D&AD, the global non-profit championing excellence in design and commercial creativity, has revealed the jury for its 2026 Awards — bringing together over 300 leading creatives from more than 40 countries to judge the very best in commercial creativity. Among them, a formidable contingent of Asian talent steps into the jury room, reflecting the region’s growing influence in shaping global creative standards.
This year’s jury composition marks a notable shift. Independent studios now make up around half of the jury, alongside an increased number of brand-side representatives — a reflection of how great work is being made today. For Asia, the representation spans advertising, animation, design, film, sound, gaming, health, and more — disciplines where the region has been steadily and undeniably building its voice.
The appointments arrive in line with D&AD’s Creativity is Alive manifesto, which challenges creatives, brands, and studios to demonstrate that creativity is alive through action, making, and world-class work. Having Asian practitioners at the judging table — not just as entrants, but as arbiters of excellence — is precisely that kind of action.
Here are the Asian jury members for D&AD Awards 2026
Art Direction
- Yoshihiro Yagi: Executive Creative Director/Growth Officer, Dentsu Japan, Japan (Jury President)
Animation
- Suresh Eriyat: Founder and Creative Director, Studio Eeksaurus, India
Book Design
- Jordan Marzuki: Editorial Designer, Jordan Édition, Indonesia
- Qian Jiang: Co-founder, Qu Minmin + Jiang Qian, China
Brand Identity Refresh
- Chon Hin Au: Graphic Designer and Creative Director, Untitled Macao, Macao
- Akiko Sekimoto: Graphic Designer and Art Director, HIDAMARI, Japan
Brand Transformation
- Chi-An Benjamin De Leo: Partner and Chief Executive Officer, Base, Vietnam
Casting
- Nottapon Boonprakob: Director, underDOC Film, Thailand
Cinematography
- Senzo Ueno: Director of Photography, Pa-ka-, Japan
Commerce
- PG Aditya: Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Talented.Agency, India
Creator Content
- Akanksha Goel: Regional Lead for the Middle East and India / Founder and CEO, We Are Social – Socialize, UAE (Jury President)
Digital Experience Design
- Kaoru Sugano: Co-Founder and Creative Director, Tsuzuku, Japan
- Raymond Chin: Chief Creative Officer, Innovation, APAC, VML, Singapore
Digital Marketing
- Amber Liu: Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, LEO Digital Network, China
- Firrdaus Yusoff: Executive Creative Director, 72andSunny Singapore, Singapore
- Soo Hee Yang: Chief Creative Officer, VP, Publicis Groupe Korea, South Korea
Entertainment
- Josy Paul: Chief Creative Officer and Chairperson, BBDO Group India, India
- Paul Chan: Chief Creative Officer, Cheil, Hong Kong
Experiential: Activation and Participation
- Kainaz Karmakar: Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy and Mather Mumbai, India
- Sitta Chandarawong: Creative Group Head, SOUR Bangkok, Thailand
Film
- Seulki Lee: Executive Creative Director, Cheil Worldwide, South Korea
- Badong Abesamis: Founding Partner, GIGIL, Philippines
Future Impact, Impact, Sustained Impact
- Shraddha Tawate: Senior Vice President, Strategy, Klick Health, Singapore
Gaming and Virtual Worlds
- Mena Kato: Managing Director, Xbox Asia, Japan
Graphic Design
- Naomi Hirabayashi: Art Director and Graphic Designer, PLUG-IN GRAPHIC, Japan (Jury President)
- Eric Zhu Decai: Art Director, Shenzhen Fringe Art Center, China
Health
- Pierre Loo: Executive Creative Director, APAC and China, Omnicom Health, Hong Kong
Luxury
- Justina Zun-Zun Chang: Global Integrated Art Director, HAKUHODO Inc, Japan
Magazine and Newspaper Design
- Jessie Chiuhui Chen: Creative Director and Publisher, Way2Creative, Taiwan
- Henricus Linggawidjaja: Creative Director, Artnivora, Indonesia
Media
- Freda Shao: Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, Dentsu Taiwan, Taiwan
- Sanchita Roy: Chief Strategy Officer, Havas Media Network India, India
Packaging Design
- Katrina Crescenzo: Associate Creative Director, Lonsdale Design Singapore, Singapore
- XiongBo Deng: Founder and Creative Director, Shenzhen Lingyun Creative Packaging Design Co., Ltd, China
PR
- Tomoko Akizawa: Managing Director, MSL Japan, Japan
Press and Outdoor
- Reed Collins: Chief Creative Officer APAC, Ogilvy Singapore, Singapore (Jury President)
- Pallavi Chakravarti: Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Fundamental, India
Product Design
- Shun Ishikawa: Founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer, KESIKI inc., Japan
Production Design
- Yimeng Zhang: Managing Partner and Executive Producer, Hamlet Shanghai, China
Sound Design and Use of Music
- Junya Terui: Executive Producer and MD, MassiveMusic Tokyo, Japan
- Peiqi Duan: Sound Designer, Tencent, China
Spatial Design
- Virginia Lung: Founder and Design Director, One Plus Partnership Limited, Hong Kong
Sustained Impact
- Harsh Kapadia: Chief Creative Officer, Grey Worldwide India, India
- Mukund Olety: Chief Creative Officer, VML/WPP, China
Type Design and Lettering
- Sueh Li Tan: Founder and Type Designer, hrftype, Malaysia
Typography
- Liu Zhao: Creative Director, another design, China (Jury President)
- Felix Sng: Design Director and Lecturer, SWELL / LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore
Writing for Design
- Pann Lim: Co-Founder and Creative Director, Kinetic Singapore, Singapore
D&AD COO Donal Keenan underscored the significance of a jury built by practitioners, for practitioners: “As a global non-profit, D&AD exists to uphold creative standards for the industry. The Awards are judged by creatives, for creatives and this year’s jury reflects the reality of how great work is made today, while maintaining the rigour and integrity that have defined D&AD for more than six decades.”
D&AD President and Uncommon Global Chief Design Officer Lisa Smith added: “Creativity thrives when it’s actively supported, challenged and put into practice. This year’s jury brings together people who are deeply involved in making great work happen and who understand the responsibility that comes with recognising and championing creative excellence.”
Live judging takes place from 17–20 May 2026, with winners announced on 20 May. The D&AD Festival follows on 19–20 May across London’s Southbank, featuring Insight Sessions, keynote talks, and the Yellow Pencil Showcase. The Black Pencil, President’s Award, and Company of the Year will be celebrated separately in September 2026.
See the complete list of the D&AD Awards 2026 jury here.
