Enzo Barracco - Photography Judge
Student Winner: Rocka-Red Hooper
Rocka-Red has masterfully captured a cutting-edge, fashion-forward aesthetic within an urban landscape, skillfully blending style and grit. His approach to posing and directing models is both inventive and nuanced, bringing a fresh perspective that heightens the visual narrative. The resulting atmosphere is rich with contrast and emotional tension, where elegance meets raw street energy.
Francesca Macaulay - Architecture Judge
Student Winner: Alexander Ray
Alexander Ray’s project stands out for its exceptional attention to detail, both in the interior and exterior design elements. His thoughtful recreation of an era, anchored by a nostalgic and culturally rich reference to Tiana’s Place from The Princess and the Frog, demonstrates a strong narrative approach and a clear design vision. The material palette is well-considered and cohesive, complementing the dynamic form of the building. This submission showcases a mature understanding of spatial composition, atmosphere, and storytelling through architecture.
Douglas Cox - Media Judge
Student Winner: Nurallisya Yazid
In Moon’s Reflection, Nurallisya has created a music video with a clear visual tone that aligns perfectly with the track it is accompanying. Engaging with an ambitious range of locations and variety of shot selections, along with a wonderful use of film burn effects in transitions, they have created a contemporary music video with a clear narrative structure that shows an accomplished directorial vision.
Sam Osborne – Fashion Judge
Student Winner: Sophie Ortiz
Sophie has done a really good job of taking abstract elements from her research subject and turning them into well-crafted and commercial elements that are well executed across her ranges.
The best example of this I think is her observation of the industrial machinery at the naval museum where her observational drawings clearly translate into her sample making process very effectively.
The way Sophie then executes these elements across her range plan into a number of different silhouette's shows that she has a strong sense of imagination when it comes to commercial narratives with a good sense of stylistic punctuation all the way through the collection.
There are some very good examples of skilled pattern work and sewing which are most evident in her 'refined relics' project where refined craft elements show clear hand skills and fine attention to detail.
The progress made throughout the course is impressive especially when it comes to subtle detail which when combined with contrasting silhouettes give the work a clear directional handwriting which I think sets a clear foundation for future development and progression.
Sophie is clearly a hard worker committed to tackling more abstract influences and turning them into well-crafted garments with assets of good commercial storytelling, I really hope she chooses to continue her studies further and think she would be an excellent candidate for a work placement in the couture field.
Phil Stilgoe - NextGen Judge
Student Winner: Sarah Ashworth
Sarah shows great adaptability in her work. A range of styles and influences can be seen and she has been able to act on and replicate those for her designs, visible in the Pixel art.
Sarah has done well to transition the characters from 2d concepts into 3d space, representing the volumes of the characters well, and shows a good understanding of the fundamental skills needed to move into the games industry, where they could flourish.
As well as the artistic elements, learning to code and immerse herself into the technical side of development has not phased Sarah. Again, excellent skills for working within a professional development environment.
Anna Laurini – Art & Design Judge
Student Winner: Larissa Mandi
I selected Larissa Mandi’s work for its powerful emotional impact and impressive range of technique. Her ability to communicate deep feeling through form, texture, and composition is striking. Each piece carries a strong sense of personal expression, drawing the viewer in with its honesty and subtle intensity. Her portfolio reflects both skill and sensitivity—qualities that made her work stand out.
Claire Lams - Performing Arts Judge
Student Winner: Kira Randerwalla
I was impressed by her vocal ability.; she sang with passion and her performance was engaging. In both the music video and her acting for screen clips she demonstrated subtle, believable emotion and I enjoyed her characterisation and versatility on stage.
Huge congratulations to Kira and the whole exhibition. It’s so inspiring to get a glimpse of the next generation of performers