World Brand Design Society
Student Design Awards
Winners 2025/26

The World Brand Design Society sincerely thanks all students and emerging creative talents who generously showcased their projects in the WBDS Student Design Awards 2025/26. A massive congratulations go to all the well deserving winners recognised this season.

This year’s WBDS Student Design Awards upheld an exceptional level of competitiveness, with judges and editors adhering to rigorous standards throughout the evaluation process. From hundreds of entries submitted by students worldwide, only 128 projects were selected for awards. The results include 1 Black, 9 Gold, 34 Silver, 56 Bronze, and 29 Commended Awards.

Design Education Institution of the Year

The WBDS Design Education Institution of the Year is awarded to San Diego City College from the United States, in recognition of sustained excellence in design education and student achievement throughout the 2025/2026 season. Congratulations to the San Diego City College faculty and students for their outstanding accomplishments once again.

Best Student Work of the Year

We are happy to announce this year’s Best Student Work of the Year is awarded to Katsiaryna Minchonak from HSE Art and Design School, Russia. Her Mallow Yogurt packaging and identity project demonstrates exceptional conceptual clarity, playful expression, and professional execution, earning 1st Place with Black and Gold Awards in Packaging Design: Product Creation.

Student of the Year

Tess Jordahl has been awarded Student of the Year following a season of outstanding work, distinguished by the exceptional quality and creative ambition of her Gold-winning project. Although multiple students achieved an equal total of 10 points, the judges placed particular emphasis on the depth and execution demonstrated in Tess’s Fleur de Vigne Les Saisons project.

The seasonally inspired Art Nouveau wine series presents a highly resolved approach to packaging design, combining refined visual language, thoughtful brand storytelling, and accomplished illustration. The project reflects a level of conceptual clarity and professional maturity that stood out across the student category, further supported by her wider body of award-winning work.

The judging panel also commended the consistently high standard of work submitted by Jaimie McKay, recognising the strength and quality present across this year’s student entries. A very close second.

Introducing a Refined ‘Student of the Year’ Process

As part of the ongoing development of the WBDS Awards, a refined process has been introduced for determining Student of the Year and the allocation of associated points. This updated approach places greater emphasis on the qualitative review of selected student work, supporting a more considered and well rounded assessment of creative achievement. Students submitting a minimum of five works within a season will now be eligible for consideration for this distinction.

Department and Institution Entry Licenses

Department and Institution Entry Licences are designed for Educators and Students who want to remove barriers to participation and ensure great work gets seen. For educators, a single licence allows your department or institution to submit Unlimited Student Entries across the full awards season, with no individual payments or admin hassle. For students, it means equal access to a respected global platform, eligibility for scholarships, and inclusion in the Global Design Education Ranking. It’s a straightforward way to support student ambition, recognise academic excellence, and showcase emerging talent internationally. Sign up here once a year and open the door for every student to take part.

WBDS Awards 2026/27

The World Brand Design Society – Student Design Awards reopen on the 1st of May and close on the 1st of December each year. WBDS continues to support students by promoting their work, achievements, and professional development throughout the year. Students may pre-register for the WBDS Awards and submit work for publication on the World Brand Design Society website year-round.. All students can pre register here.

→ WINNERS BADGES ←

 

World Brand Design Society
Best Design Education Ranking of 2025/26

World Brand Design Society – Best Design Education Ranking of 2025/26
WBDS Best Design Education Ranking of 2023/24 in 2018. As from the 2024/2025 season all points have been revised based on the following formula values: 1st = 5 points, 2nd = 4 points, 3rd = 3 points, Black = 5 points, Gold = 4 points, Silver = 3 points, Bronze 2 = Points, Commended = 1 Point. These points values are now added to all Best Design Education Ranking of 2023/24 and Global Design Education Ranking. Full Ranking can be found here.

 

Best Student Design Ranking 2025/26

San Diego City College leads the rankings, with points rising from 58 to 107 and total awards increasing from 25 to 53. HSE Art and Design School advances into 2nd place with 39 points, while Media Design School places 3rd. The British Higher School of Art & Design enters the top rankings at 4th, marking a notable performance this season.

The KPU Wilson School of Design drops from 2nd place to outside the leading positions, while RMIT University Vietnam moves from 8th to 5th. Universidad Iberoamericana climbs into 7th place, and Northern Arizona University enters the top rankings from outside the previous positions. ArtCenter Extension (ACX) debuts in 8th place, while Lehigh University remains relatively steady in the mid-table, demonstrating continued consistency.

The 2025/26 rankings reflect a dynamic student design landscape, with emerging talents making strong advances across disciplines.

World Brand Design Society
Global Design Education Ranking

 

Global Student Design Ranking

San Diego City College leads the rankings, with points rising from 131 to 238 and total awards increasing from 62 to 115. HSE Art and Design School advances into 2nd place with 153 points, while the British Higher School of Art & Design places 3rd. ArtCenter College of Design remains firmly in the top rankings at 4th, marking another strong season of performance.

The University of Hertfordshire holds steady in 5th position, while RMIT University Vietnam records one of the most notable climbs, moving from 16th place last year into 8th. The School of Visual Arts shifts slightly from 8th to 9th, maintaining a consistent presence within the upper tier. The KPU Wilson School of Design remains stable in 6th place, demonstrating continued consistency across both years.

BLACK
MARK WINNER

 

Katsiaryna Minchonak
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Packaging Design: Product Creation
1st Place, Black and Gold Award
WBDS Scholarship £2000

Katsiaryna Minchonak is awarded a Black Mark for her packaging design work, recognised for its exceptional conceptual strength and authoritative execution. The project sets a clear benchmark within Packaging Design: Product Creation, demonstrating a mature command of form, identity, and narrative that elevates student work to a professional standard.

 

GOLD
MARK WINNERS

 

Katsiaryna Minchonak receives a Gold Mark for her packaging design work, recognised for its clear conceptual direction and disciplined visual execution. The project demonstrates a strong understanding of form, identity, and product communication within a contemporary packaging context.

“Very notable and marketable design with fresh and playful graphics that possess maximum shelf appeal. Strong and engaging and a professional understanding of the market place”
– Paul Farrell (Judge)

“The connection between the graphic identity and the structural pack design is excellent, creating a unique and memorable brand. 
I hope that the sustainability aspect of the brand has been considered, as this wasn't mentioned in the entry.”
– Asa Cook (Judge)

Gizelle Farinas receives a Gold Mark for her packaging design work, recognised for its clarity, material sensitivity, and strong visual identity. The project demonstrates a considered balance between concept, category relevance, and contemporary brand expression.

“Gorgeous, and a unique design style. The tea sector is swamped with florals and brought colours, heritage and stuffiness. This brings an interesting and intriguing offering. Really well done.”
– Cat Mogford (Judge)

“Really beautiful work. The gothic direction feels refined and atmospheric without being over the top. The motifs, typography, and colour palette come together in a way that feels poetic, classic, and incredibly well-crafted. It’s a striking and memorable tea brand.”
– Hong Qiu (Judge)

Bastian Gasser and Florian Weger receive a Gold Mark for their mobile application design, recognised for its clarity of purpose and structured user experience. The project presents a thoughtful digital solution that aligns design, technology, and ethical consumption principles.

“Grit presents a compelling reframing of conscious consumption, supported by a clean and confident interface. This team also provides amazing videos to support the concept.”
– Clair (Sijing) Sun (Judge)

Tess Jordahl receives a Gold Mark for her packaging design project, recognised for its cohesive visual system and seasonal narrative. The work reflects a strong understanding of brand continuity, illustration, and typographic harmony within a wine packaging series.

“Absolutely gorgeous. Everything feels considered, deliberate, and beautiful. Art nouveau brought to 2025. The presentations are also good. And importantly, I can see these selling – finding a way to break through in a cluttered marketplace like wines is impressive.”
– Cat Mogford (Judge)

“The Fleur de Vigne wine labels are highly creative, using a refined, illustrative Art Nouveau style to convey elegance. The design is incredibly original by featuring hand-drawn illustrations that correspond to the four seasons, successfully creating a series with a sense of collectability.”
– Lisa Collier (Judge)

 

Takhmina Oripova is awarded a Gold Mark for a packaging concept that combines playful form with clear product storytelling. The work reflects creative confidence and a thoughtful approach to translating character-led ideas into a functional packaging solution.

Bold, playful, and instinctively right. The sculptural form creates immediate shelf impact while directly reinforcing product use and flavour logic. Confident, character-led, and thoughtfully functional, the concept transforms a simple condiment into a memorable, engaging retail experience with strong commercial potential.
– WBDS team (Editors)

Lisa Ulrich is awarded a Gold Mark for her single typeface design, recognised for its conceptual depth and typographic discipline. The work explores the relationship between technology and form, resulting in a contemporary display typeface with a distinctive visual voice.

More than just a font, Arko feels like a clear point of view, blending industry, future tech, and the human touch into one precise system. – Scott Buschkuhl (Judge)

Kim Juhee and Lee Yujin are awarded a Gold Mark for their product design work, recognised for its sensitive response to personal space and neurodiversity. The project demonstrates originality and conceptual maturity through its considered use of material, form, and function.

“Love this open-ended, exploratory interaction. It encourages critical thinking and self-awareness, demonstrating how experiential design can provoke insight and inspire new ways of understanding complex issues.”
– Qiqi Zhao (Judge)

This student team Ryen Muir, Amy Wood, Aston Gregory and Matthew Jackson from Media Design School are awarded a Gold Mark for their integrated graphic design project that demonstrates clarity, accessibility, and social relevance. The work reflects a strong collaborative approach and a clear understanding of user-centred communication.

“A thoughtful reframing of healthcare intervention that honors the dignity and agency of young patients through human-centered behavioral change - embedding clinical function within emotional design while reducing stigma, empowering children and caregivers, and offering a scalable, low-cost solution.”
– Jiwon Chong (Judge)

”This proposal is very special. It deals with a very relevant issue. Where relevance, good ideas, and good taste come together. Everything is just right.”
– Kitty Bertazzi (Judge)

”A worthy and innovative concept and highly commendable. Great consistent graphic treatment and comprehensive design thinking for a subject that needs attention, well done.”
– Paul Farrell (Judge)

”The design feels so engaging and inventive, with a strong educational aspect. It absolutely deserves recognition as an outstanding student project.”
– Zhongqi Fu (Judge)

Katsiaryna Minchonak
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Packaging Design: Product Creation
1st Place, Black and Gold Award
WBDS Scholarship £2000

Gizelle Farinas
San Diego City College
United States 

Packaging Design: Product Creation
4th Place and Gold Award
WBDS Scholarship £500

Tess Jordahl
San Diego City College
United States 

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Gold Award

Takhmina Oripova
British Higher School of Art & Design
Tajikistan

Packaging Design: Product Creation
2nd Place and Gold Award
WBDS Scholarship £1000

Kim Juhee,  Lee Yujin
Hongik University
Republic of Korea

Product Design: Other
5th Place and Gold Award
WBDS Scholarship £250

Ryen Muir , Amy Wood , Aston Gregory , Matthew Jackson
Media Design School
New Zealand

Graphic Design: Integrated
Gold Award

Lisa Ulrich
LCI Barcelona
Spain

Typography: Single Typeface Design
3rd Place and Gold Award
WBDS Scholarship £750

Bastian Gasser,  Florian Weger
FH Salzburg GmbH MultiMediaArt
Germany , Austria

Digital Design: Mobile Application
Gold Award
.

Will Gordon
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Gold Award

 
 
 

SILVER
MARK WINNERS

 

Jaimie McKay
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Abubakr Design
University of Westminster School of Media Arts & Design
United Kingdom

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Silver Award

Emma Gulij
San Diego City College
United States

Illustration: Interactive Design
Silver Award

Anna Barnett
San Diego City College
United States

Digital Design: Mobile Application
Silver Award

Will Gordon
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Nha Tran
RMIT University Vietnam
Viet Nam

Graphic Design: Integrated
Silver Award

Li Yijia
University of Hertfordshire
United Kingdom

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Monica Luu
Media Design School
New Zealand

Digital Design: Website Application
Silver Award

Valeria Gorbacheva,  Anastasia Alekseevskaya
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Anna Sáringer
Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest
Hungary

Product Design: Toys and Games
Silver Award

Yi-Chen Tseng
Royal College of Art
United Kigndom

Illustration: Interactive Design
Silver Award

Joseph Holson
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Benedict Allen
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Damian Cervantes , EJ Williams
Southern Utah University  
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Gizelle Farinas
San Diego City College
United States

Digital Design: E-Commerce
Silver Award

Benedict Allen
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Silver Award

Lisa Ulrich
LCI Barcelona
Spain

Digital Design: Mobile Application
Silver Award

Zai Thakoor
School of Visual Arts, New York
United States

Service Design: Social Impact
Silver Award

Ksenia Ivanova
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Packaging Design: Integrated Product Development
Silver Award

Alexey Kizerev
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Silver Award

Alan Osorio , Daniela Marquez , Paola Sanabria , Paula Maluf, Elena Ruiz , Eugenio Ortiz
Universidad Iberoamericana - Mexico

Product Design: Furniture
Silver Award

Eilish Neal , Scarlett Kang , Jayme Ducommun , Mehmet Gultekin , Jules Castillon – Media Design School
New Zealand

Advertising: Integrated Campaign
Silver Award

Poyu Chen
Pratt Institute School of Design
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

John Wise
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Silver Award

Marlene Arias Leon
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Saurav Harsh
University of the Arts London - London College of Communication – United Kingdom

Graphic Design: Other
Silver Award

Marlene Arias Leon
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Jazmyne Choi
ArtCenter Extension (ACX)
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Kadysheva Maria , Lafisheva Danizat
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Konstantin Aydinov
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Identity: Brand Redesign
Silver Award

Natalia Karpukhina
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Silver Award

Aston Gregory, Dearna Smith, Eilish Neal, Jules Castillon
Media Design School
New Zealand

Digital Design: Website
Silver Award

 
 

BRONZE
MARK WINNERS

 

Will Gordon
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Solène Trahand
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Redesign
Bronze Award

Bastian Gasser,  Florian Weger
FH Salzburg GmbH MultiMediaArt
Germany , Austria

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Alaka Shantakumar
Maryland Institute College of Art
United States

Packaging Design: Integrated Product Development
Bronze Award

Rita Wang
Washington University in St. Louis
United States

Identity: Brand Redesign
Bronze Award

Caitlin McGowan
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Integrated
Bronze Award

John Wise
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Joseph Holson
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Redesign
Bronze Award

Alexis Beaman
Northern Arizona University School of Communication - United States

Visualisation: Graphic
Bronze Award

Emma Gulij
San Diego City College
United States

Typography: Single Typeface Design
Bronze Award

Iris Zepezauer
Northern Arizona University School of Communication - United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Miroslava Morin
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Joseph Holson
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Marlene Arias Leon
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Iris Zepezauer
Northern Arizona University
United States

Visualisation: Graphic
Bronze Award

Andrea Nava Torres , Alexa Zomosa Martínez , Marian Vazquez Hurtado – Universidad Iberoamericana
Mexico

Visualisation: Interactive
Bronze Award

Jaimie McKay
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Mark Dabu
San Diego City College
United States

Digital Design: E-Commerce
Bronze Award

Anna Barnett
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Redesign
Bronze Award

Eva Morenets
Wilson School of Design
Canada

Identity: Brand Redesign
Bronze

Benedict Allen
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Redesign
Bronze Award

Noah Cousineau
ArtCenter College of Design
United States

Graphic Design: Poster
Bronze Award

Kristina Anastasidi
Shillington Graphic Design
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Alexa Rendon
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Other
Bronze Award

Hal Smith
University of Central Florida
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Viridiana Figueroa
Universidad Iberoamericana
Mexico

Graphic Design: Literature Publication
Bronze Award

Éva Pap
Budapest Metropolitan University
Romania

Typography: Graphic Design
Bronze Award

Sofia Pichevskaya
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Kiria Hekimian
Universidad Iberoamericana
Mexico

Product Design: Health and Wellness
Bronze Award

Alexa Rendon
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Other
Bronze Award

Alyson Wong Sze Shuen
The One Academy Penang
Malaysia

Identity: Brand Redesign
Bronze Award

Phoebee Lin (Yi-Hsuan)
ArtCenter College of Design
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Eunice Su, Sveva Michahelles,  Poyu Chen
Pratt Institute
United States

Packaging Design: Sustainable Development
Bronze Award

Lu Yang
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Australia

Digital Design: Platform
Bronze Award

John Wise
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Periodical Publication
Bronze Award

Jacques Megnizin
Syracuse University
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze

Alexa Rendon
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Other
Bronze Award

Mark Dabu
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Ekaterina Kolycheva
British Higher School of Art and Design
Russia

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze

Natalia Karpukhina
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Iris Zepezauer , Analise Talbot
Northern Arizona University
United States

Digital Design: Mobile Application
Bronze Award

Emma Gulij
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Periodical Publication
Bronze Award

Kristina Anastasidi
Shillington Graphic Design
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Jaimie McKay
San Diego City College
United States

Digital Design: E-Commerce
Bronze Award

Samantha Ablo
SAE University College - Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Identity: Brand Redesign
Bronze Award

Phoebee Lin (Yi-Hsuan)
ArtCenter College of Design
United States

Typography: Poster Design
Bronze Award

Şeyma Çelik
İhsan Doğramacı Bilkent University
Turkey

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Tess Jordahl
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Aubrey Lauer
Savannah College of Art and Design
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Tess Jordahl
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Bronze Award

Jaimie McKay
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Periodical Publication
Bronze Award

Ramyatara Mullapudi
California College of the Arts
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Bronze Award

Eilish Neal , Scarlett Kang , Jayme Ducommun , Mehmet Gultekin , Jules Castillon - Media Design School
New Zealand

Digital Design: Mobile Application
Bronze Award

 

COMMENDED
MARK WINNERS

 

Solène Trahand
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Commended Award

Gizelle Farinas
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Commended Award

Evee Grant
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Other
Commended Award

Marcie
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Commended Award

Renata Gutierrez-Garcia
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Commended Award

Jaimie McKay
San Diego City College
United States

Digital Design: Mobile Application
Commended Award

John Wise
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Redesign
Commended Award

Waylon Wilsey
Northern Arizona University
United States

Visualisation: Graphic
Commended Award

Jorge Benítez Luna,  Norma Díaz Enriquez,  Dafne Alemán Alcalá – Universidad Iberoamericana
Mexico

Visualisation: Interactive
Commended Award

John Wise
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Commended Award

Evee Grant
San Diego City College
United States

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Commended Award

Benedict Allen
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Periodical Publication
Commended Award

Tess Jordahl
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Refinement
Commended Award

Mark Dabu
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Redesign
Commended Award

Erika Tsukamoto
Nevada State University
United States

Product Design: Other
Commended Award

Alice De Bartolo
Università di Roma La Sapienza
Italy

Identity: Brand Redesign
Commended Award

Natalia Karpukhina
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Commended Award

Vasily Aleev
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Commended Award

Valeria Navas,  Elisabeth Vaqueros
Universidad Europea - Creative Campus
Spain

Typography: Single Typeface Design
Commended Award

Mark Dabu
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Commended Award

Nha Tran
RMIT University Vietnam
Viet Nam

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Commended Award

Caitlin McGowan
San Diego City College
United States

Graphic Design: Digital Applications
Commended Award

Charlotte Chyla
University of Hertfordshire
United Kingdom

Graphic Design: Periodical Publication
Commended Award

Tess Jordahl
San Diego City College
United States

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Commended Award

Emil Khusnutdinov
Istituto Marangoni
United Arab Emirates

Packaging Design: Product Creation
Commended Award

Gizelle Farinas
San Diego City College
United States

Digital Design: User Interface (UI) Design
Commended Award

Anastasia Beketova
HSE Art and Design School
Russia

Identity: Brand Design Creation
Commended Award

Tacey Grant
Northern Arizona University
United States

Visualisation: Graphic
Commended Award