Time to get inspired with D&AD’s amazing Pencils Winners 2015

In 1962 a group of designers and art directors came together to celebrate creative communication and raise standards within their industry. Amongst the group were names like David Bailey, Terence Donovan and Alan Fletcher. Calling themselves British Design & Art Direction they organised their very first Awards event the following year. Of course, they were picky as from 2,500 entries they selected just 16 pieces of work to receive the soon-to-be coveted Yellow Pencil.

Since then British Design & Art Direction has grown mightily, but slimmed down its name. Now D&AD, is an inspiration to a community of creative thinkers by celebrating and stimulating the finest in design and advertising. A D&AD Award is recognised globally as the ultimate creative accolade, entered and attended by the best from around the world. “D&AD pencil is recognition for the late nights, toughness in the face of client feedback, and dedication to craft” says the official site. Almost two weeks ago the winners of D&AD Pencils were announced but the recipients will have to wait for May 21 (the awards evening) to see whether any of those Pencils is the most prestigious and sought-after of them all, the Black one, which is reserved for work that is truly groundbreaking and only a handful of them are awarded each year. These are our most favorites of this year’s Winners in no particular order.  

“D&AD pencil is recognition for the late nights, toughness in the face of client feedback, and dedication to craft”

WIRED December 2014/ Magazine & Newspaper Design / Entire Magazines & Magazine + Newspaper Front Covers/ Agency: WIRED/ Client: WIRED

The Guardian Print with Digital/ Magazine & Newspaper Design / Print with Digital/ Agency: The Guardian/ Client: The Guardian

The Happy Reader/ Magazine & Newspaper Design / Entire Magazines/ Agency: Penguin Random House/ Client: Penguin Random House

Kings and Queens of the Court/ Graphic Design / Wayfinding & Environmental Graphics / Agency: Leo Burnett Canada Toronto/ Client: TSN/Bell Media

TAMABI BOOK/ Book Design / Entire Books / Client: Tama Art University

The 2014 It’s Nice That Annual/ Book Design / Book Front Covers / Agency: StudioMakgill/ Client: It’s Nice That

Headless Chicken Books/ Graphic Design / Logos / Agency: Paul Belford Ltd/ Client: Headless Chicken Books

The Stone Twins ‘Business Cards’/ Graphic Design / Stationery / Agency: The Stone Twins/ Client: The Stone Twins

From Home to Home/ Graphic Design / Wayfinding & Environmental Graphics / Agency: Dark Angels Collective/ Client: Solidspace

Japanese KIMONO brand - YUKI SAWAYA/ Graphic Design / Logos / Agency: 6D/ Client: Okujun co., ltd

Chamber Collection I/ Graphic Design / Catalogues & Brochures / Agency: Studio Lin/ Client: Chamber, Juan Garcia Mosqueda

Music Desk Calander/ Graphic Design / Direct Mail (Graphic Design) / Agency: Music/ Client: Music

85 Years | 85 Ideas/ Magazine & Newspaper Design / Entire Magazines / Agency: Bloomberg Businessweek/ Client: Bloomberg Businessweek

The New York Times Magazine - August 31, 2014 - Abortion by Mail/ Magazine & Newspaper Design / Magazine & Newspaper Front Covers / Agency: The New York Times Magazine/ Client: The New York Times

Tourists/ Graphic Design/ Posters (Graphic Design)/ Agency: F/Nazca Saatchi & Saatchi/ Client: Pinacoteca do Estado de S. Paulo

Barcelona Design Museum/ Graphic Design / Posters (Graphic Design) / Agency: Atlas/ Client: Barcelona Design Museum

Bruce Nauman: The True Artist/ Book Design / Entire Books / Agency: Phaidon Press/ Client: Phaidon Press

In Loving Memory of Work/ Book Design / Book Front Covers / Agency: The Office Of Craig Oldham/ Client: Unified Theory of Everything

BOUTIQUE!/ Graphic Design / Integrated Graphics / Agency: KIGI/ Client: SPIRAL

True North Flipchart/ Graphic Design / Direct Mail (Graphic Design) / Agency: True North/ Client: True North