11 Comments

So wait... By implication, the others don't make a positive change for the world right?



But why would we award work that doesn't make a positive change in the world?



Isn't the very definition of design 'positive change'? I like the suggestion that from now on all work that doesn't better the world is somehow not good enough.



Maybe D&AD should drop all awards except the white pencil?



Surely the creative industries have realized that successful business in the 21st Century thus far absolutely HAS to align it's higher order purpose with it's core business? Therefore all communication and design should be supporting positive change for the world... right?



But maybe this is not common knowledge yet if we need another colored pencil to pat the good guys on the back separately...



Paul
2011-04-13 15:05:00

Great idea. It would be cool to think of how design can help transform our world for the better.

Does creative review have any other suggestions from the past where design has made a significant difference?

My head tends to go into the commercial space all the time. But here is one.

How about Earth Hour? It's only been around for a few years but it seems to have gained traction?
Steve @graphicdesignboss.com
2011-04-14 01:05:05

@Paul, how did u rephrase it to "the others don't make a positive change for the world.. and dropping all the other awards.. it doesn't make sense!" it was clearly stated:
D&AD has launched the White Pencil, an award for "a creative idea that changes the world for the better".

The white pencil is another great idea by D&AD, and hoping Peace Day would become familiar to people around the world.


Sara
sara scharaf
2011-04-14 07:49:14

Great idea. I sincerely hope it inspires something wonderful.
Ed
2011-04-14 09:52:24

@Paul –

Seems to me this is about moving on from the fuzzy generalising of design "making the world a better place" towards specific briefs with particular aims for social ends, that will involve the entire creative community to ensure a fantastic result.

Ring fencing the socially responsible element of our jobs can only be a good thing in the long run and seems like a logical next step.

Rather than reward the 'best goody goody project' for that year (which is what you seem to be annoyed with) this feels more like getting the whole creative community behind one big project as a collective competition.

It will be interesting how the objective idea of a "good" or "better" world, or a "worthy" brief, will change for each white pencil over the years, but in principle this can surely only be a good thing.
Gavin Day
2011-04-14 11:13:14

Bugger. I've always wanted one of the gold ones, now I have to change my aspirations for something even more our of reach.
Chris - Graphic Designer
2011-04-14 11:42:38

what paul said. wholeheartedly.
Michael
2011-04-14 21:03:12

@Paul

"Isn't the very definition of design 'positive change'? I like the suggestion that from now on all work that doesn't better the world is somehow not good enough. "

No; design is about solving problems, I can think of an infinite number of designs that don't promote positive change.

At the most you could argue that a design is 'bad' if it doesn't promote positive change, but you'd still be wrong :)
n
2011-04-15 12:26:59

...what do you think of the "Peace One Day" logo showing the water of the globe white and the continents blue? or the "white pencil" with a black lead?
marcel
2011-04-15 12:42:59

I like it :)
bluepigcreative
2011-04-15 15:58:37

I was fortunate enough to go to the event launch and was excellent! A great idea!
Jon Cleave
2011-04-15 19:25:19

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