D&AD NEW BLOOD AWARDS
Reaching global creative peaks: the Visual Communication Design department shines at the legendary D&AD New Blood Awards
A global benchmark for emerging creatives working across design, advertising, and visual communication.
D&AD NEW BLOOD AWARDS: A GLOBAL STAGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CREATIVE TALENT
Founded in London in 1962, D&AD – Design and Art Direction is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious international organisations celebrating excellence in design, advertising and visual communication. For emerging creatives, the D&AD New Blood Awards represent a global platform where students, illustrators, copywriters, art directors and digital designers respond to real-world briefs developed with leading international brands.
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Being recognised by D&AD means competing within an industry-focused framework where creative ideas are evaluated for originality, strategic thinking, execution and craft. The awards connect young talents with the standards of the global communication industry, offering visibility within a network shaped by some of the most influential figures in design and advertising, including names such as Neville Brody, Paula Scher, Sir John Hegarty and David Droga, alongside leading practitioners from the international creative community.
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Winning a D&AD Pencil is considered one of the most meaningful achievements for emerging talent, recognising projects that combine strong concepts, cultural relevance and professional-level execution.
This achievement confirms the strength of the Visual Communication Design programme, where students are encouraged to develop creative responses that connect research, technology, strategic thinking and contemporary visual culture.
THE BENCH MARKS by Maximilian Gatev, Laura Medina & Oskar Bruun (Switzerland, Colombia & Norway)
Developed within the Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communication Design, “The Bench Marks” by Maximilian Gatev, Laura Medina and Oskar Bruun, students at Istituto Marangoni Milano Design, won a Wood Pencil at the D&AD New Blood Awards 2026.
Created in response to a brief launched by Affinity and Canva, the project reimagines the traditional public bench as a space for dialogue and human connection. By transforming a simple urban object into a platform for interaction, The Bench Marks explores how design can encourage conversations and create shared experiences in an increasingly digital world.
Combining visual communication, social engagement and participatory design, the project demonstrates how creative solutions can transform everyday environments while addressing contemporary challenges through meaningful storytelling.
BE A CIRCLE by Stefano Rivera (Italy)
Selected from more than 6,000 international entries, Stefano Rivera received the Wood Pencil at the 2025 D&AD Awards.
Developed in response to a brief by British watchmaker Christopher Ward, “Be a Circle” explores circularity through a bold visual language and immersive art direction. The project stood out for its clarity, originality, and strong conceptual coherence.
Reflecting on the achievement, Stefano Rivera commented: “Working on the D&AD project was one of the best experiences during my journey in Istituto Marangoni Milano Design, and winning it even more. Going to London to the ceremony was a great learning experience by seeing other creative projects and meeting people in the industry from all over the world.”
BLOCKED PARTY by Avanti Talwar (India)
Created for Bacardí’s #DoWhatMovesYou campaign, “Blocked Party” received a Silver Pencil at the D&AD New Blood Awards.
The experiential campaign transforms an entire residential block into a distributed music festival, encouraging movement, social interaction, and collective participation.
Combining strategic thinking with strong visual storytelling, the project reimagines urban space as a platform for community-driven experiences.