OUH nursing assistant wins top marks for oncology ward-inspired design project

A nursing assistant at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) has been awarded the School of Arts Graphic Design Major Project Award for achieving the highest mark in his final major project as part of his BA in Graphic Design at Oxford Brookes University.

Athul Judeson, who works part-time on an oncology ward at OUH while studying, combined his two worlds of healthcare and design with a photography project that shines a light on the often-unseen emotional labour of frontline healthcare staff.

Dedicated to the oncology nurses Athul works with, his award-winning project, titled The Ward, is a photobook that documents the emotional and physical realities of a 12-hour nursing shift.

Rather than focusing on portraits, Athul photographed empty clinical spaces and the traces left behind after patient care to capture the quiet, often overlooked experiences of healthcare workers.

Athul said: "Working alongside the incredible nursing team inspired me completely. I saw the heavy grief and emotional weight they carry every single day, which is rarely acknowledged by the public.

"I wanted to build a physical act of evidence for them. Winning the School of Arts Graphic Design Major Project Award is a massive honour. For me, it means that the quiet, unseen labour of clinical staff is finally being recognised."

The project explores themes of compassion, exhaustion, and resilience within healthcare settings, drawing directly on Athul’s experiences working alongside nurses and other clinical colleagues.

Alongside his role at OUH, Athul is now seeking opportunities to begin his career in graphic design while continuing to develop new creative projects.

View the project: The Ward – Digital Project and The Ward – Photobook