Honorary Awards 2026

The 16 recipients of this year's University of the Arts London honorary awards are influential creatives, who have worked with major cultural institutions around the world in the fields of sustainability, fashion, film, publishing, fine art, education and activism.

The honoraries for July Graduation will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to the creative industries at UAL Graduation Ceremonies at the Royal Festival Hall from 13–16 July 2026.

Honoraries for July Graduation

Photograph by Linda Nylind

Jenny Beavan OBE RDI

Jenny Beavan is a multi-Oscar-winning costume designer. She gained recognition with historic costumes that defined the visuals of period dramas. She is also an advocate for arts education.
Photograph by Henry Curtis

Alan Bishop CBE

Alan Bishop is a creative industries leader and a former CEO within government and cultural spaces. Throughout all his roles, he has prized collaborating with exceptional talent, and nurturing imagination.
Photograph by Eva Salvi

Jamie Gill

Jamie Gill is a fashion and luxury leader, founder of The Outsiders Perspective and his own advisory practice, and Non-Executive British Fashion Council member driving commercial growth strategy and greater inclusion for all.
Photograph by David Bailey

Katie Grand

Katie Grand is an influential fashion editor and stylist, an award-winning founder of major magazines, and creative visionary known for discovering emerging talent.

Photograph from Katie Greenyer

Katie Greenyer

Katie Greenyer is Creative Talent & Legacy Director at Pentland Group. Through her work, she shapes creative education and careers, and champions diversity, skills and industry collaboration.
Photograph by Layton Thompson

Dr Tanya Harrod MBE

Tanya Harrod is one of today’s most highly regarded craft historians. She is an award winning historian and theorist who has helped re-align the status of craft and making.
Photograph from Victor Lo

Victor Lo GBM, OBE, JP

Victor Lo is Chairman and Chief Executive of Gold Peak Technology Group and a leading advocate and educator for design and culture, playing a key role in shaping Hong Kong’s creative landscape.
Photograph by Robert Adungo

Louise Moore

Louise Moore is Managing Director of Penguin Random House’s Michael Joseph, one of the UK’s biggest commercial publishing imprints. She publishes a broad range of prize-winning and bestselling authors.

Photograph by Shaheen Haq

Pratibha Parmar

Award-winning filmmaker Pratibha Parmar centres marginalised stories in a bold and unique visual language. Her pioneering work has been displayed across some of the world’s leading arts institutions.
Photograph from Ufuoma Urie

Ufuoma Urie

Ufuoma Urie is a London-based interdisciplinary artist and entrepreneur. She creates design, illustration, branding and community-focused work rooted in storytelling and social impact.
Photograph by Getty Images

Alexander Whitley

Alexander Whitley is an award-winning choreographer pioneering digital innovation in dance. Alongside his own internationally acclaimed company, he has been affiliated with many of the UK’s most respected dance institutions.
Photograph by Minyung Im

Godfrey Worsdale OBE

Godfrey Worsdale, art historian and curator, has led MIMA, BALTIC, and the Henry Moore Foundation, and served as a judge and selector for the Turner Prize and the Venice Biennale.

Honoraries for March Graduation

Photograph by Nick Gregan

Afua Hirsch

Afua’s decade-spanning career has focused on vital explorations of race, identity and social justice. She is an award-winning writer, broadcaster, Times bestseller author, journalist, podcast host and filmmaker whose work has appeared in The Guardian and on the BBC. She founded Born In Me, a production company dedicated to telling underrepresented stories and is a co-owner of the ethical clothing brand Sika.
Photography by Simon Schilling

Dee Poon Chu Ying

Dee founded the Tessellation Group, a pioneer in innovative and sustainable fashion. Her leadership in launching a waterless dye collection earned a UN Retail4Impact recognition. Engaged in art and culture, she is involved with leading cultural institutions globally including Tate, MoMA, and Asia Art Archive. She holds advisory roles in China–United States Exchange Foundation and the Hong Kong–ASEAN Foundation, fostering cross-regional collaborations.
Photograph by Markus Klinko and Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri

The Honourable Daphne Guinness

A multi-faceted creative powerhouse, Daphne’s work spans music, fashion, philanthropy, writing and curation. She is both muse and designer, collaborating with multiple and varied brands. She has also brought her distinct style to film as an Oscar nominated co-producer. With 4 critically acclaimed music albums, her artistry defies genre boundaries.
Karimah Ashadu - Portrait 2025 - Photo Aaron Leithauser

Karimah Ashadu

Karimah is a critically acclaimed fine artist and film director. Her art has been exhibited internationally, including at the Camden Arts Centre, Museum of Modern Art in New York and 60th Venice Biennale - where she received the Silver Lion for a Promising Young Participant in the International Exhibition. In 2020, she founded her film production company, Golddust by Ashadu.