Final-year Illustration BA Honours and Graphic Design BA Honours students from the University of Westminster have taken part in the New Designers (ND) 2025 exhibition, a two-week annual exhibition that brings together the best graduate design talent from across the UK.
The students exhibited their work during the second week of the show between 9-12 July. The pieces were created as part of their Final Major Projects, and for some, from ideas explored in the Sustainable Illustration Practice module. The module encouraged students to examine the art of creating visual representations to tell a story as an ethical, social and ecological practice, in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The students’ work ranged from reimagining folklore and traditions, such as Sri Lankan batik and Chinese medicine, to tackling personal and societal challenges like belonging, artist’s block, gender identity, AI in culture and misinformation. Each project reflected the students’ personal values and areas of passion, viewing their creative output not just as reflective, but as a driving force for shaping culture and influencing the future.
Held at the Business Design Centre in London, ND connects over 2,500 graduates across disciplines, including textiles, graphics and product design, with professionals in the design industry, businesses looking to bring in new design thinking, buyers aiming to source innovative craft and design as well as general consumers who are interested in seeing the latest trends in design.
Co-Course Leader of Illustration BA Honours Caroline Baruah said: “This year’s success at ND was marked by strong interest from both industry and community partners. Standout projects such as Amelia Anjum’s The Beauty of Palestine, Nathan Hunter’s Fragments of Now and Leandro Da Silva’s Bridges, which was selected for the external exhibition From Ashes to Blossoms: 80 years since Hiroshima, demonstrated the power of Illustration to connect with urgent and historical cultural themes. While emerging technologies push storytelling in exciting directions, the enduring relevance of Illustration for children and adult literature was clear in the work of Samuel Green, Joy Mpiana, Baoxi Qu, Ganisha De Abrew and Poovetha Gnaneswaran. This year’s show revealed Illustration as not only a mirror to society but a medium for healing and repair, with Kamil Sebaduka and Ilaria Scalise exploring the inner complexities of existence in our time while Emanuela Onadipe's Main Character Energy and Latifa Al Khalifa's Sandy Dreams prescribed positive fun to entertain.”
The students’ work towards the exhibition directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education, 12: Responsible Consumption and Production and 13: Climate Action. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Art, Design and Visual Culture courses at the University of Westminster.
