An air of merriment filled the room of adfolk at the D&AD Awards, held on May 22 in London. Only this year's fête ventured beyond the usual plaudits and self-congratulatory backslaps synonymous with award shows. Bumper cars and fireworks shimmied alongside cocktails and handshakes as the D&ADs celebrated their big 4-0. Sorry, no cake.

Levi's "Twist" from Bartle Bogle Hegarty, London directed by Frank Budgen of Gorgeous was the big winner of the evening, taking home one gold and two silver awards. Michel Gondry's rhythmic promo for the Chemical Brothers "Star Guitar" was also a golden winner and a personal favorite of D&AD chief executive David Kester. As for an individual achievement, Budgen's work collected a tidy five awards.

Following a tough economic year, Kester says that submissions were down by around 12% from last year at just over 18,000. However, to qualify, he adds that last year's submissions were at an all time high. "To be honest, it was better than we expected. I think the awards held up extremely well. You couldn't look at any given area and say that the quality was not there," he continues, citing spots from Levi's, Stella, Skoda, and Fox Sports, and of course "Star Guitar," as exemplifying the D&AD criteria for excellence: good ideas that are well executed and appropriate.

Comedian Stephen Fry presided over the evening, which saw Paul Weiland of the Paul Weiland Film Company receive the President's Award for lifetime achievement. History was made with a D&AD first as Jonathan Ive, iMac designer and vice president of design at Apple, received his forth consecutive gold award for his revolutionary iPod design. Ive is the first-ever recipient of four gold awards, doubling the previous record of two.

Another first for the D&ADs was the inclusion of non-English language ads into the festival. Kester says that submissions from India, South America, Asian and European countries were received. As for the jury, led by foreman Marcello Serpa of AlmapBBDO, he says that, "the jury we selected was totally international and are very familiar with looking at work from many different countries and across different language borders."

Missing from this year's show was the annual symposium. In its place a special 3-month public exhibition on 40 years of design in advertising is being held in a yet-unnamed museum with a forthcoming companion book.

For a full list of nominees and winners, please visit http://www.dandad.org

GOLD AWARDS

Television and Cinema Advertising Crafts

Category: Direction
Title: Twist
Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty, London
Director/Production Company: Frank Budgen, Gorgeous
Client: Levi Strauss Europe, Middle East & Africa

Category: Direction - Music Videos
Title/Artist: Star Guitar - Chemical Brothers
Director/Production Company: Michel Gondry, Partizan
Client: Virgin UK

SILVER AWARDS

Television and Cinema Advertising

Category: up to :60
Title: Twist
Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty, London
Director/Production Company: Frank Budgen, Gorgeous
Client: Levi Strauss Europe, Middle East & Africa

Category: over :60
Title: Tag
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Portland
Director/Production Company: Frank Budgen, Gorgeous
Client: Nike

Category: Television Campaigns
Title: Leaf Blower / Boat / Nail Gun
Agency: TBWA\Chiat\Day
Director/Production Company: Baker Smith, Harvest Films
Client: Fox Sports

Television and Cinema Advertising Crafts

Category: Direction
Title: Sofa
Agency: Lowe, London
Director/Production Company: Frank Budgen, Gorgeous
Client: Reebok UK

Category: Cinematography
Title: Doctor
Agency: Lowe, London
Director/Production Company: DP Jan Velicky
Client: Interbrew UK

Category: Use of Music
Title: Freestyle Football
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam
Director/Production Company: Jeff Elmassian, Endless Noise
Client: Nike

Category: Animation
Title: Wolfman

Agency: TBWA\London
Director/Production Company: Tim Hope, Passion Pictures
Client: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

Category: Editing
Title: Adidas Performance
Agency: 180
Director/Production Company: John Smith / Jim Weedon, The Whitehouse
Client: Adidas

Category: Special Effects
Title: Twist
Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty, London
Director/Production Company: The Mill / Frank Budgen, Gorgeous
Client: Levi's

Category: Sound Design
Title: Freestyle Football
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam
Director/Production Company: Jeff Elmassian, Endless Noise
Client: Nike

Category: Sound Design
Title: Wolfman
Agency: TBWA\London
Director/Production Company: Tim Hope, Passion Pictures
Client: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

Category: Sound Design
Title: Freestyle Skateboard
Agency: Wieden + Kennedy, Amsterdam
Director/Production Company: Jeff Elmassian, Endless Noise
Client: Nike