D&AD Awards 2026 honors Irma Boom and top creative agencies

The 2026 D&AD Awards ceremony in London honored several creative achievements, awarding four Black Pencils across three specific projects. Isle of Any received two Black Pencils for Visual Effects and Production Design for the Coinbase project ‘Your Way Out’. Uncommon Creative Studio was awarded a Black Pencil for Art Direction for DECIEM’s ‘The Periodic Fable’, while Publicis Conseil earned a Black Pencil for Impact for AXA’s ‘Three Words’.

Dutch graphic designer Irma Boom was honored with the 2026 D&AD President’s Award. D&AD President Lisa Smith praised Boom for her ability to challenge the nature of book design through craft and material, noting her influence on generations of designers.

The ceremony also revealed global agency rankings. Uncommon Creative Studio London was named Advertising Agency of the Year, followed by Ogilvy Singapore and Isle of Any. DENTSU INC. was named Design Agency of the Year, with Pentagram New York taking second place. Additionally, SMLXL and Mallandrich were jointly recognized as Small Independent Design Agency of the Year, and Unilever was named Client of the Year.