D&AD New Blood Awards 2027

The D&AD New Blood Awards are the world's best-known student awards in design and advertising. Every year, D&AD and partner brands publish real creative briefs, and students and emerging creatives around the world respond with campaigns, identities, illustrations, products and digital ideas. The 2027 briefs go live in October 2026, the entry site opens at the end of January 2027, and the deadline is 11 March 2027 at 17:00 GMT.

Winners receive a D&AD Pencil, one of the most respected awards in the creative industries, and the ceremony takes place on 30 June 2027.

Who Can Enter the D&AD New Blood Awards?

• Students enrolled on a recognised full-time or part-time further or higher education course anywhere in the world on 1 January 2027
• People over 18, not employed in the creative industries, who have worked less than six months in paid creative roles
• Teams of up to five people, if every member is eligible and registered

It is particularly relevant to graphic design, illustration, advertising, branding, digital and product design students, and to self-taught creatives starting out.

What Can You Enter?

Responses to the published briefs. You can answer as many briefs as you like, and submit more than one response per brief. Each brief explains the brand's problem, the audience and what to submit.

Entry Fees

£15 per entry, paid at checkout. The fee is per entry, not per person. You can enter for free with a voucher code, earned by completing the entrant survey.

What Do Winners Receive?

• D&AD Pencils: Wood, Graphite, Yellow and White, awarded by the judges
• The Black Pencil: for the very best work, with a shared £2,000 bonus
• Visibility with agencies, studios and brands that look to New Blood for new talent

Submission Requirements

Register before entering, then upload your work through the entry site from the end of January 2027. Each brief lists its required format; most ask for a short presentation board or a video that explains the idea.

Why Enter?

A New Blood Pencil is recognised across the global creative industry and often opens doors to internships and first jobs. Even without a win, working to a real brief with real constraints is excellent portfolio material.

How to Answer a Brief

Start with the problem, not the medium. Read the brief several times, identify the single insight you want to build on, and make sure your idea answers it. Judges see thousands of entries, so your board or video must explain the idea in seconds: one clear headline, the key visuals and a short explanation of how it works. Craft matters too; typography, illustration and layout should be as strong as the idea.

About D&AD

D&AD is a UK-based non-profit that celebrates creative excellence. Its professional awards are among the most respected in design and advertising, and New Blood is its programme for the next generation of creatives.

Things to Consider

• Pick briefs that suit you: you can enter as many as you like.
• Work in a team: up to five people.
• Use the free voucher: complete the entrant survey.
• Deadline: 11 March 2027 at 17:00 GMT.

Enter the Competition

Ready to take on a brief?

Enter the D&AD New Blood Awards

For the briefs, rules and entry site, visit the official D&AD website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 28, 2026