Thirteen undertakings that captured my attention at D&AD New Blood

Thirteen undertakings that captured my attention at D&AD New Blood

In the vibrant world of creative arts, the D&AD New Blood Awards have once again shone a spotlight on the next generation of talented designers and artists. This year's competition saw a diverse range of projects from students across the UK, each demonstrating a unique approach to addressing various social, cultural, and environmental issues.

One standout project came from Ella Marsh, a student at Ravensbourne University London. Her campaign concept for Heinz x Crayola addressed food poverty and mealtime anxiety, winning her accolades at Dragon Rouge. The video she created, with its innovative suggestion of sending a scream to grab men's attention, certainly made an impact.

Megan Galey, a Graphic Communication student at Norwich University of Arts, also made a strong impression with her project focusing on Afghanistan and the silencing of Afghan women. Connie Dickinson, a Graphic Design student at the University of Central Lancashire, and Eliana-Skye Evans, a User Experience Design student at Norwich University of Arts, also presented thought-provoking projects.

Evans' project, a 'dark mode' that activates at midnight for Depop, aimed to create a more inclusive user experience for night owls. Meanwhile, Dickinson's project celebrated 90 years of Penguin Books with a special collection of the first ten titles ever published.

The D&AD New Blood Awards evaluate creative works based on several criteria, including the idea's creativity, originality, and impact, the understanding and depth of the idea in relation to the brief, and how well the idea is translated into a practical and effective solution.

Other notable entries included Phoebe Peel's graphic design project, J&C Create's playful campaign for Dunlop's tennis balls, Nia Benham's illustration project focusing on women's invisible labour, and Amika Hongo Rodger's exquisite book exploring a visual narrative of objects within the film Perfect Days.

Freya Snelling, an Illustration and Animation student at London Metropolitan University, impressed with her carefully crafted characters, while Veronika Russakova, a student at Nottingham Trent University, commented on UK fuel poverty through a large-scale knitted wall hanging.

Amelie O'Sullivan, a Graphic Design student at Arts University Bournemouth, and Hollie Tutt, creator of the moving gloved hand named Care & Attachment, also showcased their innovative projects. Tutt's creation was displayed above Peel's work, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the exhibition.

Grace Kirkham-Blair, another Graphic Design student at Nottingham Trent University, tackled a more sensitive topic with her project for a meal kit that addresses death and planning one's last meal.

These students, and many others, demonstrate the wealth of talent emerging from UK universities. Their innovative and thought-provoking projects show that the future of creative arts is in safe hands.

1. Ella Marsh's creative layout design, featuring a campaign for Heinz x Crayola, addressed food poverty and mealtime anxiety with an innovative animation concept.
2. Megan Galey's graphic design project focused on the silencing of Afghan women, highlighting a social issue through a powerful visual narrative.
3. Connie Dickinson, a graphic design student, celebrated 90 years of Penguin Books by reimagining the first ten titles with a unique 3D design touch.
4. Eliana-Skye Evans, a user experience design student, proposed a 'dark mode' for Depop to create a more inclusive user experience for night owls.
5. Phoebe Peel's graphic design project displayed a captivating illustration and animation style, showcasing a visual narrative of objects within the film Perfect Days.
6. Veronika Russakova, a student at Nottingham Trent University, used art and illustration to comment on UK fuel poverty, creating a large-scale knitted wall hanging.
7. Amelie O'Sullivan, a graphic design student at Arts University Bournemouth, showed her design prowess by developing a branding concept for a meal kit that addresses death and planning one's last meal.
8. Hollie Tutt, creator of the moving gloved hand named Care & Attachment, combined animation and sketch to create an intriguing piece that became a centrepiece at the exhibition.
9. Freya Snelling, an illustration and animation student at London Metropolitan University, demonstrated her innovative approach to character design with carefully crafted visuals.
10. Nia Benham's illustration project focused on women's invisible labour, using art as a vehicle for inspiration and dialogue about societal expectations.
11. J&C Create presented a playful graphic design project for Dunlop's tennis balls, demonstrating creativity in marketing and branding within the fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle sectors.
12. The home-and-garden and education-and-self-development fields also received attention from talented students, with projects ranging from poster designs to packaging concepts that reimagined everyday household and learning experiences.

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