Five young creatives based in South Africa and UAE are among the 34 young creatives from 16 countries named as the latest winners in the global Next Creative Leaders competition, produced by The One Club for Creativity and The 3% Movement to recognize women, trans, and non-binary creatives on the rise.
The winners based in the Middle East & Africa region are:
Maram Ashour, associate creative director, Dubai
Michelle Ko, creative director, FP7 McCann Dubai
Sands Mathura, associate creative director, Sands Mathura, Cape Town
Lauren Mitchell, group creative head, Accenture Song, Johannesburg
Rana Sadek, associate creative director, IMPACT BBDO, Dubai
Now in its ninth year, Next Creative Leaders is a free portfolio competition that identifies, celebrates, and gives a global platform to qualified creatives across all regions who are making their mark with both their work and a unique point of view on creative leadership that’s changing the industry for the better.
Other NCL winners by region, as selected by this year’s esteemed jury, is as follows:
APAC
Sitta Chandarawong, senior art director, Sour Bangkok
Farishte Irani, group head – copy, Dentsu Webchutney, Mumbai
Stacy Karayannis, associate creative director, Leo Burnett Australia, Melbourne
Kiah Nicholas, associate creative director, BMF, Sydney
Rujrada Rienvatana, senior copywriter, VML, Bangkok
Tung Wang, associate creative director, Ogilvy Taiwan, Taipei
Europe
Ligia Fava, art director, David Madrid
Emese Gillotte, head of art, and Dorottya Tóth, creative director, DDB Budapest (team)
Claudia Illan, copywriter, Marcel, Paris
Julia Machado, senior copywriter, Ogilvy Germany, Berlin
Josefina Mateo Burton, senior copywriter, LOLA MullenLowe, Madrid
Chaeyeong Seo, creative, art director, Wieden+Kennedy London
Latin America
Arah Kim, associate creative director, Wieden+Kennedy Mexico City
Catharina Mendonça, copywriter, AlmapBBDO, São Paulo
Carolina Pinheiro, creative director, AKQA, São Paulo
Alejandra Rozo, art director, David Bogotá
Jacky Salome, associate creative director, Wieden+Kennedy Mexico City
North America
Vanessa de Beaumont, associate creative director, Mischief @ No Fixed Address, New York
Abigail Chieppa, associate creative director, Energy BBDO, Chicago
Connie Chweh, senior art director, Peloton; cofounder, AZN AMERICANA , New York
Rachel Ellam Goss, creative director, Rashell & Co., Los Angeles
Sally Fung, associate creative director, FCB Canada, Toronto
Ted Malenfant, copywriter, Wieden+Kennedy Portland
Sara Muchnick, senior copywriter, Droga5 New York
Jacquelyn Parent, creative director, writer, Rethink, Toronto
Sollin Sæle, senior creative, Accenture Song, New York
Cassandra Shuber and Daniela Marino, associate creative directors, Edelman, New York (team)
Entrants were judged on four to six pieces of creative work and information about how they — and their work — are pushing the industry forward and making a positive contribution in terms of diversity, mentoring, and advocacy. Previous NCL winners can be viewed here.
“For nearly two decades, The One Club has provided programming that helps improve the industry’s diversity and gender equality,” said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club. “We’re proud to co-produce Next Creative Leaders, a competition designed to identify, elevate and give voice to creatives around the world who are making a real difference, opening doors, and inspiring the next generation.”
“It’s amazing what happens when you overtly invite creatives who aren’t the ‘usual suspects’ to share their work,” said Kat Gordon, founder, CEO at The 3% Movement. “As every member of this year’s jury can attest, there is an embarrassment of riches to be found. The fact that many of these talented creatives also use their gifts to improve the industry itself makes Next Creative Leaders more than a creative competition, but a community-fueled driver of change. 3% is so proud to partner with The One Club for almost a decade on this initiative. It matters.”
Each NCL winner receives a one-year complimentary individual membership with The One Club, with opportunities to participate in future One Club awards juries, and complimentary tickets to a One Club professional development conference ($1,000+ value), panels, and mentorship events.
The One Club will host a free webinar on February 29 at 12:00 pm EST, featuring select Next Creative Leaders winners and some of their groundbreaking work.
Branding for the latest Next Creative Leaders competition was designed by Selina Kehuan Wu, an MFA candidate at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, and a Type Directors Club TDC69 competition winner.