D&AD New Blood jury 2026 for Nicki Field
D&AD New Blood is one of the most respected launchpads in the creative industry: a global awards programme designed specifically for students and emerging talent, challenging the next generation to respond to real briefs from real brands with work that's genuinely good. Not almost good. Actually good. The bar is famously high.
For Nicki, whose career has been built on a deep belief in craft, a sharp eye for creativity, and a commitment to curating the kind of talent that genuinely moves culture forward, joining this jury feels like a natural extension of what she does every day. At Jelly, she has spent years championing artists with distinctive voices - finding brilliant people and nurturing them, advocating for them, and helping them build careers with intention and longevity.
"The really special thing I love about judging New Blood, is the rawness of the potential; we had a tough job as a jury making sure to upholding the creative excellence of D&AD, the brief, the storytelling and concept, but all the while knowing this is only the start of someones creative career."
Nicki Field
That same instinct is exactly what New Blood calls for. The promising work being judged here is the beginning of something for the next generation of talent. The decisions made in the room have real weight, helping to shape which emerging voices get seen, celebrated, and given a foothold in an industry that doesn't always make it easy to break through.
Nicki has been assessing entries alongside a panel of senior creative leaders from across the industry including War Child, The Line, and Carbon, bringing her perspective on what it really means to make work that lasts, work that balances a bold creative idea with genuine artistic integrity and the kind of considered execution that separates good from great.
Supporting the next generation has always been part of how Jelly thinks about its place in the industry. This is that, in action.
"It was such a joyful experience, with such a considered, thoughtful and passionate jury. And with the entries, the thing that really came across was the level of dedication to craft - and within that, a big showing of physical techniques. It makes sense for a brief to celebrate 10 years of Secret Seven, yet it made me feel such optimism for the next generation and their attitudes towards Gen-AI, that we’re so often led to believe is the ‘Future’."
Nicki Field
What We Do
We specialise in bold visual content and brand storytelling.
