Guardian Media Group and D&AD partnered to organize a “global festival of creativity” in London

Cristina Blanaru Festivals & Awards

Guardian Media Group and D&ADrecentlytoday announce a partnership to establish a new global festival to celebrate the power of creativity and explore how it shapes culture, intersects with business and builds a positive future.

Hosted in London, the festival will bring together business leaders with the world’s foremost thinkers, practitioners and emerging talent from across the creative and cultural sectors – including design, film, advertising, gaming, music, fashion and architecture.  The festival will launch in 2019 with the aim of becoming a destination for curious, creative minds.

With global debates increasingly dominated by the opportunities and risks created by automation and data, the festival will be an opportunity to recognise, celebrate and learn about how the uniquely human quality of creativity can help industries and businesses to innovate and grow in the face of disruption.

This partnership combines the expertise of two of the most respected, long-running and trusted organisations in the creative economy.  At a time when digital disruption, automation and AI are impacting every industry, it is clear that creativity no longer simply powers the worlds of media, advertising and design – it is an essential component of any business’s long term strategy.  We are thrilled to be working with D&AD, and together we plan to create an unrivalled festival of creativity, for the UK and the world.

David Pemsel

Chief executive Guardian Media Group

This new annual event will be a one stop shop for anyone interested in creativity, innovation and contemporary culture. The world does not operate in silos. Our aim is to be an umbrella for all creative thinking, a platform for talent, and a place for business leaders, practitioners and the general public to be energised, invigorated and inspired to integrate creative thinking to achieve business success.

Tim Lindsay,

CEO of D&AD

There are few places on earth that can rival our city for its culture and creativity, so it makes perfect sense for London to host this new global festival.

As one of the most diverse capitals in the world, London is an ideal place to unite different voices and ensure the best ideas to shape our changing world are given a global platform.

Justine Simons OBE,

Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries

The 2019 event will replace the current D&AD Festival.

The announcement was made with a film with the following credits:

  • Agency: Common Industry
  • Director: Alyssa Boni via RSA/Black Dog
  • Motion Graphics and Graphic Design: Studio Blackburn
  • Sound Design: GCRS
  • Colour: ENVY

Guardian Media Group (GMG) is amongst the UK’s leading media organisations. Its core business is Guardian News & Media (GNM), publisher of theguardian.com, one of the largest English-speaking quality newspaper websites in the world. In the UK, GNM publishes the Guardian newspaper six days a week and the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper, The Observer.

GMG has also built an endowment fund, which includes the proceeds from the 2014 disposal of its 50.1% holding in Trader Media Group. ‎The sole purpose of the fund is to secure the editorial independence and financial security of the Guardian in perpetuity. The business conduct of the Group is guided by The Scott Trust values.