D&AD has unveiled the winners of the fourth annual Impact Awards, which honor how creative thinking can be a force for good, in the belief that purpose can enhance business success and value, alongside promoting collective responsibility for the global sustainability agenda. Last night’s (11/6) New York showcase recognized the Impact achievers.
Black Pencils, the competition’s highest creative accolade reserved for groundbreaking and game-changing work, were bestowed upon two projects, both featuring the use of 3D printing technology to address important social issues, with the “Harmless Guns” campaign from TBWAParis tackling the proliferation of illegal firearms and IKEA from McCann Tel Aviv in Israel making furniture products more functional for people with disabilities.
Harmless Guns was done by TBWAParis on behalf of client Dagoma, a printer company. The work won the Black Pencil in the Community and Civic Engagement category.
IKEA’s Black Pencil came in the Equality and Diversity category–for the ThisAbles line of furniture whereby the retailer created add-ons for existing products to make them more accessible for people with disabilities.
The competition’s second highest honor, the White Pencil, went to four projects:
White Pencil, Equality and Diversity category
Canada
FCB/Six
Black & Abroad
Go Back to Africa
White Pencil, Educational and Financial Empowerment
United Kingdom
FCB Inferno
Huawei
Story Sign
White Pencil, Environment and Sustainability
Australia
FINCH
Mars Inc
The Lion’s Share
White Pencil, Equality and Diversity
United States
McCann New York
Microsoft
Changing the Game
In total, 32 D&AD Impact Pencils were awarded to pioneering products, initiatives and campaigns from around the world that are addressing some of the globe’s most pressing issues. The number of Pencils awarded at each level were:
–2 Black Pencils
–4 White Pencils
–5 Graphite Pencils
–10 Wood Pencils
–11 Future Impact Pencils
Patrick Burgoyne, D&AD CEO, said: “Our winners this year showcase the power of creativity to make significant, positive impact in the world. From increasing accessibility to products and services, to changing policy and changing lives, this is work the whole industry can be proud of.”
The D&AD Impact Council, an esteemed group of business and thought leaders from across the creative, brand, investment, social impact, sustainability and NGO space, assembled on November 5 to decide which work was deserving of a Wood, Graphite, White or Black Pencil. Their support for the program continues on as part of the D&AD Future Impact program, a new initiative for 2019 that exists to support creative ideas that have the potential to change the world.
Eleven winning prototypes, products and projects, including personalized coloring books for dementia patients (A Colorful Life) and specialty paper from locally sourced discarded pineapple leaves (Pinyapel), form this year’s Future initiative cohort. The Future Impacters will receive access to a fund worth $150,000 that includes consultancy and mentoring, visibility and grants, and a place on the D&AD Impact Accelerator. This is a two-day masterclass, being held at McCann New York from November 6-7. Spearheaded by members of the council, the accelerator has been designed to help the cohort amplify their ideas, so they can start generating impact after launch.
To see all the D&AD Impact 2019 winners, click here.
