Following D&AD’s confirmation earlier this year that the 2020 Awards would go ahead in a digital capacity due to the global coronavirus outbreak, the organization has now announced the program for the 58th edition of their annual awards.
Since 1962, D&AD has stimulated, celebrated and enabled creative excellence and will continue to support the creative community through this period of unprecedented uncertainty. The 2020 Awards will recognize creative excellence from the past year in the belief that great work is always worthwhile, often producing better outcomes for all.
D&AD’s distinguished jurors are assembling virtually to review each piece of work with the rigor the awards have become known for. Scaled-down physical judging sessions are still due to take place in July for Book Design, Graphic Design, Magazine & Newspaper Design, and Packaging Design, where in-person judging is critical.
While hosting a 2020 ceremony is not possible due to coronavirus, D&AD will be celebrating the winners in a social campaign designed by Studio Dumbar and will be staging a program of online discussions, Q&As and interviews with the judges and winners to inspire, galvanize and drive forward creative thinking. This includes insight panels with the 2020 judges, Q&As with jury presidents and Behind the Work sessions with the winners to interrogate the components of creative excellence. D&AD will continue to provide a platform for the world’s most innovative thinkers, practitioners and emerging talent to reflect on the role, process and value of creativity and craft in the face of global uncertainty for the year ahead..
The Shortlists and Pencils will be announced via the D&AD website and social channels. Key Shortlist dates include May 21, May 28 and June 4. Pencils will be announced on June 2, June 9 and June 16. To accommodate in-person judging, Book Design, Graphic Design, Magazine & Newspaper Design, and Packaging Design Shortlists will be announced on July 8 and Pencils on July 13.
The Black Pencils, Collaborative Pencils and Rankings will be announced on July 16. The schedule of the talks will be available soon.
Kate Stanners, D&AD president, commented: “As the world undergoes an unprecedented change, it is only right that D&AD Awards change with it. We have always highlighted great work and inspired creative excellence, and we will continue to do so this year despite the difficult times we find ourselves in. Each year, D&AD Awards receive a high caliber of entries from across the globe that demonstrate creative brilliance at its best, and 2020 is no different. We look forward to celebrating the highest level of creative work and supporting our creative industries.”
Tim Lindsay, D&AD chairman, commented: “Recent events have shone a spotlight on the value of thinking creatively and innovatively. Our industry has already demonstrated great creativity in the face of the virus, and D&AD feel that it is more important than ever to celebrate the work we do. Alongside our awards schedule, we are excited to host a series of panel discussions, Q&As, and interviews with some of the industry’s leading creative practitioners. These sessions will provide insight into the breadth and diversity that is at the heart of the creative industries and look ahead to what creativity will mean in the future.”
A full list of the results announcement dates is detailed below.
Key Announcement Dates
- May 21, 2020 - Impact and Film Craft Shortlists
- May 28, 2020 - Side Hustle, Next, and Craft Shortlists
- June 2, 2020 - Impact Pencils
- June 4, 2020 - Advertising, Culture, and Design Shortlists
- June 9, 2020 - Side Hustle, Next, and all Craft Pencils
- June 16, 2020 - Advertising, Culture, and Design Pencils
- July 8, 2020 - Book Design, Graphic Design, Magazine & Newspaper Design, and Packaging Design Shortlists
- July 13, 2020 - Book Design, Graphic Design, Magazine & Newspaper Design, and Packaging Design Pencils
- July 16, 2020 - Black Pencils, Collaborative Pencils, and Rankings