Press release
Hundreds of art and design students prepare for Degree Show 2025 opening
More than 450 students will exhibit their work in this year’s Undergraduate Degree Show at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD), part of the University of Dundee
Published on 1 May 2025
The exhibition includes work from students studying Animation, Architecture, Art & Philosophy, Digital Interaction Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior & Environmental Design, Jewellery & Metal Design, Product Design, Textile Design, Urban Planning and Environmental Sustainability.
Nearly every inch of the art school’s Matthew and Crawford buildings will be taken over with the exhibition, transforming it into the largest free art venue in Scotland for nine days.
Taking place between Saturday 24 May to Sunday 1 June, the Degree Show 2025 is an opportunity for DJCAD’s final year students to showcase their work to their friends, family and the public.
Amongst the creations will be the work of Fine Art student Tom Speedy, whose painting ‘Adrift’ features on this year’s marketing material for the show, including large flags outside DJCAD’s main entrance.
Tom, 21, from Edinburgh, said, “I feel honoured to have one of my paintings chosen to publicise this year’s Degree Show, it’s very exciting.
“I was delighted to see the posters – it feels surreal to have my work up outside DJCAD.
“There’s a creative buzz of adrenaline in the studios right now. I can’t wait to see the students’ work come to life."
He worked for three months to create the large, self-portrait painting, inspired by a photograph of himself silhouetted during sunset on the waterfront in Cavtat, Croatia.
To create the image, Tom mixed oil paint directly on the canvas, then disrupted the paint with abrasive substances like turpentine, bleach, and sandpaper.
He also used volcanic sand collected from the beach on Stromboli, an active volcanic island off the north coast of Italy, to create a rich, textured surface for the figure’s clothing.
Describing his creative process, Tom said, “I mixed paint generously in large pots and jars – sometimes, old, congealed, or drying pigment can create the richest marks.
“On top of this, I then layered thin, fluid washes of white spirits that reacted to the surface beneath and created drips and stains that helped the language of the work to flourish.”
Dundee's Degree Show 2025
The Undergraduate Degree Show is a highlight of the annual calendar for DJCAD and the University.
Professor Anita Taylor, Dean of DJCAD, said, “The Degree Show provides a unique opportunity to share the achievements of all our graduating students with the public and our professional communities.
“DJCAD is known for its excellence in creative education and for its vibrant, industry-connected approach to the development of its graduates for their future careers in art, architecture, design, and the related creative and cultural industries.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to celebrate, meet and support our graduates as we launch their future careers at the Degree Show 2025. We hope everyone will enjoy the vitality and variety of their work and their many creative and technical accomplishments.”
The Degree Show 2025 will be open to the public from Saturday 24 May until Sunday 1 June, from 10am to 4pm, except on Thursday 29 May when there will be a later closing time of 8pm.
Viewers can also access student work online via the Art & Design Undergraduate Degree Show webpage, which will fully launch on the days leading up to the exhibition opening date.