Writing for D&AD: nul points

It's always nice to receive a big, fat new D&AD annual packed with interesting work. And the 2006 book, as you probably know, came out just recently.

However cynical you are about awards, you have to hand it to D&AD for remaining the pre-eminent arbiters of each year's greatest creative work.

Which makes it all the more annoying when they fall down on the basics, namely spelling and punctuation. Imagine my horror as I opened the Showreel DVD, only to see, on the menu, a category called 'Intergrated'. Ouch.

That's not the end of it, either. My designer clients at 300million have spotted some equally embarrassing slips, as posted on their newsblog.

Martin Lawless, the Creative Director, was one of the photography judges, and is admirably cross about what he calls a 'schoolboy error' in the quote they printed from him (left). Not only that, but they also managed to repeat the offence in the very next quote.

Dear oh dear. I haven't scoured every page of the Annual, but one wonders how many other blunders may be lurking therein. Tut. Go the back of the class, D&AD, and think about what you've done.

(I don't want to be accused of sycophancy, but you should have a look at 300million's blog. It's a great example of tone of voice: engaging, witty and, most importantly, completely true to the spirit of the place. And not a copywriter in sight, which is all a bit of a worry.)