Brighton MET Illustration student bags win at UAL Origins Creatives Competition 

A Foundation Illustration student at Brighton MET College, has received national recognition after her design was selected for the University of the Arts London (UAL) Origins tote bag competition.  

Annalisa Arnison’s illustration, entitled ‘Creating Ideas’, was chosen as one of four winners by a select panel of judges as part of the wider Origins Creatives X You competition.  

It forms part of the wider Origins Creatives 2026 organised by UAL, and will see four students have their work selected and printed on official UAL Awarding Body tote bags.  

These tote bags will then be distributed at the upcoming Origins Creatives 2026 exhibition, to be held later this year in July.  

When asked why she decided to enter, Annalisa said:  
“I like that the competition seemed to be focusing on creativity. The title for it is ‘Origins Creative x You’, so I thought this would be a chance to showcase something that really speaks to me creatively.”  

She also discussed the inspiration behind her design, revealing that the piece was originally created during her GCSE studies:  

“My design is actually a work I created in year 11 for my GCSE’s, it was for a screen-printing trip we went on. I was trying to create something that symbolised imagination and creativity, and the thought process of creating a piece of artwork.  

“Then I heard about this competition, and that it was focusing so much on creativity and self-expression, I thought that this piece fits really well.  

“I did adapt the design a little from the original, mainly updating the software, so it was a better definition as well as refining it a bit, as I knew it was for a tote bag.”  

Speaking about being selected as a winner, Annalisa said:  
“I couldn’t really believe it because it had been a little while since I had seen the design to be completely. It was just hugely exciting!”  

To find out more about the Art & Design courses available at the college, please click here.