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Every year, the D&AD New Blood Awards attract thousands of submissions from graduating students around the world.
The awards showcase the most impressive recent graduate work across design, advertising and craft. Winning a D&AD Pencil not only brings valuable exposure to the global creative industry, it can also serve as a powerful launchpad for a graduate’s career.
The competition features briefs developed in collaboration with leading global brands across a range of sectors.
Norwich’s winning entries for 2025, from our BA (Hons) Graphic Communication course, were:
Brief: Monotype, Wooden Pencil
England’s Right to Roam laws lag behind other progressive policies, creating tension between the public and the government. While England is seen as a rural country, most people are unaware of the restrictions limiting their freedom to explore nature. This campaign aims to highlight shocking statistics through typography-led visuals, making the issue tangible. By encouraging people to write to their MPs, the initiative seeks to drive meaningful change and expand access to outdoor spaces.
Brief: giffgaff, Wooden Pencil
This guerrilla campaign transforms giffgaff’s community-powered ethos into a satirical ‘cult’ that spreads the gospel of true mobile freedom. Through preachers, street graffiti and confession booths, we invite the public to experience what it truly feels like to be with giffgaff. Join us and experience true enlightenment!
Brief: giffgaff, Graphite Pencil
Once upon a giffgaff, aims to take the mystery out of mobile by marketing the goodness of giffgaff through the lens of a quirky magical cast of characters, and unexpected, interactive OOH advertising, as well as a comprehensive social media approach in a fun and fresh new take on giffgaff’s existing brand platform.
Brief: War Child, Graphite Pencil
This submission for Secret 7″ illustrates a vinyl cover for ‘Black Rain’ by Keane. The song communicates feelings of longing and uncertainty, through the metaphor of ‘black rain’, symbolizing emotional struggles or a sense of being lost. My design illustrates the focus of the song, ‘Black Rain’. I used repeated lines in a grid, but made them collapse in the center. This communicated the idea of rain as a literal piece of imagery, but also uncovered a conceptual way of seeing the design.
Having irregularly moving lines that communicate collapse or falling down links well to Keane’s message in the song. The links to mental and emotional struggle, uncertainty, fragility, and vulnerability are all communicated through the design.
Brief: War Child, Wooden Pencil
“Students from Graphic Design, Design for Publishing, Graphic Communication and User Experience Design have had huge success with D&AD New Blood Awards, and also with many other prestigious national and international competition schemes. These include: The Society of Publication Designers, Type Directors Club, Pentawards, World Brand Design Society, Adobe Design Achievement Awards, Firestarters, YCN, ISTD, Creative Conscience and BulletProof – to name but a few.
“These awards are incredibly hard to win. They are judged by external experts made up of professional creatives, art directors, senior designers, commercial clients and leading academics. Our students compete with their peers from other graphics courses all over the UK, and in some cases from courses all over the world.
“Winning these awards or being a runner-up is a true mark of excellence on the part of the student. It is also testament to the very high standards of teaching and learning on our courses, and the dedicated, passionate and experienced teaching team that nurture and support our students.
“Competitions of course, are not everything; there are many ways to excel and to reach one’s potential during and after their course. But what they do signal is a clear message to employers about the quality of a student’s work, and their readiness to join the creative industries.”
Congratulations go to all our 2025 D&AD winners. Explore more work from our BA (Hons) Graphic Communication students on our course page.
“Winning these awards or being a runner-up is a true mark of excellence on the part of the student. It is also testament to the very high standards of teaching and learning on our courses, and the dedicated, passionate and experienced teaching team that nurture and support our students.”
Alumni •
Norwich University of the Arts is deeply saddened by the passing of Professor Lady Rachel Cooper OBE, a valued member of the University’s Governing Body since 2018 and a distinguished leader in design research, innovation, and policy.
Read more about In Memory of Professor Lady Rachel Cooper OBE
Institution •
Norwich University of the Arts has officially opened Phase Two of its ambitious redevelopment at 20 Bank Plain — a landmark Grade II listed building in the heart of Norwich.
Read more about Norwich University of the Arts opens Phase Two of landmark Bank Plain building
Graduation •
Five leading figures from the fields of design, fashion, games and the visual arts will be awarded Honorary Professorships at the University’s graduation ceremonies next week.
Read more about Norwich University of the Arts announces five new Honorary Professors
Alumni •
Toby Hills, Senior Technician – Immersive & Virtual Production at Norwich University of the Arts, has been named Best Newcomer and awarded a prestigious Papin Prize during the UK Higher Education Technicians Summit (HETS) 2025 held this week.
Read more about Toby Hills Wins Prestigious Papin Prize at HETS 2025
Alumni •
Norwich University of the Arts is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Ben Stopher as its next Vice-Chancellor.
Read more about Professor Ben Stopher appointed next Vice-Chancellor
BA Animation •
This summer saw the launch of the University’s new Sustainability Awards, alongside nominations for Norwich students for a range of high-profile industry awards.
Read more about Celebrating award-winning student work at our Undergrad Festival – and beyond
International •
Gresham Global will act as the University’s official representative in India, widening access to world-class creative education.
Institution •
Dr Ellie Nixon and Dr Kirk Woolford have been recognised for their significant contributions to knowledge and high levels of academic achievement.
Read more about Norwich University of the Arts recognises two new professors
Alumni •
Richard Bracewell, Lecturer for BA (Hons) Film and Moving Image Production, worked with Norwich students and graduates to produce the Fens-based comedy.
Read more about Norwich lecturer celebrates world premiere of new film Chicken Town
Alumni •
Norwich University of the Arts has been ranked among the UK's top two specialist creative arts universities — and the highest outside London — in the 2026 edition of The Complete University Guide
Read more about Norwich University of the Arts moves up 25 places in The Complete University Guide
East Gallery •
We are delighted to offer two opportunities to join the University as an East Gallery Fellow – Creative Practice, for twelve months from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026
Institution •
The UK games industry is now worth a staggering £7.82 billion, with East Anglia poised to become the next major growth cluster
Research •
Norwich University of the Arts presents a series of live performances and immersive video installations as part of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
Read more about Norwich University of the Arts at Norfolk and Norwich Festival
Winners announced in two age categories 11-15 and 16-19, and two theme categories ‘Responsible Production and Consumption’ and ‘Gender Equality’.
Institution •
Norwich University of the Arts is making a bold and exciting move toward a more sustainable future.
Read more about The big switch on: Norwich University of the Arts powers up with solar energy
BA (Hons) Illustration •
Gabriella discusses how her creative practice and wider University experience has helped to manage and communicate topics around mental health.
Read more about In conversation with Gabriella Mason, BA (Hons) Illustration
Ignite your passion for exploring visual ideas and brand communication from real-world problems to commercial briefs, across print and digital.