Voxpop

Reports are that British Design & Art Direction is not giving any awards in print advertising, including posters, this year. Do you think the decision is justified on the strength of what’s around, or can you name any particularly strong poster campaigns that have caught your attention?

‘It is important for juries to uphold the value of their host’s award scheme by not awarding winners unless something meets their criteria. Such a decision is always controversial… I remember a night at the Design Week Awards when one entrant was setting about the editor of this magazine because there was no winner in his entered category. In reality there were only three entries in that category and none met our desired standard. It doesn’t mean that the category has lost its way, simply that the entered work didn’t please the assembled team.’

JON TURNER, HEAD OF CREATIVE DIRECTION, THE BODY SHOP

‘Is it just a simple case of “we’re not (quite) worthy”? Not a D&AD contender, but memorable for us this year was the London Underground poster campaign for Blast at Hammersmith Apollo. We have spent many a happy moment stuck on the Tube basking in the reflected glory of descriptions such as “breathtaking”, “exhilarating” and “a tour de force”.’

MARTIN COX, PARTNER, BLAST

‘D&AD is a tough competition. Entries must be good, and also have that little bit of magic that we all strive so hard to find. The Buzz [the no-frills budget airline] posters were memorable, but nothing I remember was inspirational.’

DAVID STOCKS, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, SAS

‘A poster, on the Tube, months ago would get my vote: a Vogue cover. A model in summer clothes, very stylish. But the date on the magazine is in the 1950s and the cover price is in shillings. The line at the bottom reads: “In the shops now”. The ad was for Oxfam: slow burn, very clever.’

BRIAN WEBB, DIRECTOR, TRICKET & WEBB

‘Since awards are about standards, that standard has to be upheld year in year out. Sometimes it’s as important not to give awards as to give them. These rumours strike me as odd, since the Campaign Press Awards show great discipline at work. Was the Stella Artois campaign entered into the D&AD Awards this year?’

MARK HURST, ART DIRECTOR, MCCANN ERICKSON