What we do
Well, if you were keeping it short, if you were writing it on the side of a pencil, for example, you’d probably say something like: D&AD exists to inform, educate and inspire those who work in and around the creative industries.
But really, that’s not the half of it.
Let’s start with the pencils. The annual D&AD Awards are recognised throughout the world. They set the absolute reference standard for creative excellence. A yellow pencil on your desk will get gasps of admiration. And a black pencil? Well, they’ll probably erect a statue of you in the town square.
And these Awards have left a considerable legacy – an archive of five decades of the best and most innovative creative work, available online for access at anytime by anyone in need of ideas, inspiration, or simply something wonderful to look at.
Then there’s the Education Department, committed to supporting and nurturing creative professionals throughout their careers, be they in agencies or galleries, corporate cathedrals or working on a corner of the kitchen table. Our Student Programme provides a vital link into industry for emerging talent. The Student Awards (same pencil, only smaller) launches careers, and our pioneering approach to Continuing Professional Development ensures that creative talent will respond imaginatively to whatever the future throws at it.
And alongside all that, D&AD runs a year round programme of events and lectures across the UK and internationally.
D&AD today is a restless, enquiring, agitating organisation, determined to perpetuate brilliance in commercial creativity. It constantly pushes boundaries, initiating debate and encouraging experimentation, nurturing a tradition of craft skills and celebrating excellence within the creative industries and beyond.
