D&AD BRINGS FESTIVAL AND NEW BLOOD TOGETHER FOR D&AD ALIVE

D&AD, the global non-profit championing excellence in design and commercial creativity, has revealed plans for D&AD Alive, a new festival that will bring together its celebrated D&AD Festival and New Blood Festival for the first time. The event, scheduled to take place at Tobacco Dock, London, from 28–30 June 2027, will unite emerging talent, agencies, studios, brands, in-house teams and creative leaders from across the world. The ambition is to create a shared space where different generations, disciplines and perspectives can explore the tensions shaping creativity today and what lies ahead.

The announcement coincides with the appointment of Nils Leonard as D&AD’s new President, succeeding Lisa Smith after her one-year term. Leonard, Co-Founder of Uncommon Creative Studio, will lead a series of President Lectures at D&AD Alive, curating conversations that bring together diverse voices from across the creative industry.  

Leonard’s career spans more than two decades at the top of advertising and design. Before co-founding Uncommon, he served as Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Grey London, overseeing the most profitable and awarded years in the agency’s history. His leadership earned him recognition as the No. 1 Creative Person globally by Business Insider and a place among the Sunday Times’ 500 Most Influential People.  

Since its founding nine years ago, Uncommon Creative Studio has become one of the fastest-growing and most creatively awarded start-ups of its generation. Its work includes rebranding and launching EA Sports FC, described by the BBC as “the world’s biggest entertainment rebrand”; creating ITV’s Britain Get Talking, the UK’s most recognised mental health campaign; returning British Airways to iconic status with safety videos and advertising; and winning a coveted Black Pencil for The Periodic Fable with The Ordinary. Other headline-grabbing projects include the viral Ratboot stunt that disrupted New York Fashion Week.  

Reflecting on his appointment, Leonard said: “D&AD has shaped me and so many people I admire, so being asked to be President is a genuine honour. Creativity is one of the most powerful forces in the world. It builds brands, businesses and culture. Yet almost everywhere we talk about it like a luxury, something nice to have, rather than the engine behind our economies and our future. Too many young people are never shown what creativity can be, or that it’s a career, a skill and a way of solving problems. I want to use this year to change that, and to make the case for creativity as something every country should be proud of and invest in. Creativity is our very own human magic, and it is stronger than we think.”  

Tim Lindsay, Chairman of D&AD, welcomed Leonard’s appointment: “Nils has always been a powerful advocate for creativity and original thinking. He’s built his career challenging convention, backing ambitious ideas and pushing for work that has genuine impact. As we bring different generations, disciplines and perspectives together through D&AD Alive, Nils brings exactly the energy and point of view we want from our President. I’m delighted to welcome him, and I’d also like to thank Lisa Smith for everything she has brought to D&AD and the creative community during her presidency.”  

Smith, Global Chief Creative Officer at Uncommon and formerly Global Executive Creative Director at JKR, concludes her presidency after a year marked by her own contributions to D&AD’s mission of nurturing creative excellence.  

With D&AD Alive set to debut in 2027, the organisation signals both continuity and renewal: honouring its legacy while opening a new chapter that promises to challenge, inspire and connect the global creative community.