Richard Brim of adam&eveDDB named deputy president
Rebecca Wright has begun her term as D&AD president for 2021-’22. The dean of academic programs at Central Saint Martins/UAL, Wright succeeds Pentagram partner Naresh Ramchandani at the D&AD helm.
The D&AD president is elected annually from the board of trustees to champion the organization’s mission and shape the conversations for the year ahead. Wright’s dedication to the value and power of creative education–embodied in her role at Central Saint Martins–harmonizes with D&AD’s mission to nurture the next generation of creative talent through programs such as New Blood and Shift, in the belief that education is the key to unlocking a more stimulating and equitable future for the industry.
As the organization’s first president from the world of education, Wright will focus her efforts on continuing D&AD’s legacy of inspiring and facilitating creative learning, particularly pertinent as D&AD celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2022. She will lead D&AD’s exploration of the diverse routes of creative learning, including underrepresented and emerging voices, other sectors and disciplines, and as a collective effort towards the shared goal of creating a better future for people and planet. Developing D&AD’s dedication to platforming important discussion and debate, Wright will also help raise conversations around the obstacles to creative education, while giving voice to the next generation of creative thinkers.
Having led departments encompassing everything from graphic design and communications, to spatial practices, and cultural and enterprise, Wright brings a varied background which will help to engage new audiences with the creative sector, amplifying D&AD’s vision that an interdisciplinary approach is the answer to tackling the biggest challenges of the future.
Wright commented, “As a bridge between industry and education, D&AD plays a catalytic role in effecting positive change. I consider the presidency not an individual task, but a chance to work in collaboration with D&AD, its trustees and incredible community to address the challenges we face and progression we need to see. I am honored and humbled to be offered this position.”
D&AD further announced that Richard Brim, chief creative officer at adam&eveDDB, will become deputy president, automatically succeeding to the presidency in ‘22-’23.
Tim Lindsay, chairman at D&AD, commented: “I’d like to thank Naresh Ramchandani for leading D&AD through one of its most challenging years with unwavering determination, enthusiasm and motivation. He has stood to inspire and stimulate creatives from all backgrounds, while accelerating important conversations about climate and civic responsibility. I can’t think of anyone better to pass the baton onto than Rebecca Wright. As our first president from the academic world, her dedication to nurturing and supporting emerging talent has never been more meaningful.”
The organization welcomes three new trustees to the D&AD Board from across the international creative community: Liza Enebeis (creative director of Studio Dumbar), Kwame Taylor-Hayford (founder of Kin) and Jonathan Kneebone (founder of The Glue Society). Kate Stanners (global chief creative officer at Saatchi & Saatchi, and 2019-’20 D&AD president), Ben Terrett (CEO at Public Digital) and Kai-Lu Hsiung (managing director at RSA Films) are stepping down as trustees as their tenures come to a close.
Review: Director-Writer Megan Park’s “My Old Ass”
They say tripping on psychedelic mushrooms triggers hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia and nervousness. In the case of Elliott, an 18-year-old restless Canadian, they prompt a visitor.
"Dude, I'm you," says the guest, as she nonchalantly burns a 'smores on a campfire next to a very high and stunned Elliott. "Well, I'm a 39-year-old you. What's up?"
What's up, indeed: Director-writer Megan Park has crafted a wistful coming-of-age tale using this comedic device for "My Old Ass" and the results are uneven even though she nails the landing.
After the older Elliott proves who she is — they share a particular scar, childhood memories and a smaller left boob — the time-travel advice begins: Be nice to your brothers and mom, and stay away from a guy named Chad.
"Can we hug?" asks the older Elliott. They do. "This is so weird," says the younger Elliott, who then makes things even weirder when she asks for a kiss — to know what it's like kissing yourself. The older Elliott soon puts her number into the younger's phone under the name "My Old Ass." Then they keep in touch, long after the effects of the 'shrooms have gone.
Part of the movie's problem that can't be ignored is that the two Elliotts look nothing alike. Maisy Stella plays the coltish young version and a wry Aubrey Plaza the older. Both turn in fine performances but the visuals are slowly grating.
The arrival of the older Elliott coincides with her younger self counting down the days until she can flee from her small town of 300 in the Muskoka Lakes region to college in Toronto, where "my life is about to start." She's sick of life on a cranberry farm.
Park's scenes and dialogue are unrushed and honest as Elliott takes her older self's advice and tries to repair... Read More