The training ground for the best creative problem-solvers in the world of brands
The Brandcenter is dedicated to developing the most prominent thinkers and creatives in the advertising and branding industry.
Over the last 25+ years, more than 2,000 alumni have launched or accelerated their careers through our master’s program for Art Direction, Copywriting, Creative Brand Management, Experience Design, and Strategy.
![Graphic showcasing accolade of being named the Number 1 Graduate Advertising Program in the US by Creativity Magazine](https://vcubrandprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Accolades.png)
![Graphic showcasing accolade of receiving O'Toole Award for Best Portfolio School by the 4As](https://vcubrandprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Accolades3.png)
![Graphic showcasing accolade of being named in the Top 5 of Digital Media and Marketing Schools by Ad Age](https://vcubrandprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Accolades2.png)
![Graphic showcasing accolade of being named in the Top 60 Best Design and Business Schools by Businessweek](https://vcubrandprod.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Accolades4.png)
“Gather a group of smart, passionate, diverse, curious, and idealistic people and create a culture in which they thrive.”
Our formula, as noted in an early Brandcenter publication
Our Mission
To inspire and develop the next generation of creative leadership to craft solutions, advance brands, and bring new ventures to life.
Our Guiding Principles
NONCONFORMITY. The Brandcenter is filled with the spirit of innovators, pioneers, and benevolent rebels who do things in new, surprising, original, and unorthodox ways. We’ll always be a little bit rogue.
POSSIBILITY. We create it. We harness it. We believe a sense of possibility is a force multiplier.
PURPOSE. We’re driven by purpose. We don’t just create ideas—we’re driven to understand the underlying challenges and find elegant solutions to complex problems.
CREATIVITY. We use creativity as our primary operating strategy. We look at each challenge as a chance to create something new.
GRIT. We work an extra hour, write another draft, consult another resource. We see preparation as an act of respect–to the work and to each other.
COURAGE. We know that the easy answer isn’t always the right answer; we make hard choices and consider difficult challenges, and we know sometimes we have to make courageous choices.
COLLABORATION. We know that one of us is never as good as more of us; we seek each other’s gifts, we contribute our own, and we’re open to true collaboration to create more powerful outcomes.
HUMILITY. No matter how much we believe in our ideas, no matter how prepared we are, no matter how proud we are of our work, we know that we can always do better.
Our Impact
![Budding Creative, Ad School Buddy Report and Ranking for Brandcenter for 2023-2024](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BC_adschoolbuddy-1200x800.png)
Alumni Showcase
The work of our alumni speaks for itself.
Brandcenter alumni work on behalf of the world’s biggest brands, at some of the world’s most creative companies, and at leading advertising, design, and innovation agencies, consultancies, and firms.
Sample of Brands
![ESPN logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_ESPN_ForWeb.png)
![Nike swoosh logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_NikeSwoosh_ForWeb.png)
![Bud Light logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_BudLight_ForWeb.png)
![Apple logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Apple_ForWeb.png)
![Taco Bell logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_TacoBell_ForWeb.png)
![Starbucks logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Starbucks_ForWeb.png)
![Door Dash logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_DoorDash_ForWeb.png)
![McDonald's logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_McDonalds_ForWeb.png)
![Google logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Google_ForWeb.png)
![Target logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Target_ForWeb.png)
![Buffalo Wild Wings logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_BWW_ForWeb.png)
![Gatorade logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Gatorade_ForWeb.png)
![United Airlines logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_UnitedAirlines_ForWeb.png)
![UPS logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_UPS_ForWeb.png)
![Expedia logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Expedia_ForWeb.png)
![Walmart logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Walmart_ForWeb.png)
![Pinterest logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Pinterest_ForWeb.png)
![airbnb logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Airbnb_ForWeb.png)
![YETI logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_YETI_ForWeb.png)
![Under Armour logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_UnderArmour_ForWeb.png)
![Duke's mayo logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_DukesMayo_ForWeb.png)
![Adobe logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Adobe_ForWeb.png)
![Disney plus logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_DisneyPlus_ForWeb.png)
![BMW logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_BMW_ForWeb.png)
Sample of Agencies, Consultancies & Firms
![Arts & Letters Creative Co. logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_ArtsLettersCreativeCo_ForWeb-1.png)
![72andSunny logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_72andSunny_ForWeb.png)
![Mischief at No Fixed Address logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Mischief_ForWeb.png)
![The Martin Agency logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Martin_ForWeb.png)
![](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_WiedenKennedy_ForWeb-1.png)
![Dentsu logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Dentsu_ForWeb.png)
![Fallon logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Fallon_ForWeb.png)
![Ogilvy logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Ogilvy_ForWeb-1.png)
![Observatory logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Observatory_ForWeb-1.png)
![TBWA \ Chiat \ Day Media Arts Lab logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_TBWAMediaArtsLab_ForWeb.png)
![droga5 logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Droga5_ForWeb.png)
![David&Goliath logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_DavidGoliath_ForWeb.png)
![Havas logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Havas_ForWeb.png)
![Anomaly logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Anomaly_ForWeb.png)
![Arnold logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Arnold_ForWeb.png)
![Argonaut logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Argonaut_ForWeb.png)
![Sylvain logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Sylvain_ForWeb.png)
![FCB Chicago logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_FCBChicago_ForWeb.png)
Our Partners
Each year, we partner with agencies and companies—providing our students with real-world experience in solving real business problems with real clients.
![The Martin Agency logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Martin_ForWeb.png)
![FCB Chicago logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_FCBChicago_ForWeb.png)
![Walmart logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Walmart_ForWeb.png)
![airbnb logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Airbnb_ForWeb.png)
![Google logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Google_ForWeb.png)
![AXE logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_AXE_ForWeb.png)
![Lumē logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_Lume_ForWeb.png)
![Clorox logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_Clorox_ForWeb.png)
![Amazon Music logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_AmazonMusic_ForWeb.png)
![Oatly! logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_Oatly_ForWeb.png)
![Upwork logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_Upwork_ForWeb.png)
![WORN logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_WORN_ForWeb.png)
![Hardywood Brewery logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_HardywoodBrewery_ForWeb.png)
![iHop logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_iHop_ForWeb.png)
![Spotify logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_Spotify_ForWeb.png)
![Lyft logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_Lyft_ForWeb.png)
![Pinterest logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_Pinterest_ForWeb.png)
![Capital One logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_CapitalOne_ForWeb.png)
![Old Elk logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_OldElk_ForWeb.png)
![Ritz logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_Ritz_ForWeb.png)
![Buffalo Wild Wings logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Logo_BWW_ForWeb.png)
![Nonfiction research logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_NonfictionResearch_ForWeb.png)
![Door Dash logo](https://brandcenter.vcu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Logo_DoorDash_ForWeb.png)
History
For more than 25 years, the Brandcenter has been developing some of the most prominent thinkers and creatives in the advertising/branding industry.
Master’s Program
Build a portfolio, earn a master's degree, and launch your career in advertising, branding, or marketing, through our two-year, full-time master's program.
Professional Development
Our professional development program offers individual courses for marketing communications professionals seeking personal growth plus custom curriculum for companies and organizations.