D&AD Announces Programme for 2020 Awards

Following D&AD’s announcement earlier this year confirming the 2020 Awards would go ahead in a digital capacity due to the global Coronavirus outbreak, the organisation today announced the programme for the 58th edition of their annual awards.

Since 1962, D&AD has stimulated, celebrated and enabled creative excellence and will continue to support the creative community through this period of unprecedented uncertainty. The 2020 Awards will recognise creative excellence from the past year in the belief that great work is always worthwhile, often producing better outcomes for all.

D&AD’s distinguished jurors are assembling virtually to review each piece of work with the rigour the Awards have become known for. Scaled-down physical judging sessions are still due to take place in July for Book Design, Graphic Design, Magazine & Newspaper Design, and Packaging Design, where in-person judging is critical.

While hosting a 2020 ceremony is not possible due to Coronavirus, D&AD will be celebrating the winners in a social campaign designed by Studio Dumbar and will be staging a programme of online discussions, Q&As and interviews with the Judges and winners to inspire, galvanise and drive forward creative thinking. This includes insight panels with the 2020 Judges, Q&As with Jury Presidents and Behind the Work sessions with the winners to interrogate the components of creative excellence. D&AD will continue to provide a platform for the world’s most innovative thinkers, practitioners and emerging talent to reflect on the role, process and value of creativity and craft in the face of global uncertainty for the year ahead.

The Shortlists and Pencils will be announced via the D&AD website and social channels. Key Shortlist dates include 21st May, 28th May and 4th June. Pencils will be announced on 2nd June, 9th June and 16th June. To accommodate in-person judging, Book Design, Graphic Design, Magazine & Newspaper Design, and Packaging Design Shortlists will be announced on 8th July and Pencils on 13th July. The Black Pencils - the highest accolade in the creative industry - Collaborative Pencils and Rankings will be announced on 16th July. A full list of the results announcement dates is detailed below and can also be found on the D&AD website. The schedule of the talks will be available soon.

Kate Stanners, D&AD president, commented: “As the world undergoes an unprecedented change, it is only right that D&AD Awards change with it. We have always highlighted great work and inspired creative excellence, and we will continue to do so this year despite the difficult times we find ourselves in. Each year, D&AD Awards receive a high calibre of entries from across the globe that demonstrate creative brilliance at its best, and 2020 is no different. We look forward to celebrating the highest level of creative work and supporting our creative industries.”

Tim Lindsay, D&AD chairman, added: “Recent events have shone a spotlight on the value of thinking creatively and innovatively. Our industry has already demonstrated great creativity in the face of the virus, and D&AD feel that it is more important than ever to celebrate the work we do. Alongside our awards schedule, we are excited to host a series of panel discussions, Q&As, and interviews with some of the industry’s leading creative practitioners. These sessions will provide insight into the breadth and diversity that is at the heart of the creative industries and look ahead to what creativity will mean in the future.”