The Kanazawa High School Sumo Tournament is the ultimate stage for high school sumo in Japan. In its first post-COVID edition with spectators, it became essential to convey the allure of on-site spectating to the local residents.

As it is a summit showdown, we symbolically likened the pairing of wrestlers to "grand mountains." Monochrome photographs capturing swirling dust were used to create a sense of tension, and close-up shots, looking up at the wrestlers, authentically reproduced the unique sense of presence and the grandeur of the mountains, characteristic of on-site viewing.

Reach for the Summit

Photography Judge and photographer Patrice d'Hotman de Villiers explains Dentsu Tokyo’s D&AD Graphite Pencil-winning ‘Reach For The Summit’ for newspaper The Hokkoku Shimbun: “The moment I saw it, I really felt joy…. it's done in the most creatively exceptional way.”

Photography Judge Patrice d'Hotman de Villiers on Reach for the Summit

Japan Railway is well known for its practical convenience and on-time record, but our campaign enabled people to view the company in a more personal context. Using an interactive web app that was specifically designed for rail users, we created a pathway for people to engage in a conversation with the brand. 

This effectively turned everyday commuting into a brand experience, changing the way people felt about the company. Besides,it encouraged them to travel by rail to more distant destinations, and gave them an outlet for their creativity as they visited scenic attractions throughout Japan.

Exec Director, Design

Graphic Designer and visual artist

Art Director

Designer

Executive creative director

My Japan Railway

Judges Ali Brown (President of  PRETTYBIRD) and Roberto Coelho (Music Producer at Satelite Audio) on Dentsu Tokyo’s Black Pencil-winning work ‘My Japan Railway’ for JR Group: “It just blew us away for the level of thought from start to finish, from concept to execution.”

Judges Ali Brown and Roberto Coellho on My Japan Railway

This photo series traces the journey of a man navigating through a tapestry of urban landscapes wearing with the watch. The visuals are cinematic while maintaining an essence of the ordinary, yet a subtle twist of the unforeseen—whether it be a bird of prey or the presence of a pack of German Shepherds. These almost voyeuristic images show dynamic moments imbued with a hint of surreality.

Audemars Piguet x Travis Scott

British Airways unveils its latest outdoor campaign as part of its 'A British Original' positioning, celebrating the important journeys in life that help shape a customer's future. The new series 'Windows' captures the wonder on customers’ faces when they look out of an aircraft window and onto the world from 35,000ft.

Windows

Seventeen independent creatives, artists and filmmakers came together in 2023 to create the emotionally colourful tapestry of 25 looping scenes depicting life in modern Britain for Channel 4’s bold brand transformation. 

Drawing on the concept of the ‘4’ as a traveller through the truths of the nation, the creative agency interpreted five themes - identity, the land, system, release and love. 

Viewers dive through the changing idents inside the number four, indulging in live-action, animation and full CG scenes that represent chaos held together by one system.

Chief Creative Officer

Co-founder and ECD

Executive Creative Director

Founder/Director

Channel 4 Idents

Direction Judge Chas Appeti, Director and Cinematographer at Nothing Lost, on the beauty of 4creative’s D&AD Yellow Pencil-winning Channel 4 idents: “You’re on a carousel of a camera movement which doesn't end… I've never, ever seen anything like it.”

Direction Judge Chas Appeti on Channel 4 Idents

Uber One is a paid membership platform that allows members to save money and access benefits across Uber Eats and Uber Rides. In other words, it’s a membership exclusively for people who eat food and go places. 

The launch film features Hollywood icon Robert De Niro and rising British actor, Asa Butterfield. We see them form an unlikely friendship after bonding over their uniquely shared passion for eating food and going places.

OOH and social expand the campaign and build on the simplistically straightforward language of ‘Eating food and going places’.

Uber One – Best Friends

In the mid-1980s, Carl Sagan warned of global warming's risks. Forty years later, his speeches guide this film. Using Sagan's original voiceover, automatons, driven by an old recorder's magnetic tape, depict wild animals. The campaign, initiated by United Nations Global Compact, aimed to prompt reflection on an urgent issue. With over 20,000 members across 64 countries, UN Global Compact strives for a sustainable planet. Promoted online by UN Global Compact, the film featured at events, notably during the United Nations General Assembly and COP28, attended by 500+ global executives.

Carl Sagan Message

Production Design Judge Shereen Mostafa, Head of Production at Publicis Groupe ME, on UN Global Impact’s D&AD Yellow Pencil-winning Carl Sagan Message by Boiler Filmes: “The idea is everything; no matter what budget you have you can make great work – and that’s really conveyed in this piece.”

Production Design Judge Shereen Mostafa on Carl Sagan Message

Everyone knows Gucci. And now everyone will know Sabato De Sarno, the new creative director. 
How will Sabato reveal his vision for Gucci at his very first runway show? 
It's Milan Fashion week, and the world is watching. 

Narrated by Paul Mescal.

Who is Sabato De Sarno? A Gucci Story

The Adidas Gazelle ad blends vintage charm with contemporary flair, showcasing the sneaker's versatility in diverse urban settings. Dynamic cinematography captures the Gazelles in action, accompanied by a catchy soundtrack. Brief nods to its history tie past to present seamlessly. The ad celebrates individuality and community, with the Gazelle as the unifying symbol of expression.

Gazelle

In the tapestry of self-expression, fashion stands as a dynamic and ever- evolving medium that transcends the realms of mere clothing. Beyond the fabric and stitches, fashion emerges as a profound art form—a manifestation of one’s innermost self, an extension of the body and soul. My images dive into the idea of fashion as art pieces, exploring the intricate dance between the tangible and the intangible, where garments become brushstrokes and wearers become living canvases.

Curation by Patrice d'Hotman de Villiers

Patrice d'Hotman de Villiers

Photography Jury judge D&AD

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