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D&AD Impact

D&AD Impact is a programme to recognise and support creative ideas that are making a real and positive difference to the world.

With the launch of the White Pencil in 2011 supported by Unilever, D&AD Impact has grown into an awards and educational programme for communications, designs and initiatives that are benefitting society. The responsibility to make a real and positive difference to the world has never been greater. You can read more about the impact of the winning work, with commentary from the D&AD Impact Council, in our theme report Campaigning Campaigns.

 

 

The D&AD Impact Award

The Impact category is for work that’s been commercially released, including designs, initiatives and social good campaigns. The Entrant must demonstrate behavioural, environmental, social or policy change that's happened as a direct result of the work. Our coveted Wood, Graphite, White and Black Pencils are awarded here.

The Future Impact category is for early-stage designs and initiatives, recognised for their potential to drive change. Project owners will be enrolled onto the D&AD Impact Programme, with the expectation that their work will be commercially released and making an impact within 12 months.

Entries for 2021 are now closed and judging is taking place in April and May. Winners will be announced at the free to access live stream virtual D&AD Awards Ceremony on 26 & 27 May.

Case studies

The UN Sustainable Development Goals

All entries need to respond to one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These Goals can be broadly categorised into six areas of impact:

From the preservation of the planet to enabling communities to live sustainably and responsibly, ‘Environment and Sustainability’ covers everything that has an impact on nature, wildlife and the health of our environments. UN SDGs #1, #6, #7, #9, #11, #12, #13, #14, #15.

Work that looks to improve healthcare technology and methodology, to advance medical science and innovations in personal and state care, or to contribute to wellness through fitness, diet or positive mental health practices, for example. UN SDG #3.

Improving the techniques, scale and effectiveness of humanitarian aid. This includes anything that takes a unique approach to support these causes through fundraising, awareness, directly providing aid or facilitating the safe delivery of vital resources. UN SDGs #1, #2.

From engaging some of the most hard-to-reach communities by providing access to information to promoting a democracy of power, transparency and accountability, changing the way individuals, communities, companies and governments interact. UN SDGs #16, #17.

Work that encompasses ideas that make the world a more accepting, fairer place, where individual differences are valued and embraced instead of discriminated against. Includes exploiting and challenging stereotypes or providing a platform for marginalised groups. UN SDGs #5, #10.

Empowering people and communities to improve their circumstances through educational and financial understanding. Work may provide access to resources or alter the way knowledge is transferred. UN SDGs #4, #8.

The D&AD Impact Programme

Information

  • What is it?

    For our Future Impact winners, we created the D&AD Impact Programme - a 12-month package of mentorship, training and visibility that supports project owners with the ideation, launch and early growth of their work. 

    A Future Impact cohort typically includes individuals, organisations and teams working on prototypes, MVPs, projects in testing or those that have recently launched. Known as Future Impacters, the winners also receive a D&D Future Impact Pencil and their name in the D&AD Annual. Our mission? To enable a cohort of Future Impacters to deliver tangible impact within 12 months.

    This programme has made a difference to the future of our project. - Eduardo España Morcillo, Chemistry Masters, Future Impact cohort 2020-2021

  • What can I win?

    Future Impact winners will receive a Future Impact Pencil, their name in the D&AD Annual and enrolment on the D&AD Impact Programme. The programme includes:

    – Place on the D&AD Impact Accelerator
    – 10 hours of mentoring from the D&AD Impact Council
    – Access to a creative, peer-driven network
    – Access to D&AD's on-demand online courses for 12 months
    – Free entry into the D&AD Awards Impact category, valid for 3 years

    Shortlisted entrants will also be considered for a place on the D&AD Impact Accelerator.

  • Impact Accelerator

    The D&AD Impact Accelerator is a tailored-made bootcamp for winners of the Future Impact category. It's a unique blend of expert advice, practical workshops, mentoring, talks and peer-to-peer support; all designed to help your idea flourish and your business thrive.

    Run by the D&AD Foundation team, trainers and members of the D&AD Impact Council, the accelerator includes approximately 20 hours of expert learning, delivered online and from the comfort of your home.

    There are a limited number of places available for shortlisted entrants. When submitting your work you will be asked whether you would like to attend, what you hope to gain from participating, and what you can offer your peers.

  • Eligibility

    Future Impact is not for social good campaigns; it’s for designs and initiatives that are on their way to being launched into the world. Prototypes, MVPs and work undergoing testing are all appropriate here. New product or service lines are also eligible under the same conditions.

    We do not accept concepts; you must provide proof of concept within your submission.

    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. Work that has been commercially released and can demonstrate effectiveness should be entered into Impact.

Future Impacter Testimonial

The D&AD Impact Programme has provided us tools and tips to take Pinyapel forward to the next stage of development. Everything was valuable - the mentoring programme with Kwame especially helped to address the initial challenges for Pinyapel; particularly its brand identity, as well as how to show Pinyapel’s vision for a more sustainable planet. Everyone was very supportive and we know you have exerted all your efforts to help us and fellow Impacters be able to move forward in making an impact in the future.

Design Center of the Philippines appreciates D&AD’s recognition of Pinyapel, especially now with everything that is going on around us on our planet. More than ever, we are constantly being reminded of how we should take care of our environment and focus on sustainability sparking us to develop impact-driven solutions that address the problems of today and of tomorrow.

Rolyn Lomocso, Pinyapel, Future Impact cohort 2019-2020

The Impact Council

Imagine your work being seen by a collection of senior figures from across the creative, investment and social impact space. The D&AD Impact Council consists of designers, brands, CMOs, entrepreneurs, investors and tech stars. All of them are working towards a fairer, more sustainable future in their chosen field. All of them are an invaluable resource for you and your business. They judge the entries, mentor Future Impacters and take part in the Impact Accelerator. And most of all, they help our winners thrive.

Work that matters must be celebrated

Entries are now closed for D&AD Impact 2021. Winners will be announced at the free to access virtual ceremony streamed online 26 & 27 May.

View 2020 winners

Discover who's changing the game for the better. View all the winning work from Impact and Future Impact here.

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