The Design Business Association, the UK organization that measures and rates the effectiveness of design in a range of categories by using commercial data to evaluate the success, announced the winners of its annual Design Effectiveness Awards, which included projects by leading design agencies. The ceremony, which was held in London on February 16, brought together 450 industry leaders, who received 62 gold, silver and bronze trophies, awarded by the association this year in 12 categories.

Sony Corporation (‘Sony’) announced that the transaction to acquire Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson’s (‘Ericsson’) 50% stake in Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (‘Sony Ericsson’) has been completed as of February 15, 2012 (Central European time). This marks the completion of the transaction jointly announced by Sony and Ericsson on October 27, 2011, and makes Sony Ericsson a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony.

Fast Company, the journal covering the latest news in the technology, ethonomics (ethical economics) and design fields, has unveiled its annual ranking The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies. Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon are taking the lead (they are No. 1, 2, 3, and 4 correspondingly). Traditionally, the biggest intrigue here is not who will occupy the top lines (these several leaders are featured on most of ‘the best, the most successful, etc.’ ranks), but in which order they will do it (though, there are some newcomers as well). The most unpredictable thing here is what companies will take the rest of the positions and rule in their industries.