D&AD is a globally recognized educational organization dedicated to promoting the highest standards in design and advertising. Established in 1962, D&AD has cultivated a community of innovative minds, and each year, talented individuals from all over the world vie for the chance to receive one of the prestigious D&AD Awards, also known as the "pencils." These awards are highly coveted in the creative industry, and competition is fierce as talented professionals strive to take home a coveted D&AD pencil.
Well, it all started with a seemingly simple project: redesign the D&AD Entry Site. Little did we know, it would turn into a monumental challenge. So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. And let me tell you, it was no small feat.
The Define phase! Now that we've gotten to know our users and their needs, habits, and surroundings, it's time to put all that valuable information to good use. This is where we take a deep dive into our user research and identify exactly where the problems lie. We prioritize our outcomes and start piecing together the puzzle that is the new Entry Site. Time to get those brains working and start piecing it all together!
And so, after a demanding (yet rewarding) process of interviews, surveys, personas, user journeys, card sorting, site mapping, and MVP requirements, we finally arrived at phase 3: Ideate and Design. This is where the real challenge begins. We get to let our creative juices flow and come up with a range of ideas, build them out, explore them, present them, and test them. It's like a big playground for our brains, where we get to let our imaginations run wild and come up with some seriously stuff.
The D&AD entry site project has been a constant process of iteration and improvement. We've gone through countless rounds of design and testing, constantly working to enhance the user experience. It's been a long journey, but it's all been worth it to see the site grow and evolve. And the best part? We're not done yet! There's always room for further improvement, and we're always up for the challenge.
Every year, we work to improve the D&AD entry site by updating features and adding new ones.
The Team
Donal Keenan - Awards Director
Louise Wookey - Digital Project Manager
Dion Joy - Digital Director
Pippa Irvine - Digital Director
Bonita Bryan - Operations Manager
Nathan Walsh - Backend Developer
Sel-Vin Kuik - Frontend Developer
Carla Serra - UX Designer
Lauren Morsley - Illustrator
Louise Wookey - Digital Project Manager
Dion Joy - Digital Director
Pippa Irvine - Digital Director
Bonita Bryan - Operations Manager
Nathan Walsh - Backend Developer
Sel-Vin Kuik - Frontend Developer
Carla Serra - UX Designer
Lauren Morsley - Illustrator
Wiedemann Lampe - UI Design
