benefits, such as a camel for water-retention in Eco Plaster and a cheetah for speed in Block Fix. This consistent visual language has been applied across all touchpoints, including packaging, retail, communication, and digital platforms, making the brand easily recognizable and understandable.
The packaging, in particular, has been highlighted as a key element in the brand’s recognition. By employing bold colors and distinctive illustrations that move away from conventional industry codes, Hard Worker effectively communicates product benefits in a memorable way. This approach is designed for broad appeal across diverse markets and user groups, including construction workers and applicators.
Leadership Commendation
Mr. AV Dharmakrishnan, CEO of The Ramco Cements Limited, commented on the awards, stating, “For Hard Worker, design was never an afterthought. It was fundamental to how we wanted to build the brand. In a category that is largely functional, we wanted to create a brand that people could recognise, understand and remember instantly. The Kyoorius recognition is a wonderful validation of this design-led approach.”
Mr. Balaji K. Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, Ramco Cements, added, “In a category where communication has traditionally been product-led and functional, we wanted Hard Worker to stand apart by making design an integral part of the brand experience. From the distinctive animal-led packaging to our communication across consumer and trade touchpoints, every element was designed to make the brand more memorable and the product benefits easier to understand.”
Brand Growth and Recognition
The awards come at a significant time for Hard Worker, which crossed ₹350 crore in sales within its first 12 months. These Kyoorius honours add to the brand’s growing reputation, following six awards at the Kyoorius Creative Awards earlier in 2026, including the Grey Elephant Grand Prix for its Eco Plaster film.
About Kyoorius Design Awards
The Kyoorius Design Awards are renowned for recognizing and awarding outstanding design work in the Indian visual communications sphere, adhering to high ethical standards. The awards encompass a comprehensive range of categories assessed by a jury of top international design professionals. The 2026 awards ceremony was held on September 12, 2026, in Goa.
About The Ramco Cements Limited
The Ramco Cements Limited is a leading cement manufacturer in India, part of the Ramco Group. The company offers a wide range of cement and allied building material solutions, continuously expanding its portfolio to meet the evolving needs of the construction industry.
About Hard Worker
Hard Worker is The Ramco Cements’ construction chemicals brand. It provides solutions for key construction applications, built on the philosophy of “Hard-working products for hardworking people.” The brand successfully combines product performance with distinctive and easily understandable communication and design.
Source: BSE
