• by Larissa Faw , April 26, 2018

This year, three agencies won D&AD Black Pencils, considered one the highest accolades in the creative industry.

Host/Havas received a Black Pencil for its work for tourism client Palau, whose Palau Legacy Project requires visitors to sign a passport pledge to act in an ecologically responsible way when visiting the Western Pacific island nation.

Saatchi & Saatchi NY received one for work on client Procter & Gamble's "It's A Tide Ad," which ran during the Super Bowl, and the ubiquitous Fearless Girl nabbed another for McCann New York and State Street Global Advisors.    

In total, 721 Pencils were awarded during D&AD judging this year, with 74 Yellow Pencils, 156 Graphite Pencils, and 488 Wood Pencils. 

“We’ve seen a marked focus on humor and playfulness,” says D&AD CEO Tim Lindsay. "Design and advertising can be used to encourage debate and engender social discourse, but it can and should also entertain. Also, sell stuff. In the current social and economic climate, we need all of the above.”

BBDO New York is the most awarded advertising agency of 2018, winning a total of 26 Pencils, including three yellow, 12 graphite and 11 wood, followed by McCann New York and AMVBBDO.

State Street Global Advisors, Burger King, and Apple collected the most prizes among clients.

Jones Knowles Ritchie, The New York Times Magazine, and The Guardian ranked as the most awarded for design, while MJZ, Riff Raff, and Somesuch were the top three most awarded production companies. 

For the second consecutive year, the United States has topped the country rankings (with 194 Pencils) with the United Kingdom coming in second (165) and Japan third (49).

The awards were bestowed during a D&AD gala at The Old Truman Brewery, London. 

The full breakdown of winners by category and Pencil level can be viewed here.