INTRODUCING 2024’s IDI GRADUATE AWARD GRAND PRIX WINNER: Leah Clarke!
Before I ever studied design, I was already fascinated by how it could shape the world around us, how it could inspire, inform, and empower. That curiosity eventually led me to study Visual Communications at Technological University Dublin, where I graduated in 2024.
Over the course of four years, I developed a strong foundation in design principles and technical skills, but more importantly, I began to understand the deeper impact design can have. I came to see it not just as a creative discipline but as a powerful social tool, something that can foster empathy, encourage dialogue, and make meaningful contributions to the communities it serves. That perspective has become central to how I approach my work, and it continues to guide me as I explore the many ways design can create positive and lasting change.
What was your experience like entering the IDI Graduate Design Awards 2024?
The whole process from start to finish was incredibly rewarding, and it continues to prove so with all the brilliant connections and opportunities the IDI has provided. Preparing the entries for submission was really rewarding; it’s always nice to see a project you’ve worked so hard on being pushed that last little bit.
I recall the day the shortlists were announced—I was over in New York with my friends. A friend I was with also had shortlisted work, and it was such a great moment.
On the night of the IDI Graduate Awards, I was incredibly fortunate to win the Grand Prix award. It was the absolute highlight of my design career so far. I was also honoured to win the ‘Typographic Design’ category, be commended in the ‘Brand Identity’ category, and be shortlisted in ‘Book Design.’ The IDI Graduate Design Awards are truly an incredible opportunity for newly graduating designers.
Since graduating last year, what have you been up to?
Directly after our graduate exhibition was wrapped up and cleared away, I headed to New York City with three of my closest friends. We spent three months living and working in the city, which offered a much-needed break after such an intense and fulfilling final year.
In early July, I flew to London to attend the D&AD New Blood Awards. I had the great privilege of being awarded a D&AD Pencil for my project “What We Leave Behind….” Having my work recognised by such a prestigious and international organisation was a moment I’ll never forget.
Since September, I’ve been taking part in the threex3 internship programme. Through the programme, I’ve had the opportunity to work with three Dublin-based design studios (Detail, Unthink, and Red&Grey) over the course of nine months. I’m currently working at Detail and thoroughly enjoying the experience of learning from and collaborating with such talented designers!
Where do you find your inspiration?
I think most designers would agree that inspiration is everywhere, in both the familiar and the unfamiliar. In some of my final year work, I explored my own history and experiences, and I was surprised by how much inspiration came from spending time with things I’d always known but usually overlooked.
I’m also inspired by other voices and experiences, whether it be people I know, books I’ve read or media I’ve consumed. Being able to consider and represent the experiences of others is a vital part of my creative process. I’m a curious person (and maybe a little nosy), always interested in how people think and move through the world, especially when it allows me to challenge my own assumptions.
What are your thoughts on collaboration and community?
In my final year project “What We Leave Behind…,” I explored the themes of collaboration and community through the lens of craft and environmental engagement. The project sought to address the loss of natural and cultural heritage by encouraging people to reconnect with the natural world through craft practices.
It drew on the rich tradition of craft as a vessel for passing down cultural and ecological knowledge—fostering a sense of connection between people, nature, and both past and future generations. To me, design is inherently collaborative, not only in the way it is created but also in how it serves as a tool for building community and shared meaning.
You were 2024’s Grand Prix winner & you have just completed the branding for this year’s IDI Graduate Design Awards 2025, can you tell us a little about your branding?
My intention with this identity was to capture the energy and curiosity of emerging designers at a pivotal moment. With hand-cut shapes, bold forms, and shifting gradients, it speaks to process, motion, and creative risk-taking—a playful yet purposeful expression of design in progress. It all comes together in one clear idea: “The Future of Design is Being Shaped, Right Here, Right Now.” I also wanted the branding to be easily applicable to all the formats it would appear in, such as leaflets, posters, judges’ handbooks, website, socials, and more.
Do you have any advice for this year’s graduates entering the IDI Graduate Design Awards 2025?
I would absolutely encourage any student with projects to submit them! You’ve already done the hard work (and I know just how much work that is), so don’t miss the chance to share it. It’s easy to feel like a project is never truly finished—that there’s always something more to tweak or improve, but don’t let perfectionism hold you back.
The best advice I can offer to emerging designers is: don’t count yourself out. You never know who’s going to connect with your work or what opportunities might come from putting yourself forward.
What is next?
After university, there’s so much pressure to have everything figured out right away. Sometimes I wish I knew exactly what I wanted to do and the steps I needed to take to get there. But in many ways, what’s even more exciting is not knowing—getting the chance to explore it all now.
I don’t know exactly where the next few years will take me, but I do know I’m going to work hard to make the most of every opportunity. I definitely want to go abroad and experience different design scenes. I want to keep growing, expanding my skills, and learning as much as I can.
If you would like to contact Leah you can reach her as follows:
Instagram: @leah.visuals
Email: leahclarkee4@gmail.com