Judging

The juries for each category are carefully selected by D&AD and comprise the sponsors and writers of the brief plus creative and business professionals from leading companies and D&AD's membership.

Judging follows a strict procedure over four rounds as follows:

Round 1
The judges view each entry and vote on whether the work deserves a place in the D&AD Student Annual. During this round votes are made individually by each member of the jury and kept confidential until the next round. To make it into the book, an entry must satisfy D&AD’s criteria for selection – it will be a good idea, which is then well crafted or executed and has answered the brief.

Round 2
Each entry receiving fifty percent or more of the collective vote makes it through to this round, the shortlist for the Student Annual. This work is displayed separately and a discussion begins as to whether or not each entry belongs on the shortlist. At this point entries may be knocked out or brought back from the first round depending on how well the judges feel the work sits together as a final set, but also to ensure that every piece entered has received thorough and fair attention. The work remaining at the end of this round is kept in the annual – a historical record of the best responses to the brief.

Round 3
Each entry approved for the annual is then put forward
for one of three prizes:

• Commendation - awarded to entries which rise above the creative level of the work in book, yet aren’t quite up to the same standard as second or first prize winners. Commended entrants receive a D&AD certificate
• Second prize - given to an entry that answers the brief’s requirements and shows excellence in its idea, originality, craft or execution. If two pieces cannot be separated to decide an overall winner, yet both show equal levels of merit, then two second prizes are given. The second prize is a D&AD Student Yellow Pencil and certificate
• First prize – receives a D&AD Student Yellow Pencil and certificate. It is the one outstanding entry – bang on brief, brilliantly crafted or executed and with that special spark of creative thinking, this work will have the “I wish I’d done that!” appeal which wins over the jury
• D&AD Student of the Year - winners of the first prize in every category are put forward to compete for the coveted D&AD Student of the Year title, which is judged by the D&AD Executive

The D&AD Yellow Pencil is recognised worldwide by the industry as the benchmark of creative excellence, awarded annually by one of D&AD’s appointed juries to those professionals and students whose work has met this benchmark. As a student, winning a Yellow Pencil is the best way to gain recognition within the industry. Although it doesn’t automatically guarantee you a job, you will certainly find it gets you in front of any creative director in town quicker than the rest of your college year. It lets the industry know that you are simply one of the best. The majority of past of winners have found employment very quickly after winning their award, often on the night of the Awards ceremony itself.