
AnnouncementsOctober 1, 2018
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.
Read moreAug. 18, 2023
Brandcenter Orientation
Aug. 22, 2023
Fall classes begin
Sep. 4, 2023
Labor Day / Closed
Oct. 20, 2023
Reading Day
Nov. 7, 2023
Election Day / Closed
Nov. 20 -Nov. 26, 2023
Fall/Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 27, 2023
Classes resume
Dec. 11, 2023
Last day of classes
Dec. 11 -Dec. 15, 2023
Final projects/presentations
Dec. 20 -Jan. 16, 2024
Winter Break
Dec. 22 -Jan. 1, 2024
University closed for Winter Break
Jan. 8 -Jan. 12, 2024
BC Sprint
Jan. 15, 2024
Martin Luther King Jr. Day / Closed
Jan. 16, 2024
Spring classes begin
Mar. 3 -Mar. 10, 2024
Spring Break
Mar. 11, 2024
Classes resume
Apr. 30, 2024
Last day of classes
May. 1, 2024
Reading Day
May. 2 -May. 9, 2024
Final projects/presentations
May. 10 -May. 10, 2024
Graduation
AnnouncementsOctober 1, 2018
The VCU Brandcenter 2019 application is now available. Learn how to apply and request the application for fall 2019 on our Admissions page.
Read moreIn the NewsAugust 31, 2018
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).
Read moreIn the NewsSeptember 4, 2018
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.”
Read moreIn the NewsAugust 27, 2018
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.
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In the NewsAugust 20, 2018
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.”
Read moreIn the NewsAugust 2, 2018
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.
Read moreAlumniAugust 1, 2018
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.
Read moreAlumniJuly 12, 2018
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.
Read moreAnnouncementsJuly 18, 2018
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.
Read moreAlumniJuly 9, 2018
At 6pm on Thursday, July 19th, alumni, current and incoming students will meet up around the country for happy hour. The Brandcenter Class of 2019 has coordinated the events in the cities where they are interning so that #BrandFam in each city can reconnect, meet new alums in the area, and welcome the newest class of students.
Read moreIn the NewsJune 11, 2018
The endowed scholarship was created to benefit a student demonstrating strong interest in entrepreneurism.
Read moreIn the NewsJune 18, 2018
Berfin Ayhan, 2018 experience design graduate, designed a bot that uses facial recognition tech to automatically respond to internet creeps with snarky comebacks, or block or report them.
“I think defusing situations with humor can be very helpful,” Berfin says. “You feel like you can be safe behind having fun with it, especially when you’re feeling threatened.”
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