As the South West Design and Digital Student Awards celebrates its 40th anniversary, a new generation of final-year university students are invited to step into the spotlight.
Founded in 1986 by Bristol creative agency Proctor and Stevenson, the awards were created with the aim to close the gap between education and the creative industries. What started as a small initiative to showcase promising student work has since become the region’s longest-running creative awards programme, helping emerging designers take their first step into their professional careers.
For many students, the awards represent the first moment their work is seen beyond the university studio, opening doors for them to agencies and creative employers, with many going on to build successful careers across the design, branding, advertising and digital industries.
Every year, the awards offer cash prizes, along with opportunities for networking, industry exposure, portfolio reviews, and a paid internship with Proctor and Stevenson.
Since their inception, the awards have helped to guide various design careers, and a past winner, Chris Robert, says that winning the 1994 awards helped to launch his own career:
‘As a result of the Design Awards and winning one of those awards that night, I was offered a job by one of the judges and also offered a job by Proctor and Stevenson. I took the job at Proctor and Stevenson and ended up working there for eight years. That really kickstarted my career actually. I am now a Creative Director at Dyson, where I’ve been for nearly 20 years.’
So, how can students enter?
The 2026 awards are open to final year students studying creative courses at universities in the South West of England and South Wales. The categories include Graphic Design, Digital Design, and Motion and 3D.
Students are encouraged to submit any project, including previous university work, provided it aligns with one of the three categories. It is free to enter, and students can view the full entry guidelines here. To enter, click here.
Entries are now open until 29th May 2026, and more information can be found on the website.
The 2026 ceremony will take place on 11th June at Watershed on the harbourside.
Will you apply for the SW Design and Digital Student Awards?
