Purpose

Photo of students in graduation regalia

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.

“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

Alumni Showcase

The work of our alumni speaks for itself.

Professional Development

Our professional development program offers individual courses for marketing communications professionals seeking personal growth plus custom curriculum for companies and organizations.

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
Nike swoosh logo
Bud Light logo
Apple logo
Taco Bell logo
Starbucks logo
Door Dash logo
McDonald's logo
Google logo
Target logo
Buffalo Wild Wings logo
Gatorade logo
United Airlines logo
UPS logo
Expedia logo
Walmart logo
Pinterest logo
airbnb logo
YETI logo
Under Armour logo
Duke's mayo logo
Adobe logo
Disney plus logo
BMW logo

Sample of Agencies, Consultancies & Firms

Arts & Letters Creative Co. logo
72andSunny logo
Mischief at No Fixed Address logo
The Martin Agency logo
Dentsu logo
Fallon logo
Ogilvy logo
Observatory logo
TBWA \ Chiat \ Day Media Arts Lab logo
droga5 logo
David&Goliath logo
Havas logo
Anomaly logo
Arnold logo
Argonaut logo
Sylvain logo
FCB Chicago logo

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.

Purpose

We're committed to developing the next generation of creative leadership in advertising, branding, and marketing.

The Martin Agency logo
FCB Chicago logo
Walmart logo
airbnb logo
Google logo
AXE logo
Lumē logo
Clorox logo
Amazon Music logo
Oatly! logo
Upwork logo
WORN logo
Hardywood Brewery logo
iHop logo
Spotify logo
Lyft logo
Pinterest logo
Capital One logo
Old Elk logo
Ritz logo
Buffalo Wild Wings logo
Nonfiction research logo
Door Dash logo

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.