Sydney, it's time to #SHIFTCREATIVITY
D&AD Shift Sydney is an award-winning, free industry-led night school for self-taught creatives entering the advertising, design and creative industry from outside traditional pathways in Sydney.
Meet the Sydney Class of 2024 below, the talent you need.
5 months, 18 Shifters, 3 pitches and 1 showcase
D&AD Shifters have embraced five months of online and in-person learning with more than 15 creative agencies across multiple disciplines, from creative direction and design thinking to ideation, pitching, and strategy.
For this year's cohort of 18 Shifters, the Showcase is the culmination of five months of growing, developing, and defining their craft. They've spent countless hours at various agencies, learning directly from industry experts, and answering client briefs from We Are Warriors, Mastercard and Pepsi.
Now ready to apply their skills to the industry, here's your opportunity to see what they're made of.
D&AD Shift Sydney Class of 2024
Meet this year's cohort and filter by creative discipline.
Be part of Shift Sydney in 2025
Sign up below to register your interest for the next intake of applications.
You don’t need a pre-existing portfolio to apply — we want to find out about you, how you think and about your ideas, so be creative. You can share a design, a campaign concept, a piece of artwork, a video, some photographs, lyrics, a story, anything - it’s up to you.
To be eligible for Shift you must not hold a university degree in any subject, or be studying towards one.
You will be asked to upload three examples of your work, so make sure you have this to hand. Shift Sydney is for you if you ever wanted a career in the creative industry but didn't think it could be possible. The programme will teach you the skills and confidence you need to gain a job in the creative industry as well as allow you access to a network you can build on throughout your career.
Shift stories
Since Shift’s launch in 2016, we have trained over 250 creatives in London, New York, Sydney, Berlin and Hamburg.
Shifters go on to write for Apple. They strategise for Spotify. They have creative ideas for Disney. They direct Stormzy, animate for Katy Perry and shoot for Vogue. Shifters are employed by every major advertising and design agency network. They win Pencils. And sit on the board at D&AD.
D&AD Shift acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora nation as the traditional owners of the land where Shift is run, and we pay respects to elders past and present.
Get in touch
Key dates
-
-
22 April 2024
— <p>Application deadline</p>Application deadline
-
Submit your application by 12AM
-
-
-
6 May 2024
— <p>Immersion day</p>Immersion day
-
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to our in-person creative immersion day
-
-
-
27 May 2024
— <p>Programme kicks off</p>Programme kicks off
-
The start of Shift Sydney
-
-
-
12 September 2024
— <p>Programme ends/final Showcase</p>Programme ends/final Showcase
-
A celebratory event showcasing the class of 2024 portfolios to industry and securing paid placements
-
What to expect on Shift
-
What does Shift offer?
- Learn from and access a global network of like-minded creatives at both peer level and industry level
- Access 1:1 Mentor pairing with industry professionals
- Develop key collaboration skills for creatives who usually work independently
- Become part of an international creative network and community, with opportunities to work with other alumni
- Build your portfolio with projects from world-leading brands
- Receive accreditation from a globally recognised creative organisation
- Continue learning and get support after the programme
-
How does Shift work?
Shift aims to support learning alongside existing work. The programme runs on evenings and occasional weekends. Sessions are taught part in-person and part-online. We offer transport support within the region of the city of Sydney, plus a limited relocation bursary for eligible applicants.
The night school offers exposure to the commercial creative industry through sessions led by creative professionals, in-person agency visits, and opportunities to work on creative briefs set by global brands looking to support emerging talent.
Every Shifter receives 1:1 mentoring support, networking opportunities and help creating their portfolio in order to kickstart their next career steps. Across 120 hours of learning, the programme covers key disciplines and topics essential for working in advertising, design and production. It also covers professional skills such as collaboration, bravery and resilience.