Bookmark this Talent: 18 self-made US creatives
Meet the new talent making waves following their graduation from Shift, our industry led night school
Four months, 18 Shifters, two pitches and one Showcase later - introducing the New Blood Shift New York Class of 2020/21.
New Blood Shift New York is D&AD’s free industry-led night school for emerging creatives without a college degree. Shift gives its new creatives a serious industry in, compelling them to make the creative work of their lives. Workshops and talks are delivered directly from pros at the top of their game, with learning backed up by real client briefs. This year, Shift was delivered online, with industry experts from New York's top brands and agencies delivering two night-school sessions a week from October 2020 to February 2021.
Our Shifters embraced four-months of online learning with over 15 creative agencies, across multiple disciplines from creative direction and design thinking to pitching, strategy and creative thinking. This class of 18 self-made creatives worked with adidas and Spotify on two real-life creative briefs, as well as a ‘brief-in-a-day’ challenge. They were challenged with real world creative and strategic questions, such as how to engage Gen Z with podcasts, and how to raise awareness around a genderless clothing initiative.
"I feel more confident in what I want to do, and I actually have an idea of where in the industry I want to be as well"
Having nailed the briefs and impressed their clients, the Shifters are now leaving the programme ready to apply their skills to the industry and here’s your opportunity to see what they’re made of. A showcase of the Shift New York graduates took place virtually this year, with an evening of networking and celebration with some of New York's finest creative minds. If you missed it, we've collated all the need-to-know information on this up-and-coming talent for you over on our New Blood Shift New York.We encourage you to reach out to this multidisciplinary group, who are currently seeking opportunities in the US.
Shift gave participants a not only practical skills and strong portfolios, but a whole new optimistic perspective on their budding careers. Roxanne Castro, a class of 2021 Shift graduate, said: "I was at a crossroads of where I wanted to be in my career, and right now I’m in a different space, I feel more confident in what I want to do, and I actually have an idea of where in the industry I want to be as well. I’m so happy this programme came at this time despite the challenges we are facing today."
