Nana is a freelance graphic designer and web developer based in London. After completing a Graphic Design Certificate at Shillington Education, she began her career freelancing for agencies and was later accepted into D&AD Shift Night School. Highlights of her career include winning two of the three briefs set during the Shift programme, as well as securing internships at both Pearlfisher and Design Bridge & Partners.

She is passionate about creating work that entertains and delights while also making an impact and is excited to celebrate emerging talent as part of the Pentawards Student Jury.

Arlo (they/them) is a freelance graphic designer, founder of Studio Arlo, and creator of Not Your Business. They specialise in bold branding and websites for queer, trans and neurodivergent individuals and small businesses, helping people show up as themselves without watering down who they are.

As a trans and autistic designer, Arlo believes great design should feel accessible, inclusive and packed with personality. Alongside running Studio Arlo, they founded Not Your Business, a community supporting queer, trans and neurodivergent creative freelancers.

Arlo was named LGBTQ+ Business of the Year in 2026, won Creative StartUp of the Year (North West) at the StartUp Awards, and was a D&AD New Blood Winner in 2018. Their work proves that doing things actually differently isn't a disadvantage, it's the whole point.

MJ Marigorda is a New York-based, bilingual Brand Strategist, with a BFA in Packaging Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. MJ kicked off her career with internships at Colgate-Palmolive, Lincoln Center, Archer Roose, and Hustle & Flow. She then went on to work at Opus Hours, collaborating with founders from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

Her work sits at the intersection of consumer insights, cultural strategy, innovation, and storytelling, shaping brands across physical and digital touchpoints. MJ is excited to celebrate the next generation of creative talent and innovative thinking.

A multi-award winner Scottish graphic designer and the face behind The Logo Lassie , and 2025 Pentawards NXT GEN winner. Morgan has always been creative. From the minute she could hold a pencil, she pretty much always had one in my hand. Art was a huge part of her childhood, but growing up on a council estate in Glasgow — and being fairly academic — school pushed her towards a more “traditional” career path. So, even though she took Art and Graphics all the way through school, Morgan somehow ended up on a Biomedical Sciences degree. After three years of knowing it wasn’t right, she finally plucked up the courage to chase my dreams and reconnect with my creativity. The rest is history.

Shola Ladeji is certainly one to watch and a name you will be hearing again and again in the creative industry.

Breaking through via D&AD’s prestigious SHIFT 24’ programme, he earned his place in a sea of UK talent. With a natural instinct for design and a sharp strategic lens, his voice cut through — leading to impressive stints at Design Bridge and Pearlfisher, bringing unfiltered perspective and creative clarity to live briefs.

Now on the Pentawards Pipeline judging panel, Ladeji brings an unorthodox but necessary thinking lens to the table. He hopes to see “works that ring true, break pattern recognition and rewrite rules”

Harriet is a strategic designer from Yorkshire, now based in London after completing her degree in Advertising & Brand Design at Ravensbourne University. Her work blends strategy, storytelling and bold visual thinking, with a focus on purpose led design that drives meaningful change.

Highlights include a cultural exchange in Chicago, where she collaborated with the Obama Foundation and KitKat on a community driven campaign, plus internships at JKR and Sky Creative. A two time D&AD New Blood Pencil winner, she’s passionate about culture and sustainability and excited to help spotlight standout ideas as part of the Pentawards Student Jury.

Alania Hinckson (they/she) is an illustrator and designer from Queens, New York, with a deep love for paper collage, storytelling, and a newfound crush on typography! They bring a warm, expressive, and playful perspective to every project they touch. When they’re not drawing, you’ll likely find them laughing with friends, singing in their room to their cat Yuki, or attempting the perfect latte art.