51st D&AD Awards Calls for Entries

Entries for the fifty-first annual D&AD Awards have been opened with the organisation calling on the UK creative industry to back talent across the advertising and design sectors in the face of continuing tough economic times. 

 

In tough economic times for many in the design and advertising industries, D&AD has ensured that this year’s Awards are the most cost-effective to date.  The Awards cost from just £85 to enter this year. The appointment this year of Neville Brody, current Dean of Communications at the RCA, as D&AD President will propel the organisation to take a strong lobbying position in the face of government cuts in funding for creative education.   

 

The UK remained the single most-awarded nation during the 2012 D&AD Awards – which marked the award’s fiftieth anniversary – taking 199 of the 638 Awards (more than work from the US, which received 105 Awards last year), accounting for almost one third of all the Awards.

 

In the 2012 D&AD Awards, the UK performed well with entries earning 22 Yellow Pencils. There were two Yellow Pencils apiece for AMV BBDO (for GM and PepsiCo), Laurence King (for Let’s Make Some Great Art), Euro RSCG London (for VO5) and for Wieden + Kennedy London (for The Kaiser Chiefs Bespoke Album Creation Experience).

 

Tim Lindsay, CEO of D&AD said, “While D&AD is now truly global, the UK remains our spiritual home because some of the finest creative work is produced here. 

 

“We very much hope that, across both design and advertising, we see work from the UK well-represented in the Awards as we open a new chapter in our history. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of D&AD – now is a chance to be part of the next generation of talents recognised by juries of the highest calibre anywhere in the world.”

 

D&AD only awards work of the highest standard, meaning that the quantity of top Awards given fluctuates year on year. The scrutiny and rigour imposed by the internationally acclaimed judges is legendary, and ensures that only very best work receives the coveted Yellow and Black Pencils. 

 

Judges award work at four levels: In Book places the work in the D&AD Annual; Nomination shortlists work to be considered for Pencils; Yellow Pencils are awarded for outstanding work; Black Pencils are awarded to ground breaking work. All awarded work appears in the D&AD Annual, and In Book and Nomination winners can now claim Pencil Slices to mark their achievement. 

 

Tim Lindsay concludes,“D&AD remains the pinnacle of achievement for any creative and we have fought hard to keep it so. The fact that, in 2012, just 638 Awards were made from the over 20,000 pieces of work shows that an In Book Award from D&AD – let alone a Nomination or Yellow Pencil – is a mark of enormous creative achievement. However, UK work has shown time and again that it has the power to impress, and in some cases, awe the juries – we hope that we will see our home nation succeed once again as D&AD and the Awards enter a new decade of excellence.”

 

The pinnacle of creative achievement across the design, advertising and digital industries, the D&AD Awards have been running since 1962. 

 

For information on how to enter this year’s Awards, visit: http://www.dandad.org/awards/professional/2013

 

Work entered must have been commercially released between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2012 and been produced in genuine response to a client brief.  Submissions should be made in their original language by 30th January 2013. The Awards cost from just £95 to enter this year. All entries received by 29th November 2012 will save 10% on the cost of entry.