D&AD Announces Jury Presidents and New Creator Category for 2025 Awards

D&AD, the globally renowned non-profit which represents the pinnacle of creative excellence, has today announced its 2025 Awards. The D&AD Awards are recognised globally as the ultimate creative accolade, entered by the best creative talent from around the world.

Reflecting the dynamic nature of the industry, the 2025 Awards introduce a dedicated Creator Content category. This new category will award the strategic use of the creativity of influencers and creators to deliver success for brands.

Further evolving the Awards, the branding category has been divided into two distinct categories: New Brand Identity and Brand Identity Refresh. This change addresses the significant volume of entries received in previous years (over 900+ in 2024), ensuring each submission receives the focused attention it deserves by the jury.

Disciplines for 2025 include advertising, branding, craft, design, engagement & experience, entertainment, health, and impact. There will also be special awards for Companies of the Year and Presidents Awards.

The 2025 jury presidents include a global mix of leading creative experts from leading international brands and agencies including TikTok, Saatchi & Saatchi, The New York Times Magazine, VML, Framestore, Common People Films, Ogilvy Health, Publicis Groupe Germany and more.

As always, D&AD Awards are judged solely on merit, from 300+ judges globally, with no quotas. Independent and anonymous voting, strict abstention rules, and a strong emphasis on eliminating bias ensure the integrity of the judging process.

Winning a D&AD Pencil elevates both individual careers and company profiles, contributing to D&AD rankings – the definitive league table of creative success. Winners also gain exposure to millions of viewers and readers through D&AD's online and social channels and have opportunities for their work to be showcased in international exhibitions.

The 2024 D&AD Awards saw record participation, with over 12,000 pieces of work submitted from 78 countries, culminating in 651 Pencils awarded, including four prestigious Black Pencils.

Dara Lynch, D&AD CEO said, “We’re excited to announce our 2025 Awards with new changes which reflect the evolving creative landscape. As we continue to embrace new technologies which drive forward the art and craft of creativity, we have introduced for the first time a new Creator Content category. We are committed to celebrating all forms of creativity and the D&AD’s awards continue to be recognised globally as the ultimate creative prize. Each year, they are entered and respected by the best creatives from around the world, and we’re proud to continue to drive this forward.”

Karl Haddad, 2025 jury president for the Creator Content category and head of global creative lab at TikTok commented, "We're in the midst of a marketing shift we've all been waiting for. More than ever, creators are crafting unique storytelling for brands, connecting with audiences in fresh, engaging ways. I’m honoured to serve as the inaugural Jury President for the brand-new Creator Content category, which recognizes this new wave of creativity."

D&AD also recently announced the briefs for its 2025 New Blood Awards, which champion, educate and nurture aspiring creatives from around the world as they enter the workforce, giving them the opportunity to develop their skills and bolster their portfolios by working on client briefs.

This year’s briefs span disciplines such as UX/UI, animation, advertising, typography and PR, and have been set by brands including Depop, On, giffgaff, Xbox, Yahoo!, Google Cloud, Suntory Global Spirits, Hellmann’s, HSBC and more.

New Blood Award entrants will also have the chance to showcase their work and have it judged by leading industry figures, alongside the chance of winning a prestigious Pencil, a place in the D&AD New Blood Academy, and being featured in the iconic D&AD Annual.

Key D&AD Awards 2025 Dates:

• Super Early Bird 30% Off Entry Fee Deadline: December 4, 2024
• Early Bird 20% Off Entry Fee Deadline: February 5, 2025
• Final Entry Deadline: March 12, 2025
• Judging: May 18 – 21, 2025 (County Hall, London)
• D&AD Festival & Awards Ceremony: May 21–22, 2025 (Southbank Centre, London)

Learn more and enter the awards here.