A graduating BA (Hons) Illustration student from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has been named among the winners of the 2026 New Blood: The Portfolios competition by D&AD.
In Alesha Shukor, who graduates from AUB this week, was recognised for a portfolio website comprising her packaging design, surface design and book cover illustration work.
“My goal was to curate a portfolio that showcased my best work while ensuring it all looked cohesive,” Alesha explains. “Most of the work on my website stems from my final year at university, which was a pivotal period where I established my signature style.
“On my portfolio website, you will see my works for LUSH, Soulmade Café and a few other live briefs and commissions. My personal favourite, and by far the most challenging project I’ve done is the one titled ‘Lily’s Jazz Bar and Speakeasy’, which I created for my Final Major Project at university.
“It remains my most expansive project to date. I developed the entire brand identity from scratch, designing everything from the wine bottle packaging and menus to a large-scale accent wall mural. This allowed me to fully immerse myself in a realistic brief and push the boundaries of my illustration style.”
After graduation, Alesha is heading into an internship with London branding agency, Bloom; the result of a senior illustrator discovering her work on LinkedIn.
“I believe I still have an immense amount to learn and explore as a junior illustrator,” she says, “so I am intentionally avoiding boxing myself into a specific niche too early.
“While my long-term goal is to build a successful freelance career, I think it is crucial to first gain foundational, real-world experience navigating client relationships and collaborative environments within an in-house role.”
The highly competitive New Blood: The Portfolios recognises excellence in portfolio websites across disciplines including advertising, marketing, PR, animation, illustration, graphic design, digital design and commercial photography.
The winners and their portfolios are now featured on the D&AD website.
