D&AD is preparing to bring together the creative industry’s brightest minds at its annual D&AD Festival, this year in a new location at the Southbank Centre in London, May 21-22. Global leaders in advertising, design and art direction will gather for two days to celebrate, discuss and debate what creative excellence looks like today. The Festival will feature 80+ international speakers, two stages, keynote talks, interactive masterclasses and award-winning work insight sessions led by global creative leaders.

D&AD Festival 2024 will explore the intersection of traditional creativity and technology in design, art direction, and advertising. As AI transforms the creative sector and becomes a co-pilot for creativity, the Festival will cut through the noise with conversations from leading lights and innovators in the industry as they discuss the themes, ideas and tools shaping the future.

Speakers from brands such as TikTok, GANNI, The Coca-Cola Company, EA Sports, Conde Nast, and renowned creative names such as Walter Campbell; Nils Leonard of Uncommon Creative Studio; graphic designer, Peter Saville; illustrator, Malika Favre; Wes Anderson’s puppet master, Andy Gent; photographer, Campbell Addy; and creative designer, Veronica Fuerte, will join other award-winning designers, tech leaders, advertisers, animators and storytellers from across the creative world. They will explore topical subjects such as talent and accessibility, changing consumer behaviour, technology, opportunities and risks, mental health, sustainability and craft skills.

Masterclasses with industry-leading trainers will delve into topics including Creative Leadership, AI & Creativity, Creating Impactful Brand Identities, Sustainable Impact and more. Live jury insight sessions will have judges reveal the type of work they’ve seen, the trends, campaigns they were impressed by, what they loved and what they learnt from judging the Awards this year; and analysing work from new category Luxury alongside the returning categories Craft; Graphic & Type Design; Impact; Transforming Brands; and Entertainment.

The Festival programme will be divided into Crafting Excellence, Embracing Tech, Transforming Brands, Jury Insights and Sustainable Impact.

D&AD will reveal this year’s Pencil winners, closing the Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre with the D&AD Awards Ceremony on the evening of May 22.

The list of judges and speakers can be found at dandad.org/festival.