Business-, people-, and leadership-savvy, our Creative Brand Managers lead client and agency teams to meet business objectives through creative solutions.
Representing the voice of the client, they build and nurture relationships with their client-side counterparts and understand the account or business on the macro and micro levels. Comfortable with multitasking, they see projects through from start to finish and lead creative teams to harness their creativity in service of solving business problems.
If you want to be an Account Manager at ad agencies, in-house agencies, design agencies, or strategic/new product consultancies, or maybe one day have a C-suite role within an agency, transition to the brand side, or start your own business, the Creative Brand Management concentration is for you.
You might be a Creative Brand Manager:
If this sounds like you:
You enjoy leading teams to do extraordinary things; are great with people and enjoy building relationships
You prefer your work to be varied and can multitask without breaking a sweat
You take pride in prioritizing your to-do list and seeing projects through to completion
You can be both in the weeds and in the clouds; you can see the week’s to-dos and the five-year bigger picture
You have a competitive streak and love to win
You enjoy being around creative spaces, projects/work, and people
If a day in the life of an account manager sounds fun:
Leading and managing teams
Building and maintaining client relationships
Understanding your client’s business—position, category, and competitive set; their financial and business objectives
Understanding business and marketing strategy
Building a case for, presenting, and selling creative work
Managing the development of creative work from assignment through production
Growing the account/business financially
Setting measurement programs and goals
Understanding the relationship between creative and media
The Task: Increase growth and engagement with “in-the-know millennial foodies,” letting them know about Omsom’s new product line, Omsom Saucy Noodles.
The Problem: Instant noodles are historically seen as a “value” buy with little nutritional value. People struggle to see the significance of another noodle brand.
The Solution: Reclaim instant noodles and celebrate Omsom Saucy Noodles as the graduated, elevated premium noodle that can be eaten whenever, however.
The Team: Led by Vivian as the Creative Brand Manager and creative executions by Kendall Boron (Art Direction, 2023), Mark McColey (Copywriting, 2023), and Francis Phan (Experience Design, 2023)
Creative Brand Management at the Brandcenter
Studying Creative Brand Management at the Brandcenter prepares you to hit the ground running as an Account Manager at ad agencies, in-house agencies, design agencies, strategic/new product consultancies, or in a brand marketing role within a company or organization.
Curriculum
You will not only perfect your craft, but you will also work collaboratively with your classmates across concentrations.
Here’s what you’ll do on all-concentration team projects as a Creative Brand Manager, as well as what your teammates will do:
What each concentration does on all-concentration team projects
CREATIVE BRAND MANAGERS
Focus on a client’s business, category, and competitors
Lead internal, cross-functional teams
Ensure creative work meets business objectives; evaluate ROI when possible
ART DIRECTORS + COPYWRITERS
Using business insights from creative brand managers and consumer/cultural insights from strategists, develop creative ideas to solve business challenges, engage consumers, and bring brands to life
While copywriters generally focus on writing and art directors generally focus on visual design, most AD/CW teams collaborate on all creative aspects
EXPERIENCE DESIGNERS
Develop and design digital products and/or physical experiences where brands and people interact
Focus on the user experience for the product or experience they’re designing
Provide guidance and ideas regarding new/emerging technologies
STRATEGISTS
Focus on consumers and culture
Lead research efforts (develop a research plan, conduct field research, and analyze results)
Turn research data into insights; develop strategic direction and work with creative partners to create concepts/work inspired by strategic direction
Summer Between Your First and Second Years / Internship
A summer internship is not required, but we’ll give you the tools to help you land a great one at agencies and companies doing some of the industry’s best work. See Placement for more about internships.
Semester 3 (Fall) / Weeks 31-45
Brand Experiences (All concentrations)
Persuasion for Creative Brand Managers
Advanced Brand Management
Semester 4 (Spring) / Weeks 46-60
Innovation (All concentrations)
Applied Brand Management
Advanced Portfolio for Creative Brand Managers
Prerequisites
Here are the prerequisites for creative brand management applicants and for all applicants:
Prerequisites for Creative Brand Management Applicants
Creative Brand Management applicants should be able to:
Build, work in, and lead teams, contributing ideas and caring about the output of a project
Demonstrate an interest and skill set for understanding business situations and making informed business decisions
Be interested in business and markets, especially looking for trends on where things might be going
Show mental toughness during challenging situations
Have a knack for building relationships with others and striking up conversations with just about anyone
Be good at talking, thinking on your feet, and making compelling arguments
Have an interest in entrepreneurism and the idea of working to help a business grow
Creative Brand Management applicants should have:
Completed a college-level math/statistics or accounting course (We don’t expect you to be an accountant, but you should be comfortable with learning about basic business math.)
Proficiency in Google Suite, Office Suite
Leadership experience or a desire to lead
Prerequisites for All Applicants
All applicants should be curious, creative, and collaborative.
All applicants should be able to:
Think creatively and critically
Enjoy working and fully participating in teams
Manage time effectively and meet project deadlines
Experience Designers use the principles of human-centered design to develop digital products and physical experiences for brands. Please note, we are no longer accepting applications for XD.
