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Honorary Awards 2025

A collection of different square images, in rows, of all the 2025 graduation honoraries.
2025 Honoraries

The 12 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 theatre, video game development, sustainability, cosmetic science, fashion, curation, fine art, education and activism.

They will be recognised for their outstanding contributions to the creative industries at UAL Graduation Ceremonies at the Royal Festival Hall from 15 - 18 July 2025.

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The full list of Honoraries for 2025

  • Charu Desodt sitting close to the camera smiling.
    Honorary Doctor Charu Desodt

    Charu Desodt

    An award-winning visionary within the video game industry, Charu Desodt is an esteemed studio head and developer who believes that video games are the cultural medium of our era and champions diversity within the gaming sector.

  • Dr Carmen Hijosa sitting and softly smiling at camera.
    Dr Carmen Hijosa Honorary Doctor

    Dr Carmen Hijosa

    An exceptional example of the power of creative problem solving, Dr Carmen Hijosa is an environmentally focused entrepreneur, CEO and researcher whose innovation is at the forefront of sustainability within the textile industry.

  • Dr Paul Matts smiling at camera wearing white shirt against green backdrop.
    Honorary Doctor Dr Paul Matts

    Dr Paul Matts

    Biochemist, Visiting Professor, founder and former Research and Development Vice President of Procter and Gamble, Dr Paul Matts is on a mission to eradicate preventable skin diseases through non-profit initiatives and education.

  • Ib Kamara wearing black standing against a blue backdrop
    Self portrait of Honorary Doctor Ib Kamara

    IB Kamara

    IB Kamara is a multi-hyphenate creative known for his distinct artistic vision. He established himself as an important fixture within the fashion industry as the former Dazed magazine Editor-in-chief and Creative Director of Off-White.

  • Johanna Agerman Ross MA sitting in a chair against a beige backdrop and looking at the camera.
    Honorary Doctor Johanna Agerman Ross MA

    Johanna Agerman Ross MA

    Johanna Agerman Ross MA is a curator, writer and editor whose impressive body of work highlights the importance of addressing and reflecting societal issues through design. She is the Conran Foundation Chief Curator at the London Design Museum.

  • Mary Kelly standing with her arms crossed looking at the camera
    Honorary Doctor Mary Kelly

    Mary Kelly

    Mary Kelly is an esteemed conceptual artist, scholar, writer and educator whose work has made significant contributions to the feminist and postmodern art movement. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester and the Moderna Museet, Stockholm.

  • Maya Ober wearing black standing against a patterned background staring at camera.
    Honorary Doctor Maya Ober

    Maya Ober

    Maya Ober is a designer, educator, anthropologist and editor, whose work interrogates academic structures and institutions while reimagining them through a feminist lens focused on community building.

  • Professor Tadanori Nagasawa smiling, not looking at the camera against a white and grey backdrop.
    Honorary Doctor Professor Tadanori Nagasawa

    Professor Tadanori Nagasawa

    Professor Tadanori Nagasawa’s research and leadership has made significant contributions to the fields of creative innovation and education. His work has received honours including Senior Fellow at the Royal College of Art and the Toyama Distinguished Service Award.

  • Renée Melanie Mussai standing against a darkgrey backdrop while wearing black and looking at the camera.
    Honorary Doctor Renée Melanie Mussai

    Renée Melanie Mussai

    Renée Mussai is an curator, writer and scholar of visual culture and lens-based media, whose research-led work routinely centres Black feminist practices through immersive exhibition, research and publication projects.

  • Suzann McLean MBE smiling close to the camera against a tan backdrop.
    Honorary Doctor Suzann McLean MBE

    Suzann McLean MBE

    A true trailblazer, Suzann McLean MBE is an accomplished actress, educator, CEO and director whose advocacy has broken barriers for the next generation of theatre-makers.

  • Tess Jaray RA sitting on a chair in her studio holding a cigarette and smiling.
    Honorary Doctor Tess Jaray RA

    Tess Jaray RA

    Tess Jaray RA is an artist whose critically acclaimed works have been acquired by The Tate, the British Museum and the Centre Pompidou, Paris. Her work also includes publicly commissioned large-scale projects, namely the forecourt at Victoria Station, London.

  • Torishéju Dumi wearing balck, standing against a white backdrop staring at camera.
    Honorary Doctor Torishéju Dumi

    Torishéju Dumi

    Fashion Week veteran and British Vogue cover star Torishéju Dumi is one of the industry’s most promising young fashion designers. A graduate of UAL, her namesake label marries traditional African aesthetics with modern, deconstructed tailoring.