The creative’s guide to commanding the machine for better craft: D&AD Festival 2026 AI Accelerator

In recent years, the creative industry has witnessed the rapid progression of artificial intelligence. While many creatives fear that AI might replace their roles due to the ease of generating content from a single prompt, the D&AD Festival views the technology as a partner rather than a replacement.

The AI Accelerator is a hands-on session designed to demonstrate how AI can amplify creativity without compromising the integrity of craft. This program encourages attendees to shift from apprehension to adoption, treating AI as a powerful tool within their creative arsenal. Participants will experience live demonstrations on how these tools can enhance creative thinking and streamline productivity.

Taking place on May 20, 2026, at the Purcell Room in the Southbank Centre, London, at 4:00–5:00 p.m., this session will provide attendees with a clearer understanding of the future trajectory of artificial intelligence.

The session will begin with an opening remarks by Becky McOwen-Banks, Founder of Plain:ai, followed by four consecutive sessions:

First look: The D&AD AI Report 2026

Presented by Shutterstock Studios, this session offers attendees an exclusive early preview of the next D&AD AI Report, which shares emerging themes and fresh insights on the role of AI in the creative industry.

Set out without fear

When integrating AI into the creative process, it is important that technology does not completely overshadow the human element. In this session, Laura Jordan Bambach, Founder and CCO of Uncharted, shares practical tips on how to properly integrate AI and explores how creatives can experiment with these tools to enhance their original ideas.

From hype to hands-on craft

This session explores how AI is embedded into creative processes, acting not as a replacement for craft but as a tool to enhance it. Wesley ter Haar, Co-founder and Chief AI Officer of Monks, provides an honest assessment of where AI adds value in ideation, production, and scaling, while also addressing where the technology currently falls short.

From brief to Super Bowl in three weeks  

The Super Bowl is the grandest stage in both sports and advertising. In this session, Rodrigo Sobral of OLIVER and Scott Herring go behind the scenes to dissect how OLIVER and NetApp transformed a brand strategy into a high-stakes campaign, eventually earning them the AI Ad of the Week.

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 festival@dandad.org.

adobo Magazine is an official media partner of the 2026 D&AD Festival.

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