Coinbase's 'Your Way Out' Coinbase, Isle of Any By Brittaney Kiefer --> A Coinbase campaign set in a video game universe won two D&AD Black Pencils, one of the most prestigious accolades in the ad industry.
This year, D&AD awarded four Black Pencils, its top prize “reserved for work considered truly groundbreaking in its field,” per the organization. The winners were revealed at a ceremony in London on Wednesday (Sept. 23).
Coinbase’s “Your Way Out,” created by independent agency Isle of Any, received two Black Pencils for visual effects and production design. The ad, which ran during the 2026 Academy Awards, was set in a video game world but built with traditional craft to encourage people to break away from restrictive financial systems. It also won the Film Craft Grand Prix at Cannes Lions in June.
Skincare brand The Ordinary and Uncommon Creative Studio won a Black Pencil for art direction for “The Periodic Fable,” which debunked harmful marketing language in skincare by replacing elements of the periodic table with beauty buzzwords. The campaign also won the Cannes Lions Health & Wellness Grand Prix this year.
Finally, insurer AXA and Publicis Conseil took home a Black Pencil for impact with “Three Words,” which changed home insurance policies by adding assistance for those escaping domestic violence. The project has previously won big at other industry awards, including the Cannes Lions Creative Effectiveness Grand Prix this year and the Titanium Grand Prix last year.
D&AD named Uncommon Creative Studio London as Advertising Agency of the Year, while Isle of Any won Independent Agency of the Year, and Ogilvy was Agency Network of the Year.
Apple took home the Brand of the Year title, and Unilever was named Client of the Year.
Dutch graphic designer Irma Boom, known as the “queen of books” for her book designs, received the 2026 D&AD President’s Award, an honor given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry.
Brittaney is Adweek's creative editor based in London.
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