D&AD AWARDS 2011

The Hype:

D&AD is the self proclaimed "home of the talented, imaginative, curious and the bloody-minded", as well as "the commercially savvy, sometimes romantic, the often cynical and occasionally rather weird". This year their trendy D&AD Awards also went large. For the very first time ever they combined the Professional and the Student Awards and brought everyone together for a night of joint celebration all under The Artillery Garden roof at the HAC.

Professionals, students, tutors, sponsors, a ferris wheel, bumper cars, a drinks reception, cocktails, dinner and an impressively large collection of Pencils!

And the Low Down:

As anticipated the event was one hell of a summer party and the creativity was supersized. The most outstanding professional work from the last year was recognised, and top graduates from around the world were praised for work commissioned on behalf of some of the best-known brands out there. Wieden + Kennedy's Old Spice campaign The Man Your Man Could Smell Like was the big winner picking up two Black Pencils, five awards in all. Neville Brody was given the President's Award and there were also Black Pencils for the Plumen lightbulb, JWT New York, Arcade Fire's Wilderness Downtown and the iPad.

This was the second year Timebased have produced the show and this year the challenge was to ensure all 950 guests would enjoy the food, the cocktails, the fine company and of course the momentous show. We installed a long yellow carpet leading up to the grand yellow stage, linking those in the seats further back with the activity at the front. We also hung a multitude of plasma screens around the room to ensure no one missed the video clips of nominations or live footage of their compatriots in design and advertising walking up for a moment of well deserved glory.

Once the show had finished the party kicked off in the bar where winners squeezed their pencils in delight, wore them on their heads, held them tightly on the dance floor and even treated them to a happy and hazy pimms fueled ride on the big wheel. Yet again it is apparent the D&AD Awards are the creative industry awards that really matter.