D&AD Awards Four Groundbreaking Campaigns Black Pencils

Four groundbreaking campaigns have been awarded Black Pencils by D&AD, one of the most prestigious accolades in the advertising industry. The winners were revealed at a ceremony in London on September 23. Among them was Coinbase's 'Your Way Out', created by independent agency Isle of Any, which won two Black Pencils for visual effects and production design.

The campaign, set in a video game universe, encouraged people to break away from restrictive financial systems. It ran during the 2026 Academy Awards and also won the Film Craft Grand Prix at Cannes Lions in June.

Others who received Black Pencils include skincare brand The Ordinary and Uncommon Creative Studio for 'The Periodic Fable', which debunked harmful marketing language by replacing elements of the periodic table with beauty buzzwords. AXA and Publicis Conseil also took home a Black Pencil for impact with 'Three Words', which changed home insurance policies to include assistance for those escaping domestic violence.

D&AD named Uncommon Creative Studio London as Advertising Agency of the Year, while Isle of Any won Independent Agency of the Year. Apple was awarded Brand of the Year and Unilever Client of the Year. Dutch graphic designer Irma Boom received the D&AD President's Award for her outstanding contribution to the industry.