Date

23 June 2026

Each School presented one Best Thesis Award and one Honourable Mention for each pathway

A womenswear collection that evokes nostalgia through the combination and layering of fabrics; a reinterpretation of retail as a living biological interface; an exploration of how Korean Wave (Hallyu) cultural products generate value within the luxury fashion sector; and an interactive digital experience that makes a previously hidden financial language visible by creating its own coded alphabet and a collection of branded merchandise.

These are the final projects by students graduating in 2026 from the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and IED Diploma programmes at IED Barcelona, all of whom have received the Best Thesis Awards. Once again, the recognition included an Artist 22 Plus tablet kindly provided by XPPen. The awards were presented on 18 June during the Graduation Ceremony held at Paral·lel 62.

The moving ceremony featured lecturer Emanuele di Marzo as the event's guest of honour, joined by fellow lecturer Claudia Schneider and Narek Mnatsakanyan from the Design Workshops. The three surprised the audience with a musical performance of Il Maestro by Paolo Conte, a tribute to art, creativity and inspiration.

Meanwhile, Veronika Smáradóttir and Simran Niraj Madlani served as the Graduation Student Voices, while the Alumnus Award, recognising professional achievement, was presented to Ilayda Celep.

The Awards

Communication

Best Thesis Award in Communication + Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award, BA (Hons) in Fashion Marketing and Communication

Per Olle Sung Hyun Jaginder for THE HALLYU CAPITAL. The Circulation of Cultural Value

Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award, IED Diploma in Fashion Marketing and Communication Management

Paloma Castelltort for PÁLPITO

 

Design

Best Thesis Award in Design + Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Interior Design

Álvaro Prads for ATMOS

Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Business Design

Beatriz de Araujo Caparelli for Sync by VIBIA

Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Product Design

Arslan Nafikov for Lumelia

Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Transportation Design

Queralt Santacreu for CUPRA Vigia

 

Fashion

Best Thesis Award in Fashion + Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Fashion Design

Andrea García-Faura Botey for Nostalgia

Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award, BA (Hons) in Fashion Design

Simran Niraj Madlani for Taste in Art

Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Fashion Design, Styling and Communication pathway

Marta Ros for Los inevitables silencios

 

Visual Arts

Best Thesis Award in Visual Arts + Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Graphic Design

Evelyn Yu for Off the Record

Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Graphic Design, Advertising pathway

Irina Kavtaradze for Querencia

Honourable Mention – Best Thesis Award in Graphic Design, Motion Graphics and Video pathway

Haeun Jung for Bok Bok

 

In collaboration with: XPPen.

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