When is a library also a Trojan Horse? When it’s built in Minecraft as a way to slip uncensored articles into countries known for suppressing media coverage.
“The Uncensored Library,” launched in 2020 as both a global collection of uncensored news articles and a promotional tool for advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, today was honored with several of the top honors at the ADC’s 100th annual awards show.
Created by DDB Germany, MediaMonks Hilversum and Blockworks London, the virtual library was built entirely in Minecraft, where players around the world could interact with articles embedded into the game—while sidestepping local government censors.
The project received the ADC Black Cube for Best of Show along with the awards program’s Designism Cube, five golds and one bronze. DDB Germany was named Agency of the Year, and parent DDB Worldwide was named Network of the Year.
“The Uncensored Library” also this week won Best Cause Related Experiential Activation in Adweek’s Experiential Awards.
Founded as The Art Directors Club, ADC merged with creativity nonprofit The One Club in 2016, and ADC Awards are now announced shortly before One Show honors, coming later this week.
Other top ADC honorees this year included:
• Health agency The Bloc New York, recipient of two Fusion Cubes, a new honor this year aimed at the intersection of creative excellence and diversity.
• Burger King’s Moldy Whopper, which took home seven golds for agencies Ingo Stockholm, David Miami and Publicis Bucharest.
• Spotify’s in-house team, winner of six golds for its AI-powered “Alone With Me” experience featuring The Weeknd.
• The New York Times magazine, winner of five golds.
• The New Yorker, with four golds for its cover designs featuring work by Kadir Nelson, also honored in this year’s Adweek Creative 100.
