The Brandcenter Professional Development program invites curious minds of all levels to learn from the premier institution for creative problem solving.
ABOUT BRANDCENTER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Brandcenter Professional Development program has been purposely designed to provide remote learning for working professionals looking to expand their knowledge. Led by accomplished Brandcenter alumni, faculty, and distinguished industry leaders in our extended network, our individual, open enrollment courses are developed to up-skill, re-skill, or cross-skill industry professionals in a convenient, virtual format.
Whether you’ve been thinking about your own professional development as an advertising or brand marketing professional or you are an L&D professional looking to reward, retain, or simply challenge your rising stars, we would love to have you join us.
Learn More
Contact Us
Rich Weinstein
Associate Director for Extension Programs
bcx@vcu.edu
Professional Development Courses
- All of our open enrollment, virtual courses are designed to meet the needs of creative problem solvers of all levels.
- We hope to release new courses every 60 to 90 days and offer a range of topics.
- Most courses will be between four and six modules, take place during the work day, and last approximately one hour.
May 2023 Courses (Registration closed)
Browse or share the Professional Development / May 2023 Course Catalog.
Click on the courses below for details.
COURSE DESCRIPTION & MODULES
This course is for conscious business leaders rightfully concerned about the compatibility of the consumer economy and urgency of the climate crisis. It is also for optimistic business builders who believe conscious consumers will root for the companies that offer innovative solutions and marry consumer value and purpose. We'll discuss emerging models (co-ops, 1-1 model, re-commerce, etc.) and case studies of businesses that have demonstrated how to build consumer preference and economic success with models that don't rely on unbridled consumption.
This course includes the following five modules (and guest lecturers from companies like Bombas, Patagonia, and GoFundMe):
• Making purpose your product
• Maximizing customer value post purchase
• Community building over customer acquisition
• Re-commerce and full-cycle of ownership
• Consumer-led supply change transformation
COURSE SCHEDULE
5 Weeks | Tuesdays, 2-3 p.m. ET
May 2, May 9, May 16, May 23, June 6
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Ivan Kayser is currently the CEO of Redscout, a brand innovation consultancy based in New York City. A native of France, Ivan began his career at TBWA and then went on to work at agencies such as Hill & Knowlton, Code & Theory, and Siberia. He’s been with Redscout for more than eight years and CEO since January 2019.
COURSE COST
$2,150
COURSE DESCRIPTION & MODULES
This course focuses on the art of production—a critical but, often misunderstood, part of the business of creativity.
In today’s business world, expectations have never been higher. We place a huge emphasis on the strategy behind a business, its brand and products, and the marketing of that strategy. We focus on developing world class, innovative ideas to support the strategy. But, we often forget that we need to bring those ideas to life.
This course will reinforce the thought that a good idea can become a great idea when it is produced with a very deliberate combination of intention and craft.
This course includes the following five modules:
• The DNA of a producer
• Hit me with the process
• Tried & true strategies of production
• The business side of things
• Developing a creative point of view
COURSE SCHEDULE
5 Weeks | Thursdays, 2-3 p.m. ET
May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25, June 1
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
A native of North Carolina and a self-professed cinephile, Temma Shoaf spent nearly 25 years producing some of the best advertising work in the world at Wieden + Kennedy New York. Throughout her career at W+K, she produced award-winning work for brands like McDonald’s, Bud Light, Delta, ESPN, Jordan Brand, and Target. While at Arts & Letters Creative Co. as the Head of Production, she oversaw all of the company’s production and its in-house production studio.
While placing an incredibly high value on the importance of the work, Temma’s favorite part of being a producer is providing mentorship to those around her. She approaches each day believing that being a producer is one of the toughest jobs in the industry but it can also be the most rewarding.
COURSE COST
$2,150
COURSE DESCRIPTION & MODULES
It’s no secret that our cultures—and our way of building them—need to shift. And yet, shifting can be easier said than done. The question remains: how can our company build and maintain a culture that retains and attracts top creative talent and creates and produces top creative work?
A recent study shows that 1 out of every 4 employees would rather lose their jobs than return to a physical work environment. And yet, in creative fields, our culture is often rooted in collaboration and the ideas generated when creative minds get together. Physically.
This course focuses on bringing marketing and HR functions together to breathe new life into increasingly distributed workplace cultures. Over the course of the 4 weeks, teams will develop an actionable Culture Plan.
This course includes the following four modules:
• Discover: A deep dive on frameworks and methodologies for uncovering insights.
• Distill: Learn how to synthesize extensive research into overarching insights that help align teams and clarify a path forward.
• Design: Explore how to use insights to develop a succinct strategic blueprint.
• Deliver: Present and receive feedback on your comprehensive culture plan.
COURSE SCHEDULE
4 Weeks | Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. ET
May 2, May 9, May 16, May 23
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Rian Chandler-Dovis is Chief Product Officer and a Managing Partner at Brand Federation. She is an accomplished brand builder who relies on research-driven insights to shape winning strategies. Rian has developed strategies for dozens of the world’s best-known brands, including General Motors, American Express, Samsung, PepsiCo, Colgate, Macy’s, MIT, World Wildlife Fund, and others. She is a fierce advocate for remote work and its power to strengthen organizations by enabling workers to live their best lives.
Rian resides with her family in Cabo San Lucas, at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula. She holds a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and a graduate degree from the VCU Brandcenter in the Creative Brand Management concentration.
COURSE COST
$2,050
COURSE DESCRIPTION & MODULES
In this course, we’ll explore the theory and practice of media planning at a high level. It will include a modern understanding of how media works, inspirational examples of media thinking at its best, and practical advice on working with or around media practitioners. If you’re looking for a crash course on ad tech or planning by numbers, run the other way.
This course includes the following four modules:
• The big picture
• How to think creatively about media
• How to resolve the trade-offs in media
• How to integrate media
COURSE SCHEDULE
4 Weeks | Wednesdays, 2-3 p.m. ET
May 3, May 10, May 17, May 24
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Todd Alchin is both the Chief Strategy Officer and the Chief Marketing Officer for Noble People, an independent creative media agency founded upon the principles of honesty, boldness, and originality. Todd began his media strategy career in his native Australia and then moved to the US to work at Crispin Porter + Bogusky, which, at the time, was one of the best agencies in the world and awarded Agency of the Decade.
From there, he became a founding member of Noble People and has helped lead the agency to being named AdAge Small Media Agency of the Year three times, as well as recognition from Adweek, Campaign, Cannes, and the Effies.
COURSE COST
$2,050
COURSE DESCRIPTION & MODULES
Motion design is not a passing trend. As more and more of our lives are spent online, digital experiences will get richer and more immersive. Animated content—opening film titles, educational animations, social media GIFs, etc.—has proven to increase engagement while informing and rewarding users. And, for brands, motion standards are becoming just as important as color, illustration, font, and logo standards.
Our five-module course will teach creatives at any level how to navigate Adobe After Effects. With a combination of video-capture tutorials and live office-hours-style virtual meetings, you can get over the "Intimidation Hump" and confidently use After Effects in your work.
This course includes the following five modules:
• The graph editor
• Icon animations
• Logo reveals
• Instagram social media posts
• Motion guidelines for brands
COURSE SCHEDULE
5 Weeks | Fridays, 2-3 p.m. ET
May 5, May 12, May 19, June 2, June 9
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
A Brandcenter alum, Rick Plautz was unanimously voted “Most Likely to Use Cinema 4D for No Reason” by his peers while he was at the Brandcenter. He’s been a voracious user of the Adobe Suite for more than 15 years and specializes in After Effects for 2D and Cinema 4D/Redshift for 3D motion design. Rick leveraged that expertise to become the first Motion Designer on Capital One’s Brand Team and continues to mentor the next generation of Experience Designers as an adjunct professor at the Brandcenter.
COURSE COST
$2,150
Custom Programs
Our Professional Development program consults with all types of companies to design custom programs for your employees—including a range of departments, L&D professionals, and leadership teams. We offer a unique, individualized process tailored to your organization’s specific needs and professional development goals. If you're interested in exploring options for custom curriculum, fill out this interest form and our team will be in touch with you in 1-3 business days.
Policies and FAQs
See below for policies and frequently asked questions. Contact us at bcx@vcu.edu if you have additional questions or need more information.
We offer professional development for people at any stage of their careers, providing you with a platform to achieve your goals. The courses are designed for individuals looking to sharpen an existing set of skills, learn new skills, or make a career pivot.
All programs are solely offered in virtual formats at this time. Each program offers material that will be consumed via live video conference calls with the whole class.
For our custom programs, we are open to holding these programs in person (at the Brandcenter or at your office), if we agree that it would be advantageous to hold the courses on site.
Program duration differs depending on the course, but we expect most to last about an hour. Each course will likely have between four and six modules, and the modules should occur on consecutive weeks.
After completing a course, attendees will receive a certificate of completion, enhanced understanding of the program material, and a new network of professional colleagues.
New programs will be added every 60 or 90 days, which will include brand new topics and may include additional sections of current offerings. Be sure to fill out the interest form to stay up-to-date on new programs.
Of course. If two programs you’re interested in have overlapping dates and times, please email bcx@vcu.edu to inquire about how enrollment would work for both programs.
The registration fee varies for each program. BC offers a 10% early-bird discount (usually two weeks prior to each program start date), and Brandcenter alumni will receive a 10% discount regardless of when they register. For alumni, simply indicate your graduation year and concentration upon registering. (Please note, there is a 10% maximum discount per participant.)
Payment is due in full at registration; we do not accept payment plans. You will receive a receipt up to 72 hours after completing registration and payment.
Accepted payment methods include credit card and check. If you need a W-9 form to issue a check, please contact us at bcx@vcu.edu. We recommend requesting a check from your organization 90 days prior to the start of the program. If we have not received the check by the start of the program, you will not be permitted to attend.
Since professional development classes are non-credit, they are not covered by the VCU tuition waiver. Please direct all reimbursement questions internally to your organization.
For additional questions about payments, please email bcx@vcu.edu.
If you’re unable to attend, you may be eligible for a refund, based on cancellation date:
3+ weeks prior to the start date = full refund
2-3 weeks prior to the start date = 50 percent refund
Less than two weeks prior to the start date = no refund
All requests for refunds must be in writing to bcx@vcu.edu. Approved refunds will be processed in 7-10 business days.
Brandcenter reserves the right to cancel any program if minimum enrollment is not met prior to the start date. If a program is canceled, the full registration fee will be refunded. Brandcenter also reserves the right to postpone programs, limit enrollment, split or combine programs, change instructors, or change locations.
Participants must attend at least 80% of a course to receive a certificate of completion.
If you require accommodations due to a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act, email us at bcx@vcu.edu at least two weeks prior to the program.
Grievances can be reported to VCU Equity and Access Services Office: 804-828-1347 or equity@vcu.edu.