A day in the life with content creator Alysa Browne
Spend the day on set for McDonald's All American Games with a Wieden+Kennedy art director
10 Years of D&AD Shift
No degree? No problem. Creativity doesn't have one face. One name. One job.
It doesn't speak a certain way, come from a certain place or have a certain degree (it may be better without).
Creativity is like the sun: it rises everywhere. In every street in every city and in every town. Even those roads with just one house and more sheep than people.
So if you think creativity is dead, maybe you’re just not looking in the right places.
Because creativity is everywhere.
For ten years, D&AD Shift has been helping all kinds of people from all walks of life get into the rooms that matter. Check out our Shift Edition to learn more about the creatives who have kickstarted their careers and found lifelong community through Shift. We've collated videos, interviews and portfolios from our Shifters based in London, New York, São Paulo, Sydney and Germany.
Whether you’re here to break in or give back, the doors are open.
D&AD Shift. Creativity is everywhere.
Images by Xavier Duah, D&AD Shit New York alum
Meet D&AD Shift New York alumni
"Applying to D&AD Shift was divine timing. Someone shared the application link with me and basically said, "you should do this." At the time, I was searching for creative community and direction, and Shift ended up becoming all those things for me and more."
- Meilei Paet- De Silva (right), freelance art director and videographer, D&AD Shift NY 2022
“The best thing I took away from D&AD Shift was the people. I met some inspiring creatives that challenged me and made me better. Secondly, I learned how to collaborate with those creative peers and make the work better. I had been creating in a vacuum for so long before Shift; my whole world opened up when I found my people.”
- Dane Philip (top right), Group Art Supervisor, AREA 23, D&AD Shift NY 2020
“My biggest takeaway from Shift was realising how quickly a total stranger can become like chosen family while navigating these shared creative experiences. There were times when we had to lean on each other, not just to get work done, but to be a shoulder to cry on, or bring laughter to tense situations. It's encouraging to know that you haven't met all the people who will support you, or collaborate with you yet, but they reveal themselves over time in spaces like Shift.”
- Curt Saunders (left), co-founder, SALEM, D&AD Shift NY 2024
"Applying to D&AD Shift was divine timing. Someone shared the application link with me and basically said, "you should do this." At the time, I was searching for creative community and direction, and Shift ended up becoming all those things for me and more."
- Meilei Paet- De Silva (right), freelance art director and videographer, D&AD Shift NY 2022
“The best thing I took away from D&AD Shift was the people. I met some inspiring creatives that challenged me and made me better. Secondly, I learned how to collaborate with those creative peers and make the work better. I had been creating in a vacuum for so long before Shift; my whole world opened up when I found my people.”
- Dane Philip (top right), Group Art Supervisor, AREA 23, D&AD Shift NY 2020
“My biggest takeaway from Shift was realising how quickly a total stranger can become like chosen family while navigating these shared creative experiences. There were times when we had to lean on each other, not just to get work done, but to be a shoulder to cry on, or bring laughter to tense situations. It's encouraging to know that you haven't met all the people who will support you, or collaborate with you yet, but they reveal themselves over time in spaces like Shift.”
- Curt Saunders (left), co-founder, SALEM, D&AD Shift NY 2024
"Applying to D&AD Shift was divine timing. Someone shared the application link with me and basically said, "you should do this." At the time, I was searching for creative community and direction, and Shift ended up becoming all those things for me and more."
- Meilei Paet- De Silva (right), freelance art director and videographer, D&AD Shift NY 2022
“The best thing I took away from D&AD Shift was the people. I met some inspiring creatives that challenged me and made me better. Secondly, I learned how to collaborate with those creative peers and make the work better. I had been creating in a vacuum for so long before Shift; my whole world opened up when I found my people.”
- Dane Philip (top right), Group Art Supervisor, AREA 23, D&AD Shift NY 2020
“My biggest takeaway from Shift was realising how quickly a total stranger can become like chosen family while navigating these shared creative experiences. There were times when we had to lean on each other, not just to get work done, but to be a shoulder to cry on, or bring laughter to tense situations. It's encouraging to know that you haven't met all the people who will support you, or collaborate with you yet, but they reveal themselves over time in spaces like Shift.”
- Curt Saunders (left), co-founder, SALEM, D&AD Shift NY 2024
Insights
A day in the life after Shift
A day in the life with content creator Alysa Browne
Spend the day on set for McDonald's All American Games with a Wieden+Kennedy art director
A day in the life with content creator Alysa Browne
Spend the day on set for McDonald's All American Games with a Wieden+Kennedy art director
Insights
Interviews
From designing casting flyers to art directing Bad Bunny in Tokyo
D&AD Shift alum Kibria Chavez on building a creative career without a blueprint
From dropping out of school to exhibiting work at the Barbican, the Southbank Centre and Chanel
D&AD Shift London alum and WPP Creative Technologist Razik Darji explains how he does it all
From designing casting flyers to art directing Bad Bunny in Tokyo
D&AD Shift alum Kibria Chavez on building a creative career without a blueprint
From dropping out of school to exhibiting work at the Barbican, the Southbank Centre and Chanel
D&AD Shift London alum and WPP Creative Technologist Razik Darji explains how he does it all
From designing casting flyers to art directing Bad Bunny in Tokyo
D&AD Shift alum Kibria Chavez on building a creative career without a blueprint
From dropping out of school to exhibiting work at the Barbican, the Southbank Centre and Chanel
D&AD Shift London alum and WPP Creative Technologist Razik Darji explains how he does it all
Images by Rhys Williams
Meet D&AD Shift London alumni
"Throughout Shift, I learned about so many different creative roles, and I realised just how vast the creative industry really is - vast enough that I could keep exploring, follow my curiosity, and dive deep into its different disciplines and tools."
- Justin Anvari (middle), design intern, Bloom, D&AD Shift London 2025
"D&AD and Shift are really important to the industry because they hold up a mirror to everyone in the creative world, no matter what they do. But we can do better - we can create more accessible pathways into the creative space. What makes it so important is that it gives people who maybe didn't go to the right school, or didn't go to school at all, the opportunity to learn what they're capable of and how they can move their career forward."
- Lanre Adeleye (left), global media and agency management, HSBC and D&AD Trustee, D&AD Shift London 2022
"Shift helped me build so many different relationships and connections - and even now, years later, you're still meeting people, still coming across new faces. I think D&AD is like a badge of verification: people trust that you have a certain level of competency. After Shift, I went on to work at We Are Social."
Seun Areoye, freelance editor, D&AD Shift London 2019
"Throughout Shift, I learned about so many different creative roles, and I realised just how vast the creative industry really is - vast enough that I could keep exploring, follow my curiosity, and dive deep into its different disciplines and tools."
- Justin Anvari (middle), design intern, Bloom, D&AD Shift London 2025
"D&AD and Shift are really important to the industry because they hold up a mirror to everyone in the creative world, no matter what they do. But we can do better - we can create more accessible pathways into the creative space. What makes it so important is that it gives people who maybe didn't go to the right school, or didn't go to school at all, the opportunity to learn what they're capable of and how they can move their career forward."
- Lanre Adeleye (left), global media and agency management, HSBC and D&AD Trustee, D&AD Shift London 2022
"Shift helped me build so many different relationships and connections - and even now, years later, you're still meeting people, still coming across new faces. I think D&AD is like a badge of verification: people trust that you have a certain level of competency. After Shift, I went on to work at We Are Social."
Seun Areoye, freelance editor, D&AD Shift London 2019
"Throughout Shift, I learned about so many different creative roles, and I realised just how vast the creative industry really is - vast enough that I could keep exploring, follow my curiosity, and dive deep into its different disciplines and tools."
- Justin Anvari (middle), design intern, Bloom, D&AD Shift London 2025
"D&AD and Shift are really important to the industry because they hold up a mirror to everyone in the creative world, no matter what they do. But we can do better - we can create more accessible pathways into the creative space. What makes it so important is that it gives people who maybe didn't go to the right school, or didn't go to school at all, the opportunity to learn what they're capable of and how they can move their career forward."
- Lanre Adeleye (left), global media and agency management, HSBC and D&AD Trustee, D&AD Shift London 2022
"Shift helped me build so many different relationships and connections - and even now, years later, you're still meeting people, still coming across new faces. I think D&AD is like a badge of verification: people trust that you have a certain level of competency. After Shift, I went on to work at We Are Social."
Seun Areoye, freelance editor, D&AD Shift London 2019
Images by Rhys Williams
📸 in London
"Shift is about the confidence to be in a room and truly feel like you belong there. We all second-guess ourselves, wondering why we're there, thinking others have more experience - but the main thing is just owning the space you're in."
- Catherine Moriarty (left), Junior Creative, Burson, D&AD Shift London 2024
“Shift brings people who have completely different processes or are not aware of processes that already exist, so those processes don't impact their [own] process, and just allow almost like continuous and fresh ways of working to enter the industry in a way that’s meaningful.”
- Seun Areoye, editor, D&AD Shift London 2019
“My message to the creative industry is don't sleep on Shift. Don't even sleep on New Blood, there are so many talented people who fall through the cracks because there's no one watching, and I feel like everyone should be watching."
- Lanre Adeleye (right), global media and agency management, HSBC and D&AD Trustee, D&AD Shift London 2022
"Shift is about the confidence to be in a room and truly feel like you belong there. We all second-guess ourselves, wondering why we're there, thinking others have more experience - but the main thing is just owning the space you're in."
- Catherine Moriarty (left), Junior Creative, Burson, D&AD Shift London 2024
“Shift brings people who have completely different processes or are not aware of processes that already exist, so those processes don't impact their [own] process, and just allow almost like continuous and fresh ways of working to enter the industry in a way that’s meaningful.”
- Seun Areoye, editor, D&AD Shift London 2019
“My message to the creative industry is don't sleep on Shift. Don't even sleep on New Blood, there are so many talented people who fall through the cracks because there's no one watching, and I feel like everyone should be watching."
- Lanre Adeleye (right), global media and agency management, HSBC and D&AD Trustee, D&AD Shift London 2022
"Shift is about the confidence to be in a room and truly feel like you belong there. We all second-guess ourselves, wondering why we're there, thinking others have more experience - but the main thing is just owning the space you're in."
- Catherine Moriarty (left), Junior Creative, Burson, D&AD Shift London 2024
“Shift brings people who have completely different processes or are not aware of processes that already exist, so those processes don't impact their [own] process, and just allow almost like continuous and fresh ways of working to enter the industry in a way that’s meaningful.”
- Seun Areoye, editor, D&AD Shift London 2019
“My message to the creative industry is don't sleep on Shift. Don't even sleep on New Blood, there are so many talented people who fall through the cracks because there's no one watching, and I feel like everyone should be watching."
- Lanre Adeleye (right), global media and agency management, HSBC and D&AD Trustee, D&AD Shift London 2022
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