For the past 20 or so years, advertising finishing schools like Portfolio Center, Miami Ad School and Creative Circus have served as a primary route to a better portfolio and job offer at a top firm. Then came VCU and its Masters program, offering something the others do not, namely a Masters degree from an accredited university. University of Texas and University of Colorado have also been educating future ad peeps for some time.
Now, Colorado is stepping it up its offerings by creating Boulder Digital Works, a joint effort between MDC Partners (owner of Crispin Porter & Bogusky), Hyper Island, Microsoft and Society of Digital Agencies (SoDA).
In my opinion, advertising as a craft should not be taught be academics. Boulder Digital Works solves that problem by establishing partnerships with industry. And not just any partnerships. According to Ad Age, industry rock star and nouveau Boulderite, Alex Bogusky, will be teaching a class.
I salute Bogusky and CU for making this happen. CP+B’s move to Boulder a few years ago was unprecedented. It was also misunderstood by some and looked upon with suspicion by others. The more CP+B can integrate with the town of Boulder and CU the better.
The program’s Web site says it received “an impressive set of applications for our inaugural 60 weeks program beginning October 5, 2009. All accepted students will be notified by Friday August 28, 2009.” It costs $25,000 to attend and one receives a certificate, not a degree.
If you can’t afford that sum, there’s always the 24/7 learning lab for DIY zealots, also known as The World Wide Web. The DIY route isn’t free, there’s no hand-holding (or office hours with Bogusky). However, there’s the fact that you’ll be doing it, as opposed to studying those who do.
