D&AD celebrates and nurtures outstanding work in the design and advertising industry each year with its international creative awards. A D&AD Pencil is recognised the world over as a shining symbol of the very highest creative achievement. It can’t get much better than that. 

On 11 January 2016, D&AD Pencils simultaneously started disappearing around the world. Why did D&AD do it? To remind the creative community of the true value of a Pencil, and that when it comes to awards, nothing matters more.