Twelve remarkable creatives will receive honorary degrees from University of the Arts London (UAL) at this year’s graduation ceremonies, taking place at the iconic Royal Festival Hall on London’s Southbank from 16 July.
From NME-award winning and MOBO award-nominated musicians, to an academy award-winning costume designer, and the creator of viral web-talk show “Chicken Shop Date”, this year’s honoraries are influential artists and public figures – pushing boundaries at the forefront of the creative industries, across a wide range of disciplines.
James Purnell, Vice Chancellor and President: “We are looking forward to honouring an outstanding group of creatives and changemakers at this year’s graduation ceremonies, each of whom continues to contribute significantly to the creative community.
“Congratulations to all of our new honorary fellows – their extraordinary input and impact on the arts, culture and society stand as a testament to the incredible value of our creative industries.”
Meet this year’s honoraries:
Amali de Alwis MBE
A graduate of Camberwell College of Art and London College of Fashion, Amali de Alwis MBE’s career spans creative, technical and commercial roles in the fashion and technology industries. Harnessing her creativity and business savvy, Amali works to boost diversity and representation, her endeavours having earned her an MBE.
Amelia Dimoldenberg
Central Saint Martins’ graduate, comedian, journalist, broadcaster and creator Amelia Dimoldenberg has spent a decade building out a cult, global following for her iconic Chicken Shop Date series. Amelia has become a much-admired red-carpet fixture at prestigious award ceremonies such as The Oscars and The Golden Globes.
Ben Terrett RDI
Ben Terrett RDI is the CEO of Public Digital, a global consultancy helping organisations adapt to the internet era. Inducted into the Design Week Hall of fame, Ben has been a UAL governor since December 2014 and currently serves as Deputy Chair of the Court of Governors, Chair of the Digital Committee, and Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
Francesca Shepherd
Vice President and Counsel for talent representation at WME Fashion, Francesca Shepherd is an accomplished lawyer striving to demystify legal concepts that are critical for fashion students and graduates joining industry ranks.
Gregor Muir
Gregor Muir, Director of Collection, International Art at Tate, is one of the most influential figures in London’s art scene. A graduate of Camberwell College of Arts, he is credited with enlivening the contemporary art scene in the 90s and beyond.
James Acheson
Wimbledon College of Art graduate James Acheson has had a distinguished design career encompassing cinema, television, theatre, ballet and opera. He has won three Academy Awards (Oscars) for his costume design work in films.
Kamiqua Lake
London College of Fashion graduate Kamiqua Lake is an award-winning PR and communications expert dedicated to elevating underrepresented communities through impactful storytelling. She founded two purpose-driven organisations: Coldr, and the UK Black Comms Network, which counts almost 300 members.
Kwadwo Adu Genfi Amponsah AKA Kojey Radical
Kojey Radical (born Kwadwo Adu Genfi Amponsah) is a prolific music artist and London College of Fashion graduate. His vulnerable yet visceral work has seen him blur the lines between rap, funk, spoken word and poetry to fashion, art and film.
Loyle Carner
Loyle Carner is a rap artist known for his uniquely introspective sound. He has released three critically acclaimed studio albums, two of which — Yesterday’s Gone (2017) and hugo (2020) — were nominated for the Mercury Prize. Outside of music, Loyle has set up Chilli Con Carner, a series of cookery workshops for young people with ADHD.
Nina Paim
Nina Paim is a designer, curator, lecturer and editor-turned-publisher, whose work revolves around notions of community. A three-time recipient of the Swiss Design Award, her experience makes her acutely aware of others’ perspectives which inform her practice.
Sharmadean Reid MBE
Central Saint Martins’ graduate Sharmadean Reid MBE is a founder, writer and creative consultant. Most famously, she established salon chain WAH Nails, beauty platform Beautystack and new media company The Stack World. At the heart of Sharmadean’s work is her dedication to closing the gender leadership gap and elevating her global community of over 20,000 mission-driven women.
Trevor Robinson OBE
Trevor Robinson OBE is a creative director and a graduate of Chelsea College of Art. He is the mind behind some of the most famous advertising of the past few decades. In 2007 he launched Create Not Hate to open the creative industry doors to underrepresented youth, subsequently earning him an OBE for his services to charity and advertising.
