Want to break into advertising, design or production? D&AD Shift London is open now

For creatives without a university degree, D&AD Shift London offers a free route into advertising, design and production – with live briefs, industry mentoring and past Shifters proving where it can lead. Applications close at midday on 19 July 2026.

D&AD Shift London is now open for applications, offering emerging creatives without a university degree the chance to build their portfolios, learn from working professionals and access a route into the creative industries.

Run by D&AD, the global non-profit championing design and commercial creativity, Shift is a free night school designed for talented people from non-traditional backgrounds. The programme prioritises applicants who do not hold a university degree, or are not currently studying towards one, supporting those who may not have had access to traditional higher education routes.

Across 120 hours of learning, selected Shifters will build their portfolios through in-person agency visits, sessions led by working creative professionals and live briefs set by global brands, with previous briefs coming from names including Airbnb, Spotify and Diageo.

The programme runs during evenings and occasional weekends, combining in-person and online delivery so it can fit around paid work. Support is also available towards travel costs, and each participant receives one-to-one mentoring and networking support as they work towards taking their next step into the industry.

According to D&AD, an average of 75% of Shift graduates secure employment in the creative industries within a year of completing the programme.

What can D&AD Shift lead to?

For anyone wondering what Shift can lead to, Creative Lives in Progress has previously spoken to several alumni whose stories show the programme’s impact in practice.

Social Media Executive and copywriter Ashanté Thomas-Burton, who completed D&AD Shift in 2024, described the programme as a turning point in his creative journey. After dropping out of a degree in nutrition, he found his way back to writing and poetry before applying to Shift.

“Without Shift, I wouldn’t be here,” Ashanté told us. “I wouldn’t know what copywriting even was, honestly. It’s a place where creatives can go and be seen, heard and understood; being able to learn with no judgment was life-changing.”

Ashanté now works as a Social Media Executive at Paramount. Speaking to CLIP, he said his current role came about partly through Shift, after Paramount partnered with his cohort and liked a brief his group presented.

Junior Designer Josh Garrido-Williams also came through D&AD Shift in 2024, after taking a self-taught route into design. Without a university degree, Josh built his skills through YouTube tutorials, freelance projects for family and friends, and a lot of curiosity.

Through Shift, he worked on live briefs for brands including Diageo and Channel 5, before landing internships at Lewis Moberly, Design Bridge & Partners and Bulletproof. He now works as a Junior Designer.

“Through the programme I learnt directly from the industry, made amazing connections and eventually landed internships,” Josh told CLIP. “Those experiences taught me so much about design and helped me land my current role.”

For Brand Designer and The Junior co-founder Lánre Adeleye, who completed D&AD Shift in 2022, the programme helped him build on years of self-taught learning. Before Shift, Lánre had taught himself design online and started making websites as a teenager.

“D&AD Shift changed my life,” Lánre told us. “It taught me more about my craft and it taught me more than I could learn from the internet and what I could get from university.”

Lánre now works as a Design Manager at HSBC, while also co-running The Junior, a community supporting aspiring creatives through events, networking and entry-level opportunities.

How to apply

Shift London 2026 begins on 22 August 2026 and will culminate in a showcase in January 2027, where Shifters will present their work to industry professionals and pursue placements.

Applications for D&AD Shift London 2026 close at midday on 19 July 2026.

Apply now via D&AD’s website and read more about how to apply here