Submission deadline: 23:59 BST Friday 10 January 2025

Please ensure you have submitted your proposal by this time and date, as we will be unable to accept any applications further to this.

Review period: December 2024 — January 2025

The team will review proposals as they are submitted, and shortlist any they would like to explore further.

Shortlist outreach: January 2025

If the team would like to explore your proposal further, we will be in touch by Friday 31 January 2025.

Confirmation of speakers: February 2025

If you are confirmed to join us, the D&AD Team will work with you to develop your content session and speakers right up to the Festival, and will help get everything ready to announce you as part of the programme in Spring.

Please note that due to a high number of submissions we will not be able to contact everyone directly if unsuccessful.

If you have any questions please reach out to festival@dandad.org.

We have a limited number of slots available on stage, so they all need to count. Each session needs to deliver clear value to the attendees, to excite and delight and inspire.

For the purpose of this proposal we don’t have a strict theme for you to work to, we want you to be creative and imaginative in your proposals.
That said, it's D&AD and it needs to be about creative excellence. Think beautiful craft, cutting-edge advertising, bold ideas and fresh perspectives on hot topics in the industry. We want guests who bring the wow-factor, and presentations that make the most of our 12-metre-wide screen with jaw-dropping visuals. We’re as interested in fresh perspectives from new talent as we are from the experienced creatives at the height of their careers showing us how it’s done, so please don’t hold back from putting yourself forward.

Fireside chat or interview: a 25-minute conversation between two speakers
Keynote presentation: a 20-minute presentation or behind-the-scenes deep dive into a specific topic
Panel discussion: a 30-minute discussion between a maximum of four speakers
Roundtable: hosting an informal meeting of like-minded attendees discussing a particular industry-related subject (these sessions will be run off-stage)
Other: if you’d like to pitch anything from a book launch to a performance, we’re keen to hear your ideas

Our audience is predominantly made up of advertising, design and media agencies, brands, freelance creatives, young talent, and press. We also welcome over 300 D&AD Awards jurors who have judged the professional awards the same week as the Festival, who join us from over 55 countries worldwide.

In 2024 we welcomed over 2,700 attendees over two days at our Festival. Here’s a breakdown of who was in the room:

• 50% Advertising, design and media agencies
• 11% Freelancers
• 24% Brand-side
• 6% Students, graduates or trainees
• 9% Other (eg NGOs, associations, production companies

How many proposals can I submit?

​You can submit as many proposals as you would like to, the D&AD Team will review everything that is submitted.

Is there an age restriction on speakers?

All speakers at the D&AD Festival must be 18+.

What are the responsibilities of the applicant?

The applicant is considered the primary contact for the session. You are the person ultimately responsible for making your proposal happen if selected. All communications from D&AD will go through you, and you are responsible for communicating all information to your speakers (if applicable). You can also be the, or one of the, speaker on the session.

Do I need to finish the proposal all at once?

You can come back to your proposal if you're unable to finish it in one go. The "Save and Continue" button will appear below the progress bar. You will also receive an email with a button link that allows you to continue filling out the form.

Will my proposal be shared with anyone outside of D&AD?

No, your proposal is for internal use only. If D&AD confirm your application is successful, further steps will be taken to prepare all speaker and session information prior to marketing.

Is there any cost associated with speaking at the D&AD Festival? And do D&AD pay for speakers?

No, there is no cost to speak at the Festival. To improve diverse representation in our programmes, we pay a base, flat fee of £200 to all of our speakers, content writers, and panel moderators, and a fee of £100 to all panel participants, except for interviews and panels which pertain to D&AD judging and are voluntary with the purpose of talking about judging and explaining why the Pencil-winning work was awarded. In certain circumstances we reserve the right to supplement this fee. You are also welcome to donate your fee to the D&AD Foundation; D&AD is a charity, and any surpluses go back into developing and growing D&AD Foundation programmes such as New Blood and Shift, which nurture the next generation of creative talent.

Can I propose a session that promotes a product or service?

Sales pitches are not part of the festival stage focus, but we are always interested in the latest innovations. Companies looking to promote their products and services to the creative community are encouraged to connect with our Partnerships team at partnerships@dandad.org.

Can I present at the Festival online or do I need to be there in person?

All talks must be delivered in person at the Festival in London, on Wednesday 21 & Thursday 22 May 2025.