Lincoln creatives up for top marks in New Blood Awards
25 May 2016
A record number of creative students from the University of Lincoln, UK, have been nominated for this year’s prestigious Design & Art Direction (D&AD) New Blood Awards. The awards, which will be presented in July 2016 at a ceremony in London, are recognised as setting the standard for international creative excellence. This year a total […]
A record number of creative students from the University of Lincoln, UK, have been nominated for this year’s prestigious Design & Art Direction (D&AD) New Blood Awards.
The awards, which will be presented in July 2016 at a ceremony in London, are recognised as setting the standard for international creative excellence. This year a total of 14 students from Lincoln’s School of Architecture & Design have been nominated: 12 from the BA (Hons) Creative Advertising course and two from BA (Hons) Graphic Design & Illustration.
The Awards have been responsible for launching the careers of some of the creative industries’ most successful designers. Students respond to live briefs set by some of the world’s biggest brands, which this year included John Lewis, Amnesty International and Ford.
The Lincoln nominees are led by Tom Watkins, a final year Creative Advertising student, who is aiming for a second successive coveted Black Pencil.
Tom was one of only three designers to win this award last year after responding to a brief set by WeTransfer to “envision the person you’ll be in 10 years through illustration.” His poignant children’s book When I’m A Dad won wide acclaim.
This year Tom has put together a theme – entitled 3.57 – along with fellow nominee Ellen Thomas from a brief set by Amnesty International to promote the fight against injustice.
Mike Belton, Programme Leader for Creative Advertising at the University of Lincoln, said: “There are quite a number of student design competitions that advertising students can enter but a D&AD Pencil is always the most coveted trophy.
“Thousands of students globally enter the awards and the quality of work is very good indeed. The awards come in the shape of pencils, a Yellow Pencil is an equivalent of a gold award while a Black Pencil is equivalent of best in show.
“The University of Lincoln has a great history in this competition and we have students winning pencils or being runners up most years.
“Last year was a particularly good year because Tom Watkins, a second year student at the time, won a Black Pencil, the highest award of all. Let’s hope for more success from our nominated students this time.”
Tom said: “To win a D&AD Award gives us so much confidence, it opens so many new doors. It’s one of the best things that’s come from being at Lincoln.”
The New Blood Awards are open to any young creative aged 23 or under, in addition to current students and those within two years of graduation. The students work in pairs but each gains their own Pencil award.
Nominees from the BA (Hons) Creative Advertising course are: Jo Wilton, Matthew Holmes (Brief: Work-to-work), Carys Thomas, Phil Lecorgne (Words Command Attention), Hannah Bituin, Hope Alexander (Real Changes in Real Time), Cullen Farleigh, Olamide Soyemi (Ford Mentor), Ellen Thomas, Tom Watkins (3.57), Charlotte Robins, Nina Griffiths (‘Stand’ On Stage). BA (Hons) Graphic Design & Illustration are: Emily Price and Will Timney (Huddle).