The D&AD Festival returns this year with the ultimate goal of celebrating creative excellence across advertising, design, and craft. To help attendees better appreciate creativity and learn from the industry’s best, the festival’s organizers have curated a dynamic lineup of activities.
Among these activities is the Creative Impact Accelerator, an immersive session on building the right conditions for creativity to deliver tangible, measurable business results.
Taking place on May 20, 2026, at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre in London, this session is open to brands and creatives who want to gain insights from research conducted by D&AD and System1, which uncovered the necessary conditions for creative success.
The morning session, hosted by D&AD Foundation Director Paul Drake, will feature panel discussions with experts, industry insights, and hands-on workshops to help attendees implement organizational changes that generate business impact and drive growth.
Check out the tracks and the speakers below:
Creativity as a business driver
10:15–10:45 a.m. BST
Research proves that creativity drives growth, yet while 93% of leaders recognize its value, only 22% feel their companies successfully turn ideas into solutions.
In this fireside chat, Katie Vanneck-Smith, CEO of Hearst UK, will discuss how she championed creativity to achieve success, reflect on past mistakes, and explore the significant changes she implemented to drive impact.
CMOs Speak – Safe doesn’t scale: how bold creativity wins
10:45–11:20 a.m. BST
In an ever-evolving landscape, playing it safe no longer guarantees you will stand out. Success requires taking risks and being bold with your ideas. However, this transition can be difficult to embrace without losing brand alignment.
This session is designed to address those challenges and ensure your work gets noticed in a crowded market.
The panel features Orlando Wood, Chief Creative Officer at System1; Katie Evans, Chief Marketing Officer at Burger King; and Tanja Grubner, Global Brand Director at Essity. The discussion will be moderated by Charlotte Williams, Co-founder of The Thought Partnership.
Trust arrives on foot and leaves on horseback: built to last
11:25 a.m.–12:15 p.m. BST
As is often said, communication is key, and strong relationships are proven to drive creative impact. In this session, attendees will learn how to communicate clearly, build trust quickly, and manage complex stakeholder dynamics.
Speakers for this session will be announced soon.
Building the conditions for creative excellence
12:15–12:50 p.m. BST
The greatest ideas — ones that are deeply appreciated and well-received — flourish when supported by a healthy working environment. Creating the right conditions is essential for sustained success.
The final track of the Creative Impact Accelerator explores how brands can build repeatable, scalable environments that foster creativity and ensure high-quality output.
The panel features David Lee, Chief Brand & Creative Officer at Squarespace; Karen Blackett CBE; Luiza Baffa, Global Director of Creative Studio at On; and Priya Matadeen, Brand Director at Mulberry. The session will be moderated by David Patton.
Tickets start at GBP 150 + VAT, which is available for purchase here. Discounts are available for students, charities/non-profits, freelancers, small businesses with under 10 employees, and retired people.
For more information, you may send an email to [email protected].
adobo Magazine is an official media partner of the 2026 D&AD Festival.
