Michael Peters given D&AD President’s Award

Matt Dent’s redesign of UK coins for The Royal Mint picked up a Black Pencil in the graphic design category, while German interactive stiudio Art & Com won in the environmental design category for its Kinetic Sculpture for BMW.

The other two Black Pencils went to Droga5 NYC, which won the integrated campaign category for the Million programme, which ‘turned academic achievement into a brand’, and in the writing in viral category for the Great Schlep film, in which comedian Sarah Silverman encouraged Jewish voters in the US to vote for Barack Obama.

Peters was recognised with the President’s Award at the ceremony at London’s Roundhouse last night. The award is given every year for an outstanding contribution to creativity. Previous winners include Apple designer Jonathan Ive, and Bartle Bogle Hegarty co-founder Sir John Hegarty.

D&AD president Garrick Hamm says, ‘Michael’s contribution to design is so great one could be forgiven for thinking he would have received this award years ago. He has helped shape and revolutionise the industry into the business it is today. These days we use jargon like “360 branding” and “joined-up thinking”, but Michael was doing it 20 years ago.’

He adds, ‘With his work for the likes of British Airways, Johnnie Walker, Universal Studios and the Conservative Party in Britain, Michael raised the profile of design and designers. He dragged creativity off the kitchen table and on to the boardroom table. He was fearless in front of some of the world’s biggest clients, and he gave other designers the self-confidence to stand up for themselves and command proper fees.’