Entries for the 54th D&AD Professional Awards have opened. This year’s call for
entries has opened with two completely new categories in response to the evolving
creative landscape: PR and Media. With multiple sub-categories for each of these
new additions, entries can be submitted for campaigns in categories as varied as
use of print, branded content, events and stunts through to crisis management and
use of data.
Tim Lindsay, D&AD CEO commented, “Where once the function of a PR or Media
department was to support and elevate a creative campaign designed by a separate
agency, today the lines of creativity are blurred. Successful campaigns are no
longer just crafted in the confines of creative agencies, creativity can no longer be
pigeonholed in this way.’
“Celebrating and awarding creativity is at the heart of what D&AD does and so it
makes sense to move with the times…Adding new categories is an important step
for us, it isn’t a decision that we take lightly, so we have brought on; Marian
Salzman, chairman, Global Collective and CEO, North America, Havas PR; and Tess
Alps, chairman of Thinkbox to be the jury foremen for PR and Media
respectively.’
After an overwhelming response to the Book Design category in 2015, D&AD has
decided to celebrate the true breadth of design that this category inspires with in-
depth new sub-categories. Also in design, the Product Design category is awarding
contemporary innovation with new categories for 3D printed products and wearable
technology. Gamers will also have a field day with Printed Games submissions, new
to Graphic Design.
Media continues to play a large role in shaping creativity and with such a diverse
array of outstanding campaigns continuing to emerge in this space, D&AD has added
sub-categories to last year’s new Branded Film Content & Entertainment and to the
Film Advertising categories. Following on from the Black Pencil winning K9FM, Radio
Advertising has also expanded with a sub-category dedicated to branded audio
content, as this area has seen significant growth in the past 12 months. Innovators
in Digital Marketing are celebrated with the introduction of social video, confirming
what everyone already knows: advertising to millennials has never been so
relevant.
Full information on categories, pricing and dates can be found on the D&AD website. The
first jury announcements will be made later in the year.
Next Awards
Also open for entries are D&AD’s Next Director and Next Photographer Awards. The
Next series bridges the gap between the D&AD Professional Awards and New Blood
programme by identifying the best new talent and promoting them back to industry.
The creative campaign for this year’s awards will be designed by Brazilian Agency
F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi.
Shortlisted directors and photographers receive international exposure for their
work, mentoring from a wide portfolio of acclaimed photographers, agents,
production companies and advertising agencies, plus the chance to win funding and
grants towards personal and commissioned projects.
The overall winner will then be chosen from the shortlists and announced at the
D&AD Professional Awards Ceremony in May 2016, taking home a D&AD Pencil and
earning a place in the 2016 D&AD Annual. All shortlisted entries also get a mention
in the Annual.
To find out more about eligibility criteria and how to enter the Next Director Award,
click here.
For the Next Photographer Award, click here.
Judging
Following on from the success of Judging Week at the Truman Brewery in April this
year, 2016 is set to be an even bigger creative extravaganza. This time, organised
over 8 days, judging of the Professional Awards will take place alongside
workshops, industry talks, panel sessions, parties and networking sessions as well
as a concurrent New Blood fringe event.
Work entered into the 2016 D&AD Awards must have been commercially released
between 01 January 2015 and 18 March 2016 and been produced in genuine
response to a client brief. It must not have been entered in previous years.
Submissions should be made in their original language by 17 February 2016.
