A letter from D&AD CEO Dara Lynch
‘You are what you eat,’ as they say. D&AD has sat happily on my plate for 17 years and I love it, our people and the industry.
2024 has definitely been ‘a year’. It wasn’t helped by a fire at our HQ that led to five months of working from home and in shared workspaces, cafes and bars. Happily, we are now back in Cheshire Street. Please come and see us. We have so many events in the pipeline. Simply keep an eye out, register for our newsletter to be the first to know when booking opens.
D&AD’s Festival events are always the pinnacle of the year, gatherings that stimulate, celebrate and congratulate the successes of our industry. New Blood does the same, if not more, to champion the emerging talent that fuels the future.
Of course, there is always more to D&AD than meets the eye. There always will be. In plain view and behind the scenes, we’re here to serve your needs, to create better work, to help generate employment opportunities for amazing talent and to be an industry at the forefront of change. (Change, we always hope, for the better).
If you were one of our 300 plus judges, descending on D&AD’s ‘new home’ in beautiful sunshine at the Southbank, we hope you had a ball. Judging was immense. The views across the Thames were iconic: Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the occasional yacht (or maybe not).
What made the height of our year even more special was you. Speaking at the D&AD Awards Ceremony, Ashley Rudder, Global Chief Creator Officer at Whalar, explained the mutually beneficial role we play in the industry: “D&AD is essential to our industry because it’s putting mentoring and funds back to ensure that this next generation of creators and creatives has the resources they need to continue to raise the bar.” We couldn’t agree more.
Beyond Ashley’s, we need to hear all of your voices as the commercial world moves ever more rapidly, more confusingly, more chaotically. Against that backdrop, please tell us what you want us to be. We are open to all views and we’re not stuck in our ways.
The one fixture on our radar is – and will continue to be - the pencil. That will never change. It reminds us that, while we’re dedicated to broadening and inspiring creativity, it is the best that wins: the work that stands above the crowd, that endures in the memory and that raises the bar still higher.
At D&AD, we assembled 348 judges from 47 countries, representing many disciplines, meeting together in person. Judging was intense and, from my fly-on-the-wall perspective, the sense of responsibility towards work that met D&AD’s demanding benchmark of excellence was constant throughout. Good was never good enough. So it was again.
Our judges voiced, agonised and argued their views (always respectfully), laughed and, on occasion, cried. The cream rose to the top. It always does. Congratulations to our deserving winners. Thank you to all those who maybe didn’t pick up a pencil this year. Please understand participation is what charges the creative engine. As a charitable foundation, we’re here to put standards first. In taking part, you are all the people who help keep those standards high. So our thank you is both huge and genuine.
As one judge said, “D&AD feels like a movement, a community.” Within that community, we want you to aspire to the highest accolade, to keep the night oil burning, to pursue your restless ambitions, because that’s what will change the world we live in and the way we live.
Beyond my thanks to you, our loyal fanbase, there are also the D&AD-ers, I must call out Donal Keenan, our long serving Awards & Festival director and now Chief Operating Officer for all he does. From our internal teams to the senior leadership quartet of Paul, Pippa, Sammi and John, everyone deserves a mention. There are also those who work with, and for D&AD, whether full-time employed, freelancers (our amazing session leaders that run our Masterclasses — they are the best) and all those who volunteer as coaches, mentors, supporters, partners and advisors. Jack Renwick, our President, is doing exceptional work. Each of our Board of Trustees, our advisory and impact council and every judge, teacher and educator makes a positive difference. Tim Lindsay, a friend, colleague and Chairperson to all of us, continues his unwavering support of all things D&AD, and me personally.
His dedication is appreciated beyond measure.
Our focus remains consistent. Our aim is true. We will never shy from the relentless pursuit of creative excellence, with an unparalleled passion for the industry, a responsibility to support emerging talent and a duty to inspire every creative career. We are here to ensure that our industry and its people continue to strive for creativity that is beyond exceptional — but never beyond imagining.