What does it take to win a Black Pencil? D&AD doesn’t think that should be the world’s deepest dark secret. So it let the cameras in at the 2014 Black Pencil judging. And it has released the film that shows what the jury said about whose work – good, bad and either way, enlightening.
Why? “D&AD identifies, supports, nurtures, trains the next generation of creative talent.” [D&AD chief executive, Tim Lindsay: Black Pencil 2014 judging film]
Black Pencil judging is stringent. Every tiny thrill – and every tiny flaw – will be noticed. At times, the debates get fierce.
Amir Kassaei, Rob Reilly, Luiz Sanches, Jessica Walsh, Nicolas Roope and Fernanda Romano were among 24 creative adgods who deliberated over the past year’s top work. The film shows what they saw in the work that won, and the work didn’t.
Tim Lindsay commented, “Our jurors do us proud every year – and nowhere is this truer than the Black Pencil juries, where the highest standards, spirited debate, genuine disagreement and total integrity always prevail. Take a look at the film and at the winners and see if you agree.”
D&AD only awards work that demonstrates “creative excellence”, so the number of the Awards given fluctuates year on year. Black Pencils are awarded to “work that is not just considered the best in the world in its category, but for pieces of design or advertising that have fundamentally changed the rules of the category”. There were 7 Black Pencils this year: a record number. 54 Yellow Pencils and 2 White Pencils were also awarded to campaigns from 17 different countries. 144 campaigns achieved Nominations.
