Creativity UNLEASHED

Creative minds

Remember last year’s ad where Tubi pulled the ultimate prank and had everyone convinced someone sat on the remote during the game?

That ad — and nearly 20 more — is the work of VCU Brandcenter alumni. For more than 25 years, the Brandcenter has dedicated itself to developing the brightest minds and creative forces in the advertising and branding industry. With a hand in spots for brands like Google Pixel, Coors Light and Oreo, they are blitzing the advertising industry as today’s leading creative directors, strategists and account executives. 

Brandcenter alumni bring a dynamic energy that is infused into every frame. This year alone, 27 graduates contributed to 20 ads that ran during the Big Game, many of which landed on the USA Today Ad Meter, the industry’s leading public opinion tool for commercials.

Beyond their impact in this cultural phenom, alumni have changed the game and contributed to the success of iconic brands like Google, Apple, Disney and Nike. They serve as driving forces both in-house with the brands or working alongside them as creative agency partners, fueling the industry with its current — and future — leaders.

Real-life clients, real-world challenges

With more than 2,000 alumni who dare to be different, the Brandcenter is constantly inspiring the next generation of creators and shaping a future where innovation knows no bounds.

Students tackle challenges for clients like Peloton, Capital One, Lyft and Amazon Music in a space that operates like a high-energy ad agency or creative studio, under the guidance of faculty with unrivaled industry experience.

The Brandcenter offers a two-year graduate program with specialized concentrations in art direction, copywriting, strategy, experience design and brand management. Core classes focus on foundational skills, while courses on the business of branding, creative thinking, innovation and persuasion push students to work in cross-functional teams to solve real business problems.

In just 60 weeks, students are transformed in ways they never thought possible. They hone their skills, foster a new approach to thinking and problem-solving, and develop a powerful network of alumni and industry connections. In short, they graduate with unmatched career preparation.

“The Brandcenter has given me an understanding of the once-mystical job of an art director, while also exposing me to many other roles I love, like scriptwriting and film production,” says Taylor Martin, a current art direction student. “I’m surrounded by extremely talented people who inspire and motivate me to keep pushing myself. And after spending the summer interning as an art director — made possible by the Brandcenter and the amazing faculty that supports us — I am so excited for my future.”

That excitement is met by an industry of professionals who are ready to hire Brandcenter graduates. Dan Hirsch, CEO and founder of On Board Experiential, an experience and culture-centric agency, praised their impact. “Since we hired our first Brandcenter grad in 2018,” he says, “it has continued to amaze me how quickly these graduates jump into the deep end and prove themselves to be MVPs — cross-functional, collaborative rock stars with firm creative skills, presentation firepower and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.”

Within its suite of academic offerings, students outside the program have the unique opportunity to score a ticket to the “Oscars of Advertising,” the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The Brandcenter’s Cannes Lions Festival Study Abroad Program offers VCU and non-VCU students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rub elbows with today’s top creative leaders.

Leveraging talent for change

Brandcenter students and alumni are intent on challenging the status quo and unleashing their creative energy to reshape the world as we know it.

While commercials in the Big Game may be among their most visible work, they’re also leveraging their talents to tackle some of today’s most pressing issues, from climate change, suicide prevention and gun safety to period poverty, the wage gap and STEM education for girls.

“When others deem issues like climate change or gun control to be ‘too difficult’ or ‘unsolvable,’” says Ashley Sommardahl, associate director at Brandcenter, “our alums dive in headfirst, applying their creative problem-solving skills to address society’s most challenging issues.”

The Brandcenter is unlike any other advertising program — and it’s more than an education. It’s an immersive, transformative experience for the best creative problem-solvers in the world of brands.

“The future depends on bright minds and innovative leaders who can adapt to uncertainty. The Brandcenter stands at the forefront of this ideal,” said Executive Director Vann Graves.

At VCU Brandcenter, innovation isn’t a concept — it’s a lived reality. See how Brandcenter graduates are redefining the future of creative leadership.