Entries for the 54th D&AD Professional Awards have opened, so if you’ve created a piece of work, a campaign, a product, or a movement that has had people exclaiming “I wish I’d done that,” then this might be your year. 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 subcategories 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. Also, after an overwhelming response to the Book Design category this year, D&AD has decided to celebrate the true breadth of design that this category inspires with a raft of in-depth new subcategories.
This year’s call for entries has opened with two completely new categories: PR and Media
Tim Lindsay, D&AD CEO, said: “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. 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. This isn’t a soft launch; this is a complete commitment to honouring these categories and recognising their achievements.”
The Product Design category is awarding contemporary innovation with new categories
In design, meanwhile, 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 the 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 subcategories 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 subcategory 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.
Also open for entries are D&AD’s Next Director and Next Photographer Awards
Also open for entries are D&AD’s Next Director and Next Photographer Awards. This series bridges the gap between the D&AD Professional Awards and the New Blood programme by identifying the best new talent and promoting them back to the 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 coveted D&AD Pencil and earning a place in the 2016 D&AD Annual. All shortlisted entries also get a mention in the Annual.
