D&AD

New Blood
ESSENTIAL INFO & FAQS 1/2
Awards

Key Dates Who can enter? How much does it cost?

There are two options to enter:
All of the briefs are open to:
1. By Voucher. Completing a 5-10 minute
Briefs launch Students of any age.
entrant survey (one survey per team member)
October 2023 To enter as a student, you must be enrolled on
at the point of entry will generate a unique
a recognised full or part-time Further or Higher
voucher entry code. This voucher covers 100%
Education level course, anywhere in the world,
of the entry fee. We will use the information
Open for entry on 1 January 2024. Being a student means you
collated from this survey to develop an Insights
are automatically eligible and do not need to
February 2024 Report to help make the creative industries a
match any other criteria.
better place for emerging creatives. Enter your
Anyone over 18 not employed in (or formerly voucher code at the checkout.
Entry deadline employed in) the creative industries.
2. By debit/credit card. You can pay a £15
5pm GMT 20 March 2024 Anyone who has not cumulatively worked for 6
entry fee at the checkout when you submit your
months or more** in a paid creative role* at
entry. The price is per entry, not per person.
the point of entry can enter.+
Judging How do I enter?
It doesn’t matter where in the world you are – if
April - May 2024 Download any and all briefs you like the look
you fit one of the descriptions above, you
of. Each one comes with its own brief pack, full
can enter.
of useful things like background information,
* A creative role is defined as a position where inspiration and brand logos to help you on
Winners announced your way. Then it’s up to you to create your
the entrant is employed in any type of creative
(without Pencil levels) role (including strategists) such as: copywriter, response. The brief and brief pack will tell you
May 2024 art director, graphic designer, etc. for a creative how to format and present your work ready
organisation (including in-house agencies). to submit.
This includes paid placements. Entrants may
Winner’s package opportunities Teams & Tutors
still enter if they work (or have worked) for a
Summer 2024 creative company in a non-creative role. Can we enter as a team?
Yes. You can enter as an individual, or up to
**6 months’ cumulative experience can be
five people can work together and enter as a
gained over a longer period of time, for example
Ceremony team. Everyone on the team must be eligible
3 x 2 month paid placements. If you have
(and announcement of Pencil levels) to enter, and everyone on the team needs to
worked as a freelancer, this means you must
July 2024 register beforehand at dandad.org.
not have made the majority of your income
from a creative role for the equivalent of 6 Can I team up with friends from other
months or more. universities? Or who already graduated/are
not at university?
+ If you aren’t eligible to enter the New
Yes. You can enter with anyone who’s eligible,
Blood Awards, you should take a look at
even if they don’t study at the same uni or
the D&AD Awards which features a range of
college as you. Students and non-students can
other opportunities, including a Side Hustle
work together too.
programme, for a wide range of creatives.
My background / university subject isn’t
Am I eligible?
creative. Can I still enter?
If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, you can take
Yes. As long as you meet our eligibility criteria
our eligibility quiz here or drop us an email on
you can enter – whatever your background or
newblood@dandad.org
subject.
What can I enter?
Do I need a tutor to enter?
The New Blood Awards aren’t for work you’ve
No – but if you’re a student, you should credit
done already – all entries have to be a
any tutors who helped you. For you to do this,
response to one of this year’s briefs.
your tutors need to register before you enter at
You can respond to as many briefs as you like. dandad.org. You’ll then be able to add them to
You can also submit more than one response the entry credits when you enter online.
per brief – you’ll just need to create and submit
My institution wasn’t in the list when I
a separate entry for each response. So you can
registered – can I still enter?
enter as many times as you have ideas.
Yes. When registering select ‘Organisation not
The brief and brief pack will tell you everything listed’ and you can manually complete
you need to know about what to submit. your details.
Do you offer mentoring?
Yes, mentoring is available for anyone without
access to an educational tutor or industry
contact. You can apply for mentoring and find
out more here.

@newblood_dandad dandad.org/new-blood-awards #NewBloodAwards

• New Blood Awards 2024 •
 D&AD
New Blood
ESSENTIAL INFO & FAQS 2/2
Awards

Judging Criteria The White Pencil After you’ve entered

The general New Blood Awards judging What is the White Pencil? Who will judge my work?
criteria are as follows: It’s awarded to work that uses commercial Your ideas will be seen by representatives
creativity to do good. Find out what won in of the brands, along with a panel of top
Is it a great creative idea?
2023 here. creatives and professionals from around the
Is it well executed?
world. We’ll announce the juries nearer the
Is it on brief? Where’s the New Blood White Pencil brief?
time.
There’s no dedicated White Pencil brief.
However, the way these are prioritised varies
Although some of the briefs specifically ask What could I win?
from brief to brief:
for responses that make the world better, you All winners will receive one New Blood Pencil
Advertising/big idea briefs (in order of could choose to answer any brief in a way per team (the key to getting your foot in the
importance): that does good. That’s because we can and industry’s door), a digital certificate per team
should consider social and positive change member, and lots more. Check out ‘What
Is it on brief? Does the idea answer the brief in everything we do. Maybe your packaging winning means’ for a full breakdown.
and the brand’s needs? It can push the brief design revolutionises sustainability, or your
in some ways, but at its core it must solve the Anything else?
ad campaign, while it spreads the word about
problem the brief is asking it to solve. If you have any questions that aren’t covered,
the brand, also engages consumers with a
email us at newblood@dandad.org.
Is it a great creative idea? Is the idea social issue.
inspiring or unique? Does it use audience/ Or get in touch on Twitter or Instagram:
How do I win a New Blood White Pencil?
product insights to deliver an idea that will Whichever brief you’re answering, if your entry @DandADNewBlood
really create an impact? uses creativity to do good, you can also put it @newblood_dandad
Is it well executed? Is the idea well forward for the New Blood White Pencil. When
presented, easy to understand and fully you enter online, you can opt in. There’s no
rounded? extra charge, all you’ll need to do is give us a
short explanation of why you think your work
Craft briefs including UX/UI/Interaction is White Pencil material: how it goes beyond
Design, copywriting and graphic design (in the brief and uses it as a platform for positive
order of importance): impact.
Is it on brief? Does the idea answer the brief Then if your entry gets awarded within its
and the brand’s needs? It can push the brief brief, the White Pencil jury will judge your
in some ways, but at its core it must solve the entry at a later stage.
problem the brief is asking it to solve.
You can only submit work that’s a response to
Is it well executed? Does the craft make one of this year’s briefs. You must create and
you sit up and take notice? Is the idea fully submit an entry for one of the briefs to be
realised and executed with precision? Is there able to opt in for the New Blood White Pencil.
beauty in the details?
Is it a great creative idea? Is the craft
underpinned by a unique or inspiring idea?
Does it use audience/product insights to
deliver an idea that will really create an
impact?
Game Design Briefs (in order of importance):
Is it on brief? Does it deliver the type of game
the brief asked for? It can push the brief in
some ways, but at its core it must produce a
game in-line with the brief’s expectations.
Is it a great idea that the judges wish they
could play? A great idea doesn’t mean
it needs to be 100% original, but it does
need to feel like something the player could
immerse themselves in and want to keep
playing. For Yellow Pencil level, originality will
take higher priority.
Is it well executed and easy to understand?
Has the game been fully fleshed out? Does
it really express how a user would play the
game or do the judges have to do some of the
leg work themselves?

@newblood_dandad dandad.org/new-blood-awards #NewBloodAwards

• New Blood Awards 2024 •