D&AD Awards 2023 FAQs

Got a question?  Here are some of the common questions our entrants ask us, grouped by topics.

Key Dates
What's New?
Eligibility
Prices and Payments
Creating an Entry
Physical Materials
​D&AD Side Hustle
​D&AD Impact
Judging Process
​Results
​Contact Us

More questions? We'll do all we can to answer them. Head over to our Awards page, or if you're stuck, you can contact us on +44 (0) 20 7840 1111 or awards@dandad.org.

Super Early Bird Discount Deadline: 7 December 2022
Super Early Bird Submission Deadline: 14 December 2022
Super Early Bird Physical Shipment Deadline: 25 January 2023
Printed Annual Pre-Orders Open: January 2023
Early Bird Discount Deadline: 8 February 2023
Early Bird Submission Deadline: 15 February 2023
Early Bird Physical Shipment Deadline: 1 March 2023
Deadline: 15 March 2023
Final Submission Deadline: 22 March 2023
Final Physical Shipment Deadline: 5 April 2023
D&AD Festival: 8-10 May 2023
D&AD Shortlist Announced: 11 May 2023 
D&AD Awards Ceremony: 24 & 25 May 2023
Printed Annual Pre-Orders Close: 30 June 2023
D&AD Annual Launch: 14 September 2023
​Printed D&AD Annual publication: to be confirmed

What's the difference between the discount deadline and the submission deadline?
You will have until the discount deadline to create and pay for your entries. You will have until the corresponding submission deadline to add, remove or replace any entry materials and to submit.

When do D&AD Awards entries open?
Entries for the D&AD Awards 2023 open on 2 November 2022.

When will entries close?
The deadline to pay for entries is 15 March 2023. You have until the 22 March 2023 to finalise the details of your submission (if you paid the final deadline price).

When is the deadline to post my entry materials?
For Entries paid for on or before the Super Earlybird deadline of 7 December 2022, any supporting physical materials must be received by D&AD on or before 25 January 2023.

For Entries paid for after 7 December 2022 but before the Earlybird deadline of 8 February 2023, any supporting physical materials must be received by D&AD on or before 1 March 2023.

For Entries paid for after 8 February 2023 but before the Entry deadline of 15 March 2023, any supporting physical materials must be received by D&AD on or before 5 April 2023.

Embracing the Metaverse
One of the most talked about areas of advertising is how brands are bridging the gap between real and virtual worlds. To embrace this new reality, we've evolved the Gaming category into Gaming & Virtual Worlds and added three new subcategories: Use of Avatars, Use of Blockchain and Brand Experience. Our Use of XR subcategories are also more inclusive of work created for web 3.0 and the metaverse; find Use of XR in Direct and Media for the first time; as well as Digital, Commerce, Digital Design, Animation, Typography, Visual Effects.

The Latest Fashion
Fashion films are on the rise. From luxury designers to high street brands; the lure of film as a creative yet convenient medium to showcase new collections has accelerated the growth of a new genre. We've added Fashion Film to 6 categories - Film, Art Direction, Cinematography, Direction, Editing and Production Design. For everything from haute couture to streetwear, accessories to beauty, campaign films to runway.

The Craft of Music Videos
Every year we ask for your feedback, and this year, you asked us to reintroduce the craft subcategories into music videos. So you'll find Direction, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design and Visual Effects back where they belong. Still interested in submitting your music video to a dedicated Craft jury? We've adapted the structure of our Craft categories so that you can enter any film - be it advertising, music videos or branded content - into our long and short form subcategories.

Prioritising People & Planet
If you're submitting work into our Product or Packaging Design categories, we invite you to give a short statement about how sustainability was considered in the design, selection of materials and manufacture of your work. We're also pleased to announce two new subcategories: Packaging Design / Plastic Free, for packaging that has been designed or redesigned to eliminate the use of plastic; and Impact / Climate Solution, for work that's taking action to combat the impact of climate change by driving the success of Sustainable Development Goal #13: Climate Action.

Branding 2.0
Following a consultation with leading design agencies, we've re-structured our Branding category so that work is grouped according to the size of the client. Submit your new branding schemes, brand refreshes and logos into one of 3 subcategories: Large Enterprises for brands, corporations and non-profits with 250 employees or more; SMEs with between 10 and 249 employees; and Micro Enterprises with fewer than 10 people. This change will not only bring greater clarity to the judging process, but will create more opportunity for branding projects big and small.

New Editions: Book and Type Design
We're pleased to reveal significant updates to two additional design categories, providing more opportunities for you to place your work. Type Design has been renamed Type Design & Lettering, with subcategories arranged by font family instead of genre and dedicated subcategories for Lettering, Symbols and Variable Fonts. Book Design has undergone a restructure with new subcategories including Young Adults, Photographic Books, Exhibition Books, Promotional Books, Anthologies and Revised Editions. 

Photography in Focus
Are you a Photographer looking to share your portfolio? Our Photography category is now for you. The Personal Style subcategory is for portfolio images made available to potential customers to promote your services. You can submit up to 10 images, which can be commissioned or self-initiated. We're also pleased to introduce a Retouching subcategory and additional themed subcategories including Automotive, Beauty and Sports. 

What Else is New?
Look out for the following new subcategories in our design and craft disciplines:

Packaging Design / FMCG
Packaging Design / Labels 
Product Design / Material Innovation
Product Design / Technological Innovation
Spatial Design / Architecture - New Build
Spatial Design / Architecture - Refurbishment
Illustration / Editorial
Writing for Advertising / Social

Submit your Elevator Pitch
This year, as part of your submission we're inviting you to pitch your Side Hustle direct to our panel of Judges. You can record up to 5 minutes of film for them to review before Shortlisting takes place. If you make it to the second round, be prepared to pitch your work live in early May.

Is your Side Hustle becoming your main hustle? Work entered into the Side Hustle / Scale Up subcategories benefit from an extended qualifying entry period of 1 January 2020 - 18 April 2023.

D&AD Festival
We are delighted that D&AD Judging will be the backdrop for the return of the D&AD Festival. Join us for keynote talks, Judges' insight sessions, networking parties and an exhibition of winners, all celebrating the best in creativity. Hosted at the Truman Brewery from Monday 8 - Wednesday 10 May, make sure you’re subscribed to awards news for updates.

D&AD Awards Ceremony 2023
We are excited to announce that the 2023 D&AD Awards Ceremony will be held in person once again! Hosted over two nights in London on 24 & 25 May, the industry will gather together to recognise and award the finest creative minds from around the globe. Make sure you’re subscribed to awards news for updates.

D&AD Annual 2023
For the past three years, D&AD has produced the Annual as a free-to-access enhanced digital platform, allowing the work to be explored in its entirety by the global creative community. As a digital edition, the Annual expanded to include insights into how the work was made in Behind the Work interviews with the creators as well as analysis of the work's wider significance in relation to contemporary social and cultural contexts. As a result, reach and engagement increased 6,400 percent, and is now accessed by more than 130,000 users, including 30,000 emerging creatives, who freely benefit from the Annual as a deeper, richer educational resource to support their professional creative journeys.

As an education charity, D&AD will continue to invest in the Annual as a free digital resource with the work presented in its entirety alongside insights and analysis. D&AD has always respected print and the value it can bring, and as a number of people in the creative community have been calling for the return of the famed printed D&AD Annual, this year D&AD will provide a printed version if there is enough demand through pre-orders.

The print edition will feature, as before, images of the winning work accompanied by the list of winner credits. The pre-order site will be live in January 2023 and will take orders through the end of June 2023. A minimum number of orders must be achieved by the pre-order close date for the printed edition to be published. More details will be released in January.

What are the eligibility rules?
​To be eligible, work must have been:

- Commercially released between 1 January 2022 and 18 April 2023*
- Produced in response to a genuine brief from a client or approved by a client
- Made available to the public through legal mediums
- Approved and paid for by the client

*Alternative eligibility windows apply to the following categories: Digital Design/Incremental, Digital Design/Beta, Product Design/Prototypes, Integrated/Established Campaigns, PR/Established Campaigns, Creative Transformation, Side Hustle, Impact, Future Impact and Collaborative. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for more information.

What are the eligibility dates?
Work must be commercially released between January 1 2022 - 18 April 2023 *. Alternative eligibility windows apply to the following subcategories:

Creative Transformation
The transformation must have taken place between 1 January 2020 and 18 April 2023. It does not need to be complete, but it must be underway. The work, or an original iteration of it, must be commercially released. Prototypes and beta designs are not eligible unless they are a transformation of an existing product or service. 

Digital Design / Incremental
The changes must have taken place between 1 January 2020 and 18 April 2023.

Digital Design / Beta
The beta version of a platform, app or technology must have been released for the final stages of audience testing within the Awards Qualifying Entry Period.

Product Design / Prototypes
The prototype must have been released for audience testing within the Awards Qualifying Entry Period.

Integrated / Established Campaigns
PR / Established Campaigns
Campaigns must have been launched prior to 1 January 2022 and be commercially active within the Awards Qualifying Entry Period.

Side Hustle / Start Up
Future Impact
May not be commercially released, but must have been developed or significantly changed within the Awards Qualifying Entry Period.

Side Hustle / Scale Up
Must be commercially released and developed or significantly changed within a qualifying period of 1 January 2020 - 18 April 2023.

Impact 
Entries in the Impact category are subject to a qualifying entry period of 1 January 2020 and 18 April 2023. In accordance with general awards rules, work can be re-submitted year-on-year, provided it has been developed or significantly changed. If the work has not changed but the impact of the work has measurably increased over time, Entries are eligible in the Impact/Sustained Solution subcategory only. Entries into the Impact/Sustained Solution Subcategory may be commercially released prior to 1 January 2020, but must have been commercially active within the period of 1 January 2020 - 18 April 2023.

Collaborative
Entrants must have enjoyed an uninterrupted commercial relationship with a client during the period of at least three calendar years preceding 18 April 2023, and produced a minimum of two campaigns or projects for the client in each of these calendar years.

*The eligibility date extends beyond our final deadline to allow entry of any work that is scheduled to launch or air in the couple of weeks post the final deadline - Note all submission materials can not be changed after the final submission date.

My work was created before the eligibility dates, can I still enter?
If the work was released for the first time before 1 January 2022 it is eligible only under one of these two conditions:

- The majority of the work (only applies to campaign entries) was launched between January 1 2022 - 18 April 2023.
- The work was changed/updated then re-launched between January 1 2022 - 18 April 2023, having undergone a significant creative development.

Nb. Some subcategories do permit work that was released for the first time before 1 January 2022. See question, What are the eligibility dates? for details.

Can two companies enter the same work?
Two different entrants cannot enter the same work within the same sub-category. If your project is a collaboration with other companies/individuals, check they haven’t entered it first. In case of duplicate entries, we will only accept the entry that was paid first.

Can I enter work if I am the client?
Yes, clients can enter work produced for them either internally or by an external agency (as long as it has not been entered by the external agency in the same category) – see previous question.

Can I enter work done for free for a charity?
Yes, however, to be eligible there must be a contractual relationship between the charity and entrant agency. If the media/ airtime was provided pro-bono we reserve the right to ask for confirmation from the media owner.

Can I enter work that features the D&AD brand?
No. We do not accept entries where D&AD is the primary and/or secondary client, or where D&AD is associated with the work. This includes work that features and/or promotes the D&AD brand.

Can I enter self-initiated or self-promotional projects?
​Self-promotional work is eligible only if it was released commercially and made available to potential customers. Self-promotional work must not include any third-party names, trade marks, logos and/or any other third-party intellectual property, and must not falsely claim, suggest or imply any association with a third party. Self initiated work is not permitted.

Do you accept concept work?
No.

Do you accept work created for the purpose of entering competitions?
​Work produced in response to a competition is only eligible if it was commercially released, and if it was signed off by the client it represents.

Are you accepting entries from Russian companies or individuals this year?
In 2022, D&AD announced it will not be accepting entries from Russian companies or individuals based in Russia to the Awards. The ban against Russian entries remains for 2023.

Can Ukrainian companies and individuals enter for free this year?
Entries from Ukraine will continue to be accepted free of charge in 2023.

How much does it cost to enter?
The price depends on the category that is being entered. Details of pricing are listed on the category pages. Please note that these prices do not include VAT; VAT is only applicable for UK entrants, and will be added on check-out.

What do you mean by S & M?
To find out how much it will cost to enter, please refer to the pricing listed on the top of the category pages. There may be single and multi category fees applicable to some subcategories; please refer to the category page for more information.

(EP) = Entry Price, whether you enter single or multi executions.
(S) = Single execution - a stand alone piece of work, or part of a series, range, campaign etc. 
(M) = Multiple executions - a series, range, scheme, campaign or integrated.

What payment methods are accepted?
Bank transfers (BACS) and credit card payments. Cheques are not accepted. For bank transfers, the total amount must be transferred within seven days of completing your entry online.

Can I make changes to entries after I have paid?
Once you have paid for an entry, you can no longer change the Category, Subcategory and, where applicable, the type of execution and type of work.

You have until the relevant submission deadline to add, remove and replace any materials forming part of your entry (please refer to the submission deadline dates above). After submitting your entry you are unable to make further changes.

If you fail to submit your entry before the submission deadline, the price difference between the deadline tiers will be charged.

Please note in the event that you fail to submit your work by the final submission deadline (22 March 2023) and all mandatory fields are completed, your work will be automatically submitted into the Awards. If any mandatory fields are incomplete after 22 March, your work will not be entered and no refunds will be given.

Can I get a discount on entries?
- All entries submitted before the Super Early Bird deadline of midnight on 7 December 2022 will receive 40% off
- Entries submitted during the Early Bird window of 7 December 2022 - 8 February 2023 will receive 20% off
- All entries submitted post 8 February will be subject to standard pricing
- Overview of pricing are listed in the Entry Kit on page 15. You can also find the pricing listed on the category pages.

Also freelancers and businesses with less than 10 employees get a 25% discount on entries. Contact us at awards@dandad.org to obtain a discount code.

I forgot to add my discount code during checkout, can this be added on?
If your entry hasn’t been paid for, you can return to the checkout page to enter your discount code. Under 'Discount code', copy and paste the code and don't forget to click the 'Apply' button.

Discount codes must be used at the point of payment on the entry site and can not be redeemed or refunded retrospectively.

Discount code no working
If you find that your discount code isn't working, please check the below:

- You can only use the discount code once. Once you've applied the code, it is no longer valid.

- As our discount codes vary, so do the terms and conditions of each. Make sure you check when you receive any codes as some may only be valid for certain categories and the majority of codes will have an expiry date. 

If your discount code is still not working after checking all of the above, please get in touch with our Team so we can help you further.

My payment was declined, what should I do?
1. Please pay for your entry again
If your payment has been declined, then you'll need to try to pay for your entry again. 

2. Make the relevant checks
To help ensure your entry is not declined during checkout, we suggest checking the following:

Check the card details during checkout to make sure the information is correct. For example, the expiry date or your billing address.
Make sure you enter the security code correctly - that's the three digit number on the back of your card.
Your card issuer may have declined your payment - as we're unable to resolve this issue, please contact your bank for further information.

If you've checked all of the above, try paying with another card or through bank transfer (BACS)
 
3. Contact us
If your payment has been declined through the 3D secure security measures, then you’ll need to contact your bank for further information. 

If you've received an error message, contact our Team with as many details as you can about the issue - including the error messages you receive, and we'll try to resolve it as soon as we can. "

Where's my invoice?
There are two ways you can get a copy of your invoice. First, you will receive a copy of your invoice by email once you have paid. Your invoices can also be viewed by going to 'My D&AD' and the My Awards Entry Invoices section in your account.

Currency price differences
There is a difference between prices in GBP, USD and EUR. Our prices do not reflect the current international exchange rates. Our entry fees have been established in comparison to the average entry fees of other major awards in different markets and currencies. As such if you are paying in British Pounds you will be paying a different amount than if you are paying in USD or Euros.

You can choose to pay in any currency, including GBP, if that is more convenient for you. Please note we will then charge you in GBP so if you are paying from an account in Euros/USDs you have to take the conversion rates into account.

Can I get a refund?
You will only be eligible for a refund if you withdraw your entry within 48 hours of making payment by credit card, or by raising an invoice to pay via BACS.

Where does the money I spend on my entries go?​
​What people often don’t realise is that D&AD is a charity. In fact, everything we do is about inspiring the next generation of creative talent, improving their access to the industry, and nurturing and developing their skills. Thanks to the Awards, we are uniquely positioned to bring insights on creative excellence to aspiring creatives, providing free or heavily subsidised educational tools, and creating new, more accessible routes into the industry.  We do this through our suite of New Blood programmes - which have been helping aspiring creatives realise their potential for 40 years. It’s a critical bridge between education and the world of work. In 2022, we provided over 118,000 vocational learning opportunities to emerging creatives. So, enter not just for a chance at the glory, but to contribute to our mission to make the creative world stronger, fairer and more open for everyone. To find out more about our new blood programmes please visit dandad.org or contact us on newblood@dandad.org.

Which categories should I enter my creative work into?
The full list of categories is included in the Entry Kit. You may enter the same work into as many categories as you like. The only exception to this is Future Impact. Work entered into this category will only be eligible for Creative Transformation, Product Design/Prototypes, Digital Design/Beta and Side Hustle, subject to meeting their criteria.

Need help with your entry? Please contact one of our regional account managers. Details are provided in the Contact section below and on Page 119 of the Entry Kit.

Do I need to add all the credits for the work?
Not yet. If you have a shortlisted or winning entry, wait for the email notification to submit your credits after the work has been judged. Our Judging process kicks off from 5 April to 10 May 2023.

What supporting information do I need to provide for my entries?
Please check the bottom of each category page in the Entry Kit. Further details can be found under 'Supporting Information' on pages 115. You will be asked to provide supporting information when completing your online submission. Judges love to know the facts, so keep your written information short and to the point.

Do I need to provide translations?
Yes. If your work was not originally released in English, you need to submit the work in its original language, alongside a translation. For films, this means subtitles. For non-film work, simply type up your translation online. We do not accept translations as a separate document or film. Please note that we do not accept translations in Writing for Advertising and Writing for Design categories — entries here are only accepted if originally released in English. This is to ensure that the writing is judged fairly and not based on translations.

What are the submission formats specs?
Submission format descriptions can be found on pages 111 of the Entry Kit and specifications can be found in our Submission Format Mini Guide here.

Do you have any examples of the submission formats?
Submission format examples can be found here.

Why do I need to submit reference images?
Any physical submissions entered will be required to supply 1-5 Reference Images, which will be used for our judges to familiarise themselves with the work before they judge onsite. The images will also be used if your work is successful, for our winners page, D&AD Ceremony and any social/ press releases.

Can I withdraw an entry?
If you would like to withdraw your entry for any reason, you must give written notice to D&AD by emailing our awards team at awards@dandad.org, providing sufficient detail to enable D&AD to identify the relevant entry. 

When is the deadline to post my entry materials?
For Entries paid for on or before the Super Earlybird deadline of 7 December 2022, any supporting physical materials must be received by D&AD on or before 25 January 2023.

For Entries paid for after 7 December 2022 but before the Earlybird deadline of 8 February 2023, any supporting physical materials must be received by D&AD on or before 1 March 2023.

For Entries paid for after 8 February 2023 but before the Entry deadline of 15 March 2023, any supporting physical materials must be received by D&AD on or before 5 April 2023.

Do I need to label my physical materials?
Yes, it is important to attach the labels onto your physical item as this helps the team identify your entry when it arrives to our office.

Once you have submitted your entry, you will be able to download the labels. Please note only selected categories require physical materials. If the category you have selected does not require physical materials, labels will not be generated after you have submitted the entry."

I can't find/download the labels?
Labels are only available for selected categories that require physical items. Please refer to the category's page to check if we require any physical items for the subcategory.

If the category you have selected requires physical materials, you can download the labels on the top right of the dashboard once the entry has been submitted.

If you are still having issues accessing the labels, please reach out to team.

How do I label my entries for posting?
There are three types of entry labels:

Physical Material 
Please attach the entry label with removable tape on the underside of the item. If you are showing more than one execution repeat this step and attach all the corresponding labels. If items are small, group them together, for example in an envelope.

Poster/s Mounted or Poster/s Unmounted 
Please attach the entry label with removable tape on the back left side of your poster. If you are showing more than one execution repeat this step and attach all the corresponding labels.

Printed Publications
Please attach the label with removable tape at the bottom right-hand corner on the back page of your work. If you are showing more than one execution repeat this step and attach all the corresponding labels.

What address do I send entries to?
Our address is: D&AD Awards, 64 Cheshire Street, London, E2 6EH, United Kingdom. 

You’ll also find this address on the labels once you've submitted your online submission. If you use a courier service, please note, our office hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm.

How do I send work from outside the UK?
Mark your package as 'Competition material: no commercial value'. If you need to indicate the value of the goods in the package, use a token value, for example $1 per entry. Please make sure you have settled all shipping costs and customs fees before sending your entries. If not, your package will be held up in customs or refused at our office because of unpaid shipping costs.

How will I know if my package has arrived?
If we have not received your package, our Awards team will be in touch.

Can you return my work to me?
D&AD do not return physical materials once judging is complete and will store or discard materials at our discretion. 

If you would like to request that your work is returned to you, please contact D&AD in writing no later than 15 March 2023. If we are able to fulfil your request, you will be required to collect the work no later than 30 June 2023 and will be solely responsible for all associated costs. Please email awards@dandad.org for more information.

What is D&AD Side Hustle?
​It's a creative competition to start-up or scale-up your passion projects. Make the grade and you’ll be pitching to a panel of creative entrepreneurs and investors. As well as global exposure, we offer training and mentoring to the winners.

Who can enter?
Entry is open to anyone with a Side Hustle, so long as it demonstrates flair and creativity.

Is your Side Hustle on the way to becoming your main hustle? Then our scale up categories are for you.

We have dedicated subcategories for:
Emerging Talent - Side Hustlers who are still in education, have recently graduated or are non-professionals.
Junior Professionals - Side Hustlers with less than 5 years experience producing commercial creative work.
Established Professionals - Side Hustlers with more than 5 years experience producing commercial creative work.

What are the Judges looking for?
The Judges will be looking out for work that combines creativity and innovation. For start-ups, the idea should demonstrate appropriate research and testing and show potential for growth. Scale-ups should demonstrate some early success and show how they're on track to meet their intended scale.

What can I win?
Shortlisted entrants will receive their name and work in the D&AD Annual, online and freely accessible to the global creative community. In 2022 this reached a global audience of over 130,000 people. We are also inviting Shortlisted Entrants to a D&AD pitching masterclass, worth £560, to help them prepare for Side Hustle Pitch Day.

Winning entrants will receive all the above plus:
- A D&AD Side Hustle Pencil, a symbol of creative excellence
- Access to mentoring from a D&AD Judge and the Anyone app community for 12 months
- A tree planted in The & Forest as a tribute to the work

How much does it cost to enter?
Prices start from just £18.

Are discounts available?
Super Early Bird and Early Bird discounts are available. Please refer to the entry fees on page 15 or the Side Hustle category on page 106 of the Entry Kit.

Freelancers and businesses with less than 10 employees are eligible for 25% off entries. To get the discount contact awards@dandad.org.

What's the deadline for entries?
Super Early Bird: 7 December 2022
Super Early Bird Submission Deadline: 15 December 2022
Early Bird: 8 February 2023
Early Bird Submission Deadline
Deadline: 15 March 2023

When does Side Hustle take place?
Judges will vote independently for their Shortlist in mid-April, at which point we will be in touch with successful entrants and invite them to a Pitching Masterclass on 27 April.

For the second and final round of judging, Entrants will pitch their idea live to a panel of judges on 10 May. Winners will be officially announced at the D&AD Awards Ceremony on 24 & 25 May.

What does Pitch Day involve?
Pitching will be done in person at the D&AD office in Shoreditch. If you are unable to travel, you will be able to join remotely via Zoom.

Each finalist will take a turn to pitch their business. This can be delivered in a style to suit them, provided it is not pre-recorded and is a maximum of 7 minutes.

After each pitch, the judges will have 5 minutes to ask questions. When the pitches are over, the finalists will be moved to a waiting room so that the Jury can vote for the Pencil winners. When judging is complete, the finalists will have the opportunity to find out the results and receive feedback from the Judges on the work.

What does the Pitching Masterclass involve?
​If you’re successful in the first round, you will be invited to pitch live to the D&AD Judges. We’re offering entrants the chance to hone their pitching technique. Work with Tom Evans, our expert trainer, for tips, tricks and one-to-one feedback. Usually priced at £560 but offered to all shortlisted Side Hustlers free of charge, the Masterclass will run at the D&AD office on Thursday 27 April. For more information please click here.

When will I receive my prize?
A member of the Awards team will be in touch after the D&AD Awards to send you your Pencil and give you access to the Anyone mentoring app

What is D&AD Impact?
D&AD Impact celebrates creative ideas that are driving the success of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It also helps creative ideas grow, by providing mentoring, training, visibility and funding to work that shows potential.

Anyone using creative thinking to drive positive change can enter; whether you’re an agency, brand, nonprofit, government organisation, academic institute, a collective or a solopreneur.

Impact exists within the D&AD Awards as two categories - Impact and Future Impact.

What can I enter?
You can only enter work into one category, so make sure you pick the one that's right for you.

The Impact category is for campaign communications, designs and initiatives that are driving the success of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Work must have been commercially released between 1 January 2020 - 18 April 2023*. Entrants must be able to demonstrate behavioural, environmental, social or policy change that's happened as a direct result of the work. Entrants have the chance to win a Wood, Graphite, White or Black Pencil and are eligible to enter all other categories in the D&AD Awards (except Future Impact). In accordance with general awards rules, work can be re-submitted year-on-year, provided it has been developed or significantly changed. If the work has not changed but the impact of the work has measurably increased over time, Entries must be submitted into the Impact/Sustained Solution subcategory.

The Future Impact category early-stage designs and initiatives, still in research and development, that can demonstrate potential to drive the success of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Work in this category is in development and has yet to be commercially released, for example prototypes and MVPs. All work must have been developed or significantly changed between 1 January 2022 and 18 April 2023. It must have proof of concept and be commercially viable. Awarded entrants will have the right to apply for a grant from a £25,000 D&AD Impact Fund to develop their work and are invited to take part in the D&AD Impact Programme; a 12-month package of mentorship, training and peer support that's designed to support project owners with the ideation, launch and early growth of their work. Winners will also receive a D&AD Future Impact Pencil. Work entered into Future Impact is not eligible for any other Awards categories except Creative Transformation, Product Design/Prototypes, Digital Design/Beta and Side Hustle.

*Work submitted in the Impact/Sustained Solution subcategory may be commercially released prior to 1 January 2020, but must have been commercially active within the period of 1 January 2020 - 18 April 2023.

Are open-source designs eligible?
Open-source designs made available to the public within the Awards eligibility period are considered commercially available and therefore eligible to enter the Awards, subject to meeting the relevant Awards Terms & Conditions.

What do I need to be eligible for the Sustained Solution subcategory?
You need to show how the work has updated an original idea and pushed it forward, generating additional behavioural, environmental, social or policy change over time. Work submitted in the Sustained Solution subcategory may be commercially released prior to 1 January 2020, but it must have been commercially active between 1 January 2020 and 18 April 2023. You do NOT need to have entered D&AD Impact or Creativity For Good previously to enter here.

Can I enter my work into Future Impact if it’s commercially released?
Commercially released work will only be accepted in exceptional cases, where the work has not made a tangible impact yet and would benefit from the support of the D&AD Impact Programme and a development grant from the D&AD Impact Fund. Work that has been commercially released and can demonstrate effectiveness should be entered into Impact.

What happens if I enter my work into both Future Impact and Impact?
In the event that work is submitted into both categories, D&AD will assess the suitability of each category and withdraw one of the projects. You will not be eligible for a refund. If you are unsure where your work fits, please contact the D&AD Awards team for guidance.

What are the Judges looking for?
Judges are looking for innovative and inspiring uses of creativity to stimulate change and benefit society. This means that work must be responding to one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. You will be asked to specify which one(s) the work is responding to as part of your submission. You can find out more about the Goals here.

In the Impact category, judges will award work that has stimulated change in one of four areas - behaviour, environment, society or policy. Winning work must be able to prove that any change is a direct result of the work submitted. The work must be fit for purpose, that is, it must do the job it was designed to do.

In the Future Impact category, judges will be awarding work that demonstrates it's potential to make an impact once commercially released. Work must have proof of concept and demonstrate it's both scalable and commercially viable.

What can I win?
All shortlisted work will appear in the D&AD Annual, available online and freely accessible to tens of thousands of creative companies and practitioners globally.

Shortlisted entrants in the Future Impact category will be invited to apply for a development grant access to a £25,000 D&AD Impact Fund and offered places for project owners on the D&AD Impact Programme; a 12-month package of mentorship, training and peer support that’s designed to support project owners with the ideation, launch and early growth of their work. The Impact Fund will be allocated by the D&AD Impact Council and must be spent on developing the awarded work within 12 months of being received.

Winning entrants in the Impact category will receive a Wood, Graphite, White or Black Pencil, feature in the D&AD Awards Ceremony and will have a tree planted in recognition of their work as part of The & Forest.

Winning entrants in the Future Impact category will receive a Future Impact Pencil, feature in the D&AD Awards Ceremony and will have a tree planted in recognition of their work as part of The & Forest.

Why is there no Yellow Pencil level in the Impact category?
The White Pencil replaces the Yellow Pencil in the Impact category. The White Pencil goes beyond creative excellence, to represent exceptional projects that use the power of creativity to drive behavioural, environmental, societal or policy change. The White Pencil was first conceived in 2011. Read more about its origin here.

What is the D&AD Impact Programme?
Available to all Shortlisted Entrants in the Future Impact category, the D&AD Impact Programme is a 12-month package of mentorship, training and visibility that supports project owners with the ideation, launch and early growth of their work. The Programme is created with support from D&AD trainers and the D&AD Impact Council. Our mission? To enable a cohort of Future Impacters to deliver tangible impact within 12 months.

The cohort are known as the D&AD Impacters and typically include individuals, organisations and teams working on prototypes, MVPs, beta versions or initiatives. Entrants will need to opt in to the Programme at the point of Entry and will be invited to discuss next steps with the Programme leaders if they are Shortlisted.

The programme includes:

- Multiple places for project owners on the D&AD Impact Accelerator
- Access to mentors from the D&AD Impact Council and the Anyone app community for 12 months
- Access to the D&AD Start-up School and on-demand courses for 12 months
- Access to a creative, peer-driven network
- Opportunity to present to the Impact Council at the Impact Showcase when the programme is complete
- Free entry into the D&AD Awards Impact category, valid for 3 years

For more information on what the programme entails, please visit the D&AD Impact page. Nb. D&AD reserves the right to alter elements of the Programme, or cancel the Programme in its entirety, if fewer than 20 participants confirm their commitment.

How do I access the Impact Fund?
If you are Shortlisted in the Future Impact category, you will be contacted and asked if you would like to apply for a grant to develop your work. You can apply for all or part of the £25,000 fund. Money must be spent only in relation to the project or work that was awarded and within 12 months from the date it is received.

The Impact Council will meet to consider applications in October 2023. Funds will be awarded entirely at the judges’ discretion and depending on the quality of applications from eligible Entrants.

Please note: D&AD does not claim any ownership of, or rights in, the applicant’s project and nor does it expect any financial returns where funds have been awarded to an Entrant.

How much does it cost to enter?
Prices start at £299 to enter work in the Impact category.

Prices start at just £18 to enter work in the Future Impact category.

Why is it so much cheaper to enter the Future Impact category?
The entry fees for Future Impact are set at a lower rate to be more accommodating to student and solopreneurs, helping D&AD support the next generation of impacters.

Are discounts available?
Super Early Bird and Early Bird discounts are available. Please refer to the entry fees on page 14 of the Entry Kit.

Freelancers and businesses with less than 10 employees are eligible for 25% off entries. To get the discount contact awards@dandad.org.

When's the deadline for entries?
Super Early Bird: 7 December 2022
Early Bird: 8 February 2023
Deadline: 15 March 2023

When does judging take place?
Entry and judging for D&AD Impact happens at the same time as the D&AD Awards. Winners will be announced at the D&AD Awards Ceremony on 24 & 25 May.

How will my work be judged?
When assessing the work, Judges will consider a set of criteria specific to the category. For details, please see page 7 of the Entry Kit.

Can I be a judge?
We are always looking for fair representation across the creative industry, a diversity of voices and above all exceptional talent. We always welcome any Judge recommendations. If you're able to fill out the following form here, that would be fantastic.

When will I know if my work is successful?
Shortlists will be announced on 11 May 2023. D&AD Pencil winners will be announced at the D&AD Awards Ceremony on 24 & 25 May 2023.

During judging we will send an official confirmation of the results to the person registered as the main contact for the entries.

What do the award levels mean?
Shortlist: Work that demonstrates merit, worthy of recognition and in the top echelon of entries. It’s awarded in all categories in the first instance.

Wood Pencil: The best of the year in advertising, design, craft, culture and impact.

Graphite Pencil: For stand-out work that rises above the rest, worthy of consideration for a Yellow Pencil.

Yellow Pencil: The iconic D&AD Yellow Pencil, awarded only to outstanding work that achieves true creative excellence.

Black Pencil: The ultimate creative accolade, reserved for ground-breaking work. Only a handful of these are awarded each year, if any.

Future Impact Pencil: Awarded to work in the Future Impact category. Early-stage projects that demonstrate the potential to drive the UN SDGs and stimulate behavioural, environmental, societal or policy change through creativity. Both Pencil Winners and Shortlisted entrants will also receive a place on the D&AD Impact Programme and the right to apply for a development grant from the D&AD Impact Fund. See https://www.dandad.org/en/d-ad-impact/ for more information.

White Pencil: Replaces the Yellow Pencil in the Impact category. Exceptional projects that use the power of creativity to drive the UN SDGs and stimulate behavioural, environmental, societal or policy change.

Side Hustle Pencil: Awarded to work in the Side Hustle category. Awarded to inspiring, scalable projects that demonstrate creativity and innovation.

Collaborative Award: Awarded to work in the Collaborative category. Recognises the long-lasting relationships between clients and their design, advertising and production companies – leading to the creation of amazing work over time.

President's Award: Every year, D&AD honours an industry hero, a legend whose contribution to the industry has been nothing but inspirational. The recipient is chosen by the D&AD President and will be announced at the D&AD Awards Ceremony.

Companies of the Year: Pencil winners and shortlisted companies are allocated points for each win. The points are then accumulated to determine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in the following categories:

• Advertising Agency of the Year
• Design Agency of the Year
• Production Company of the Year
• Client of the Year
• Network of the Year
• Independent Agency of the Year
• In-house Agency of the Year
• Individual Creative Rankings of the Year

What happens if my work is successful?
All Shortlisted work will:

- Be celebrated by over 160,000 visitors and 1m+ views on the D&AD Winners pages, Archive and Rankings each year. 
- Feature in the D&AD Annual, now online and freely accessible to tens of thousands of creative companies and practitioners globally. In 2022 the Annual reached a global audience of 130,000 people, three quarters of which are outside the UK. 
- Get exhibited around the world at one of D&AD’s international exhibitions. Past venues include The Advertising Museum Tokyo, Louvre Museum Paris, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Hong Kong Design Institute, Arts Centre Melbourne. 
- Have the chance to appear in the D&AD Content Series, with commentary from our judges.
- Inform D&AD Annual theme reports, which will be presented alongside winning work to agencies and clients all over the world.
- Be promoted through D&AD social media channels and the D&AD newsletter, reaching millions of creative professionals globally.
- Earn prestige amongst your peers, global media coverage for you and your company and points towards D&AD rankings.
- Give Future Impact entrants access to apply for to a £25,000 Impact Fund and a place on the D&AD Impact Programme.
- Give Side Hustle entrants training and support towards their Side Hustle pitch in advance of the final round of judging, worth £560.

In addition, all Pencil winning work will:
- Receive a coveted D&AD Pencil
- Receive points towards D&AD individual and company rankings. 
- Feature in the D&AD Awards Ceremony, viewed by over 5,000 of the finest minds in the industry in 2022
- Have a tree planted in tribute to the work as part of The & Forest.

Our awards team is on hand to help, wherever you are in the world. If you’ve begun entering and have a question, please contact one of our regional account managers:

UK, IRE & Northern Europe
Will Koper 
E will.koper@dandad.org
T +44 (0)207 840 1177

US & Canada
Alex Knapp 
E alex.knapp@dandad.org 
T +44 (0)207 840 1172

Central & Southern Europe/Latam
Pablo Aör Brandao 
E pablo.brandao@dandad.org
T +44 (0)7903259626

Japan & Singapore
Kotoko Koya
E kotoko.koya@dandad.org
T +81 90 4736 5965

Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
Katherine Chen 
E katherine.chen@dandad.org 
T +44 (0)7752 502 545
WeChat 微信 Dandadawards

For all other countries, please contact awards@dandad.org or call +44 (0)207 840 1111.