The Future Of Design

Prophesies and solutions abound at this year’s D&AD Festival

- Beren Neale

No two visitor’s experience could have been the same for this year’s bigger and busier than ever D&AD Festival, such was its scope and expertly curated schedule.

Each day brought anxious decisions for visitors, as talks and practical workshops teaming with insight, character and inspiration often ran over or parallel to each other. Then there were the great distractions from the main events – portfolio reviews, impromptu corridor chats with speakers, and even the chance to beat up Anthony Joshua in VR!

In its third year, and based in Shoreditch’s The Old Truman Brewery, the three days were broken down into three themes influencing the world of design and advertising today: Human Voices, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Owning the Future. The panel discussion between Google’s Tea Uglow, Mercedes Benson, Roshni Goyate and Sereena Abbassi on diversity – or lack thereof – in the creative industries was a noteworthy example of the first, and was crammed with ideas and debate that dared listeners to engage with and take on.