Changes Are Afoot For This Year's D&AD Awards

The awards are being shaken up to reflect the new design landscape, says Tom May

The Oscars of the design industry, for 57 years the D&AD Awards have highlighted and celebrated creative excellence, inviting more than 250 of the world’s greatest creatives to judge the year’s best work.

2019 is no exception, with the Awards returning to the Old Truman Brewery, London, on 23 May. And this year there’s been a major shake-up in the categories and judging criteria.

The 2019 Awards sees 11 categories reorganised, specifically to represent the craft disciplines of animation, casting, cinematography, direction, editing, illustration, photography, production design, sound design and the use of music, typography and visual effects.

New criteria for judging have also been introduced to make sure that the best work is rising to the top of the pile in each category.