News

Celebrating Kelly O'Keefe's New Business Venture

Please join us as we congratulate Kelly O’Keefe, Creative Brand Management Professor, on the rapid success and growth of his business, Brand Federation. At the end of this semester, Kelly will transition from his full-time role at the Brandcenter and turn his focus the company he founded a year ago. 

HARD WORK + TALENT + ENGAGING THE NETWORK PROPERLY = LIMITLESS OPPORTUNITY

Though some alums may feel that ‘BC is over and was a long time ago’, I do not agree. I think there is a networking opportunity for graduates as well, no matter how long ago they graduated. 

BriElle Munizzi (AD '20) summer intern work now in Adidas stores in LA and NYC

BriElle Munizzi (AD '20) spent her summer in Los Angeles interning at Wongdoody, and now gets to see her hard work come to life with the launch of Strings Attached campaign supporting the Adidas' Creators Club rewards program.

In addition to creating all of the illustrations for the campaign (on the postcards, lanyards, shoelace patterns, and pin design), BriElle also had the opportunity to test her skills in UX design, creating wireframes and helping outline the Adidas app experience for the rewards program.

Where you'll see this work: a limited run campaign is now in select Adidas stores located in Los Angeles and New York.

Brandcenter hosts the One Club Workshop for Creativity

On November 8-9, 2019, VCU Brandcenter hosted The One Club for Creativity Strategic Workshop in conjunction with the VCU Richard T. Robertson School of Media and Culture. Over 48 hours, a group of 60 students from throughout Virginia worked to create a strategic brief to deliver new life into a failing brand. 

Students presented to a panel of alumni and representatives from The Martin Agency, Arts & Letters Creative Co., Capital One, Elevation, Familiar Creatures, and Tilt.

Brandcenter Students Place in Caring for the Caregiver Hackathon

First year Brandcenter student Sharon Lee (XD, 2021) and second year student Andrea Owens (XD, 2020) participated in the 5th annual Caring for the Caregiver Hackathon on a team coached by Thea Pepperl from the VCU School of Engineering.

After 24 hours of brainstorming and creativity the VCU team placed 2nd bringing home $2000. In addition to the cash prize they have received a commitment of corporate sponsorship for their idea: an app for first-time caregivers, New Boots.

Brandcenter Alum Troy Gary (CBM, 2017) interviewed on We Are Next Podcast

Brandcenter alum Troy Gary (CBM, 2017), Director of Brand Strategy at Playboy, talks to We Are Next wants us all to create the environments we want to work in. Hear about how his early experience in sales and account management has been valuable, making sure we’re not talking to ourselves, fostering better relationships with senior leadership, why it’s smart to ask about an agency’s new business strategy in your interview, and the reasons behind his decision to take on a new role at Playboy.

A Heavy Dose of Holiday Magic From BarrettSF

With the holidays around the corner, Jessica Sugerman (AD ‘17) Kevin Albrecht (ST ‘15), and their team at barrettSF in San Francisco worked on the new holiday commercial for Cost Plus/ World Market - be sure to grab your tissues.

When you hear “Black Titanium”, what comes to mind?

For Jack McNamara (CW ‘18) and his team at McCann NY, it definitely wasn’t an advertisement for the New York Lottery. Jack and his team imagined that it could be the name of an intense heavy metal band. For serious heavy metal fans, check out their Black Titanium Spotify playlist.

Professor Kelly O'Keefe: Celebrating the arts and humanities

Creative Brand Management professor Kelly O'Keefe writes about the importance of the arts & humanities.

Allie Carr (CW, 2018) joins independent agency Erich & Kallman in San Francisco

2018 Brandcenter copywriting alum, Allie Carr joins independent agency Erich & Kallman in San Francisco office.

Making ads is the least of what you gain from the degree

It showed me how to think like an entrepreneur and how strategy is the key to success in any business you dive into. It taught me that you need to differentiate your product and message to be successful.

Rudy II: He’s Colonel Sanders Now

Sequels are rarely as good as the originals, but we’ve got a good feeling about this one. Check out this new work for KFC from Katie Willis (AD, 2015), Ryan Snyder (CW, 2015) Jarrod Higgins (XD, 2010), Britton Taylor (ST, 2001), and their team at Wieden+Kennedy Portland.