Sweaty Betty, Dyson, Pearlfisher and Bloom join The Drum Design Awards 2019 judging panel
The Drum Design Awards 2019 is well underway, looking for great design produced by agencies globally, giving you an opportunity to see your best design work rewarded.
2018 Grand Prix winners, Clarks in House Design Group
2018 marked a change in the way awards judging panel was brought together when chairperson John Mathers, director of design at the British Design Fund and head judge Glenn Tutssel, founder of Brand Inspiration came onboard, building their own group of industry experts.
This year we will see the return of many familiar faces from Pearlfisher, Clear, Williams Murray Hamm, Rapp, NB and Design Bridge.
When first setting up the judging panel last year, Mathers and Tutssel wanted to build a degree of continuity into the panel, so that they could develop a consistent approach over time, bringing the learnings that they had from one year to the next.
Mathers said: “By doing this we believe that we will build a stronger, more consistent awards programme, one that people really want to win.
“To do that we have maintained a significant number of judges from last year but have also introduced some new faces so that we are blending the learnings from last year with some fresh thinking”
New members to the panel include: Sweaty Betty, John Knowles Ritchie, Buddy, Bloom, Dyson Ltd, Bow and Arrow, Interbrand and Missouri Creative. Both Mathers and Tutssel’s plan for the judging panel is to build a body of judges that they can call on, all of whom understand the ethos of the awards, understand the process and know the quality standards to which they aspire.
A surprising move for the awards is the inclusion of last year’s Rising Star winner, Natalie Palmer, a digital designer at Sweaty Betty. Although it’s not something normally done, Mathers and Tusel firmly believe in giving young rising stars their say, allowing them to learn from the others judges but to also learn from Palmer what a younger generation thinks.
On her appointment, Palmer explained: “I want to have my eyes opened and to be inspired from this experience. I’d also like to have my point of view challenged by other judges and to open up debates around the work.”
Mathers concluded: “We certainly all have a huge amount of respect for her and it will be my job as chair to make sure her voice is heard amongst the din of discussion.”
The Drum Design Awards is open for entries, make sure you download your entry pack now. The deadline is Thursday 7 March.