A message from D&AD’s Chairman Tim Lindsay
As always it’s a pleasure and a privilege to write this introductory piece for the Annual. It’s an opportunity to take a look back at D&AD’s year and – very importantly – to thank all those people who make D&AD what it is and help it do what it does.
The last twelve months have been….interesting. The industry and community we serve is, as always, in a state of transition, but to what? Are we heading towards a machine and AI dominated future? Or will creativity find new ways of flourishing and driving our clients’ businesses? There’s a lot of uncertainty and with that comes a kind of stasis. We’ll see.
Happily for us both our Professional and New Blood Awards continue to prosper and grow. Happily because it tells us that the power and prestige of the Pencil continue to be important signifiers of excellence to creative people everywhere. And because the revenues enable us to continue and expand our creative education programs, including Shift, which now runs in six cities around the world.
Here’s the interesting part. We had a fire in our offices in Cheshire Street. It didn’t seem that serious at first – just a bit of smoke, with no real apparent damage. But the contamination was worse than we thought and it kept us out of our home for three months, right through our busiest time of year. During which time, of course, our people pulled together and coped brilliantly. Well done folks.
And we had a management change, which saw my long-time colleagues Donal Keenan and Dara Lynch become, respectively, COO and CEO. Many congratulations to them both, richly deserved.
Other good things were our two day Festival on the South Bank and, notably, finding a new home for judging in the old County Hall, bang opposite the Houses of Parliament. Comfortable, efficient, good food, coffee and AV, with spectacular views. I think we might have found judging’s longterm home.
Some big thank yous. To all of you, creative practitioners of all sorts around the world, thank you for believing in us and supporting us.
To our judges and speakers and trainers. We’ve said it before because it's true – we couldn’t do it without you.
To our dedicated people past and present (past because so many come back to help out at peak times). You are D&AD and you should be very proud of the culture and community you have created.
To our partners, sponsors and industry supporters, who enable so much of what we do with their incredible generosity.
To our wonderful Trustees, who give their time, wisdom and support so freely and gladly.
And to our fabulous President this year, Jack Renwick. She’s been a rock. And also someone who hilariously professes to hate public speaking and is absolutely brilliant every time she stands up in front of an audience.
Jack hands the Presidential baton to Kwame Taylor-Hayford at the end of her term, which is very exciting for us, as Kwame will be the first D&AD President based outside the UK and, as it happens, the first American. The US is a hugely important market for us and this move acknowledges that fact, as well as Kwame’s fantastic support for us over many years.
We’re looking forward to the new season with quiet confidence, with new awards categories, education programs and plans in development as we adjust and evolve to reflect the changing realities of our great industry. Please accept this commitment; that D&AD will ALWAYS be on the side of creative excellence in design and advertising. And we will always be there to support you, the people who make the work.