• by Staff Writers , January 11, 2006

OMMA has bestowed top honors in its annual agency of the year awards to t:m interactive for its cutting-edge work, including the savvy use of ad units, video, and animation and its finely honed online/offline integration capabilities.

The small, Irving-Texas-based unit of Temerlin McClain "blew away the competition," said OMMA Editor Tobi Elkin, "besting many larger digital media and marketing agencies because it emphasizes performance metrics in every aspect of its business."

The awards are based on industry innovation, strategy, and industry leadership. t:m led in every respect. With nearly $400 million in media billings and $37 million in interactive media billings (both self-reported), the agency racked up an impressive awards cache last year, including Addy awards for interactive media work on behalf of American Airlines with its "Water Balloon" campaign and for Subaru's and Nationwide's mini-sites. The agency counts IgoUgo.com, Fossil, and Sanijet among new clients, and recently scored expanded responsibilities from American and Nationwide.

The San Francisco-based shop AKQA, whose clients include Nike, Gap, Visa, ESPN, and Microsoft's Xbox, took the Silver award, as well as the award for best Web design and site development.

The Bronze award, for best media planning and buying, went to Avenue A/Razorfish. iCrossing won for best search agency, while Agency.com took top honors for best creative.

Complete write-ups on this year's OMMA winners are available on MediaPostPublications.com.

The awards will be presented Thursday in New York.