Second annual D&AD Impact announced by Advertising Week and D&AD

Cristina Blanaru Creativity, Events, Festivals & Awards, Marketing

Advertising Week  and  D&AD  announced the 2nd annual D&AD Impact, shining a spotlight on brands, businesses and campaigns that are using creativity as a positive force for change in the world. The event celebrates real-world achievements generated through creativity across 12 distinct categories (Civic Engagement; Communication & Interaction; Community; Diversity & Equality; Education; Environmental Sustainability; Financial Empowerment; Health & Wellness; Humanitarian Aid; Industry Evolution; Responsible Production & Consumption; and Urban Living).

The 2017 edition of D&AD Impact also features an all-new component, Impact Promise, which will reward ideas with the potential for impact across one or more of the 12 categories and which could benefit from the exposure, funding, mentoring and networking that D&AD Impact can offer. Selected projects, startups, products or initiatives that have an original innovative idea at the core, and that can demonstrate how, once scaled, will have a clear and measurable impact in the chosen category area, will be offered the opportunity to pitch for project support.

Last year we had submissions from all corners of the earth that inspired and ignited action around the world. This year our mission is not only to reward and champion but to provide the support required to scale some of the incredible projects out there (…) Together, with our partner Advertising Week, we want to inspire and enable this sort of creative thinking, driving business and brands to behave as responsible global citizens.

Tim Lindsay,

CEO, D&AD

The D&AD Impact juries include some of the most influential and innovative minds in business, communication, media, music, politics, technology and the arts and is representative of the wide range of organizations committed to deploying creativity as a force for good.

The 2017 Jury Presidents include:

  • Neil Blumenthal, Founder and CEO, Warby Parker
  • Anthony Casalena, Founder and CEO, Squarespace
  • Frank Cooper, CMO, BlackRock
  • Richard Curtis, Filmmaker, Founder, Project Everyone & Comic Relief
  • Christian Davies, Creative Vice President, Global Design & Innovation, Starbucks
  • Colleen DeCourcy, Global Co-Executive Creative Director, Wieden + Kennedy
  • Carolyn Everson, VP, Global Marketing Solutions, Facebook
  • Arianna Huffington, Founder of The Huffington Post; Founder and CEO of Thrive Global
  • Betsy Lack, Head of Global Brand Strategy, Snap Inc.
  • Aline Santos Farhat, Global EVP Marketing, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Unilever
  • Haiyan Zhang, Innovation Director, Microsoft Research

At a time of such political turbulence all over the world, it is incumbent on business to take the mantle of leadership and attend to the issues that will shape our future. Our continued partnership with D&AD showcases the power of creativity to make an impact and raises the bar for our industry and beyond

Matt Scheckner,

Global CEO of Advertising Week

D&AD Impact is open to any agency, studio, media owner, publisher, social enterprise, start-up or brand that has contributed towards a better future and is focused squarely on the role that businesses and brands play within society, the economy, the environment and broader cultural arena.