D&AD seeks to bring in diversity via New Blood Shift programme
D&AD is hoping to find new talent among the youth of London with the launch of a new programme that seeks to introduce more diversity into the creative industry.
Created in partnership with Leo Burnett New Blood Shift is a free 12-week night school run by industry experts that aims to reach those that haven’t got creative careers, either due to a lack of training or connections. Once the course is complete, mentorships and paid placements will be up for grabs.
Shift is open to young people aged between 18-26 who haven’t been to university but are creative people. This can take any form, from blogging to poetry, coding to Instagramming, writing music to painting, creating street art to illustration.
Paul Drake, foundation director, D&AD added said: “Diversity in the advertising and design industry is rightly a hot topic, but although many people are talking about it, we need more action. New Blood Shift is an ambitious project that we need the whole industry to get behind. We want to find undiscovered talent and give these young people the tools and placements to forge careers. To be successful we need the help of everyone in London to get the message out. If you know someone that might be perfect for this opportunity, please send them our way.”
Applications are open from today and potential applicants can apply here until the beginning of June. After all the applications have been assessed, up to 50 applicants will then be shortlisted for an exclusive exhibition that will take place in early July. From here, up to 15 of the applicants will be selected to go through to the night school which will begin in September and run for 12 weeks.