Billy Blue students' success at the 2025 AGDA Design Awards

Their work spanned 3 major categories - Brand and Identity, Packaging, and Design Crafts and across 10 subcategories, showcasing the depth, originality, and technical skill of emerging talent.

The AGDA Design Awards are the benchmark for Australian graphic design excellence, celebrating the boldest ideas, the sharpest craft, and the brightest creative minds across generations and disciplines.

“We are so proud of our students. Being recognised at this level reflects their dedication, creativity, and skill. These awards highlight the strength of our programs and our focus on connecting students directly with industry,” said Hannah Schmith, Senior Learning Facilitator.

“We also have two students who have been recognised as finalists 2 years in a row now: Tom James and Sophie Forster.”

Several students had multiple projects recognised, including:

• Ana Morato: 5 finalist spots across 3 projects
• Isabella Lam: 3 finalist spots for 1 project
• Alex White, Yumo Ito, and Sophie Forster: 2 finalist spots each
• Tom James and Sophie Forster: Finalists two years in a row

Design awards: The real-world test run

The AGDA Awards are more than accolades, they’re a launchpad. For young designers, entering national competitions is real-world training in how to pitch, present, and stand out. It’s the kind of experience that translates directly into agency life or running your own creative business.

Billy Blue’s flexible learning options allow students to balance study with freelance work, internships, or building their own brand. With industry expert lecturers who’ve worked across top studios and global campaigns, students gain insider insight and mentorship that prepares them for the realities of creative careers.

Design education here isn’t just about mastering tools, it’s about mastering your future. And the AGDA Awards are proof that Billy Blue students are ready to lead it.

Congratulations to our phenomenal list of finalists

Student Brand and ID

'Bodega Valenciana' by Ana Morato

Ana Morato – Bodega Valenciana (Logos, trademarks and Symbols)

Ana Morato – Bodega Valenciana (Brand Identity)

Ana Morato – Bodega Valenciana (Expression - Physical)

Ana Morato – Donut Mum (Expression - Physical)

Alex White – Chirps (Logos, trademarks and Symbols)

Alex White – Chirps (Brand Identity)

Yumi Ito – Personal Brand (Self Promotion)

Andrea Bertolini – BunkerLab (Expression - Physical)

Elyse Emmery – Taste Canberra (Expression - Physical)

Sophie Forster – Personal Brand (Self Promotion)

Isabella Lam – Uncle Butters (Brand Identity)

Isabella Lam – Uncle Butters (Expression - Physical)

Student Packaging

'Two:Thirty' by Maisy Geddes

Ana Morato – Mangia! (Food & Beverage)

Jorja Barlow – Clean2 (Other)

Tom James – Pasta Verde (Food & Beverage)

Bianca Foley – Sukin Rebrand (Health, Beauty & Cosmetics)

Maisy Geddes – Two:Thirty (Health, Beauty & Cosmetics)

Isabella Lam – Uncle Butters (Food & Beverage)

Minh Chou Le – Viet Nong Rice (Food & Beverage)

Student Design Crafts

'Project 21' by Sophie Forster

Yumi Ito Diary Project (Self Promotion)

Sophie Forster – Project 21 (Photography for Design)

It was also an honour to see our own Learning Facilitator, Nick Lewis placed as an AGDA finalist in the Spatial Design categories; Environmental Graphics and Exhibition Design.

I’m incredibly proud of our students for this outstanding achievement. Their success at the AGDA Design Awards is a testament to the creativity, resilience, and industry-ready talent that defines Billy Blue. These results reflect not only the hard work of our students but also the dedication of our lecturers who inspire, mentor and challenge them to push boundaries, said Elicia Simon, Academic Director, Design & Creative Technology.

Hero image credit: 'Uncle Butters' by Isabella Lam