Adam Thomas

For Adam Thomas, a BA (Hons) Illustration graduate, winning the University's annual Graduation Bag Design Brief has made his own graduation even more special.

"It is a lovely feeling to know that my illustration will become part of such an important memory for a lot of people, and it makes graduating feel even more meaningful for me personally."

Each year, third-year Illustration students are invited to respond to a live brief from USW's Alumni Engagement and Development Team to create the artwork for the University's graduation keepsakes. The winning design is printed on more than 3,500 graduation tote bags, 3,500 commemorative postcards, and featured in digital communications sent to approximately 10,000 graduates. The successful illustrator also receives a £250 commission, professional recognition and the opportunity to see their work become part of thousands of graduates' celebrations.

Adam's winning design, inspired by the symbolism of traditional tattoo art, will accompany the Class of 2026 as they celebrate one of the biggest milestones of their lives.

We caught up with Adam to find out more about the inspiration behind his design, what it means to see his work used across graduation, and how studying Illustration at USW has prepared him for his career.

Tell us about your time studying BA (Hons) Illustration at USW.

My time at USW has been really rewarding and has helped me develop a lot. The highlight of the course was how free everyone was to experiment with different materials, styles, and explore ways of developing our own visual languages. The course has encouraged me to push my ideas further and be more confident in my creative process.

I've also really enjoyed getting to know and work with such a talented group of students and helpful lecturers who have allowed us to take part in live briefs and projects that prepare us all for the professional illustration world going forward.

What inspired your winning design?

I wanted my design to feel celebratory but also personal. I have always had a fascination with traditional tattoo designs and felt like the visual style would work well with the context of university graduation.

Much like a tattoo, a student's time at university can take a lot of planning, thinking and can be a struggle at times. However, by the end of their journey, students can come away with a memory that can stick with them for the rest of their lives.

The design itself became a neutral illustration that not only celebrates USW as a Welsh University but could be applied to almost any canvas and be suitable for the diverse landscape of students at USW.

How did it feel to find out you had won the brief?

It was such a surreal moment. I honestly didn't expect to be selected, so finding out was exciting and gave me a burst of confidence knowing that my work is good enough to be applied to a design that thousands of people will have available to them.

It is a lovely feeling to know that my illustration will become part of such an important memory for a lot of people, and it makes graduating feel even more meaningful for me personally.

What did you learn from working on a live client brief?

Working on a live brief taught me how important it is to balance creativity with the needs of a client. It pushed me to think beyond just making something visually appealing and instead focus on communicating a clear idea for a specific audience.

I also gained experience in presenting concepts, responding to feedback, and working within a set brief, which are all valuable skills that I'll take into my career as an illustrator in the future.

What advice would you give to future Illustration students thinking about entering live briefs?

I would encourage people to give live briefs a go every time, even if you're not completely confident in your work. Live briefs are a great opportunity to challenge yourself, build your portfolio, and experience what it's like working on professional projects.

Don't be afraid to take creative risks or put your ideas forward. You never know where these opportunities will lead and you'll never know until you try. Even if you don't win, you'll still learn a lot from the process, take away valuable lessons that you can develop further and improve each time.

Did you know that as a USW graduate, you could benefit from 20% off tuition fees* with our Postgraduate Alumni Discount? Find out more - Graduate Discounts - University of South Wales