News

Brandcenter summer happy hours: July 19th

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. 

The Hull Foundation Establishes Scholarship at VCU Brandcenter

The endowed scholarship was created to benefit a student demonstrating strong interest in entrepreneurism.

Recent grad's "Nastybot" featured in FastCo.Design

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.”

Three Brandcenter alums make Adweek's Creative 100 list

Blake Winfree (AD, 2003), VP and Creative Director at MullenLowe, and Kevin Weir (AD, 2012) and Chris Colliton (XD, 2012), Creative Directors at Droga5, were named to Adweek's Creative 100 in the category of "rising agency stars who are keeping advertising relevant, fresh, and fascinating."

How This Unconventional Duo Changed A Conventional Industry

Hannah (AD, 2014) and Jade Sullivan (UX, 2014) sit down with Forbes to talk about Pogo.co and how they're turning the insurance industry on its end.

Change It Up: Advice From 4 Career Shifters

What do a comedian, media planner, medical scribe, and financial sales manager have in common? They are all examples of career shifters that navigated into the advertising industry (with a little help from the VCU Brandcenter’s graduate advertising program). Hawley Smyth, senior admissions counselor, brings advice from four alumni career shifters who used their time at Brandcenter to switch into advertising from another career (and prove that you can come from any industry) or to change teams.

Super Bowl ad showcase VCU Brandcenter talent once again

Brandcenter graduates helped produce ads for major brands, including Bud Light, Pringles, T-Mobile and Hyundai.

VCU Brandcenter grads behind Super Bowl ads

 ABC 8 News story on VCU Brandcenter graduates who have Superbowl spots airing this year, featuring an interview with our own Scott Witthaus. 

An inside look at what it’s like to work on a Super Bowl ad

VCU Brandcenter alumni share their stories of creating commercials on the ad world’s biggest stage.

Brandcenter alums’ startup launches insurance platform for freelancers

Jade (XD, 2014) and Hannah (AD, 2014) Sullivan recently started Pogo Insurance to assist the underserved market.

The New York Times Made a Simple, Powerful TV Spot About Reporting Sexual Harassment.

Julie Matheny (CW, 2009), Tim Gordon (CW, 2008) and their team at Droga5 made the powerful “He said. She said.” spot for the New York Times that aired during the Golden Globes.

How Do You Turn an Ad Into a Meme? Two Words: Dilly Dilly.

Brandcenter alums Alex Ledford (CW, 2012) and NJ Placentra (AD, 2012), senior creatives at Wieden + Kennedy, came up with our new favorite catchphrase for Bud Light.