VCU Brandcenter executive director interviewed on We Are Next podcast

Vann Graves, Executive Director of the VCU Brandcenter, brings stories, learnings, and vision from his highly-awarded career working with some of the world's biggest brands. Hear about how being asked to create a Christmas card for (then CCO and Chairman of BBDO) Phil Dusenberry's dog taught him a lesson about being a great creative, his enormous goal for making Brandcenter more accessible to students and diversifying the pipeline to the industry, what the industry should know about the next generation of advertising, and why you shouldn't "fake it 'til you make it".

Brandcenter students win Caring for the Caregiver Hackathon

Melissa Poe and Daniel Huffine, first year students in the Brandcenter's Experience Design track, were part of a team of VCU students who took home first prize in The Lindsay Institute's Caring for the Caregiver Hackathon this October, 2018.

Haymaker’s Chief Creative, alum Jay Kamath (AD, 2007), Values Hybrid Talents Above All

Jay Kamath went from architecture student to agency co-founder. He and a former 72andSunny coworker started Haymaker in 2017 with a multidisciplinal attitude, hiring people with hybrid talents - and that approach is reflected in the far-ranging avenues that many of Haymaker’s creative endeavors take. In this Adweek article, Jay shares advice and lessons he's learned along the way. 

VCU Brandcenter 2019 application now available

The VCU Brandcenter 2019 application is now available. Learn how to apply and request the application for fall 2019 on our Admissions page.

Hunter Kelly, Strategy Intern & Akin Abode, Copywriting Intern at HAYMAKER

We Are Next podcast and blog interviewed Brandcenter alum Hunter Kelly (Strategy, 2018) and second year student Akin Abode (Copywriting, 2019) about their internship experience this summer at Haymaker, a young agency started by Brandcenter alum Jay Kamath (Art direction, 2007).

Brandcenter Agent of Change Scholarship Fund

Driven by the shared belief in the importance of diversity, supporters of the VCU Brandcenter, the country’s premier graduate program for branding and advertising, came together over the summer to create the Agent of Change Scholarship Fund.

“This scholarship is designed to attract a greater number of students with diverse backgrounds – something our industry is critically lacking," said Kristen Cavallo, CEO of The Martin Agency. "We are honored to help promote this vital initiative to help change advertising for the better.”

Creative Q&A: Vann Graves’ homecoming

After 25 years of agency work that took him to advertising powerhouses in New York and Atlanta, Richmond native Vann Graves has returned home.

The Army veteran, Harvard graduate and Open High School alum has taken the helm of the VCU Brandcenter, starting earlier this month as the school’s fourth executive director after stints at ad giants J. Walter Thompson and McCann, and a 15-year run at BBDO.

Executive Creative Director Vann Graves quoted in Adweek on brands and creativity in the age of Trump.

Since Trump took office, brand marketers and agency creatives have largely gone quiet. Those who have continued to make provocative, challenging work have reaped both awards and boycott threats, but overwhelmingly, some industry observers say, today’s political polarization has had a numbing effect on creativity.

“Some companies do not view entering the political discussion as a way to move their brand forward, so they stay the course,” noted Vann Graves, VCU Brandcenter executive director and former CCO at JWT Atlanta. “I felt similarly for a while, but it has since become clear that it is simply not possible for brands to remain on the sidelines.”

Made in RVA: Chad Hilton Designs

Watch the beautiful graphic design and laser cutting artistry of Chad Hilton, 2nd year experience design student and owner of Chad Hilton Designs, featured on Virginia This Morning.

Ad industry supergroup forms to battle climate change

The powerful idea of a commencement speech takeover campaign was originated by Brandcenter alums Karen Short (AD, 2008) and Casey Rand (CW, 2008), Group Creative Directors at Droga5.

More than 250 students around the country used 60 seconds of their commencement speech to make a pledge to vote for action on climate change as well as equality and safety from gun violence.

Brandcenter grad designed augmented reality tool to aid breast health

2018 Experience design graduate Berfin Ayhan (currently working at frog design) designed an augmented reality app to help women achieve better breast awareness and detect changes.

In this Q&A, Berfin delves into the design challenges she faced, such as figuring out who she was designing for (anyone with breasts?), heightened privacy challenges (the app works in airplane mode to guarantee no data is entering or leaving the app), and how to make users feel comfortable using it regularly.

Fall information session dates set

Register now for an information session at the VCU Brandcenter this fall. Come learn about our Master's program and five tracks from admissions representatives and current students and/or alumni.