LONDON, UK — For the first time since 2019, the long-awaited D&AD Festival has returned to London. The festival began on May 09 at The Truman Brewery against the backdrop of D&AD Awards judging with keynote talks, jury insight sessions, immersive workshops, and an exhibition from the D&AD Awards 2023 Shortlist.
Marking its fifth year, the festival celebrates creativity and innovation in design, advertising, and communication, and it attracts some of the best minds in the industry from around the world. This year’s principal theme is “MAKE. CHANGE.”
Judge briefing on Day 1Photo (Left): KK is in an art-inspiring city. What a lucky dude! Photo (Right): Asian creatives catch-up in Shoreditch street
With judging in full swing, adobo Magazine caught up with Chow Kok Keong (KK), who sits as jury member of the Art Direction category. KK, an all-around creative, has more than two decades of experience in local and global brand communication. Originally from Malaysia, KK has worked in several international networks across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.
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KK joined creative agency INNOCEAN Indonesia as Chief Creative Officer in 2022. Based in Jakarta, KK leads the creative department to offer integrated creative solutions from ATL, BTL, Experiential, to digital.
A serious yet interesting moment during the pencil-rewarding stageJuries were examining some physical entries
Speaking to adobo Magazine, KK shared, “It is an honor to judge one of the world’s most prestigious award shows, the D&AD Awards, for the second time. I learned so much from the entries that came from around the world, as well as the discussions in the jury room.”
“I was fortunate to be on the Art Direction panel. The debates with juries from Sao Paulo, London, New York, Amsterdam, Tokyo, and Seoul were amazing. The nine juries in the room discussed authentic art direction, including cinematography, photography, illustration, and the finer details of typography, such as point size and kerning, as well as the positioning of logos in layouts. We strive for perfection in craftsmanship at the toughest show in the world.”
With the judging process now underway, the juries continue to look for work that is not only visually stunning but also impactful in its messaging and execution. This year’s D&AD Pencil winners will be revealed at BFI Southbank on May 24 and 25.
