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Creative Circus

Where creative kids
become employable.

Announcement!

COVID-19 UPDATE: Read the latest on the Circus’ response to the coronavirus.

The Creative Circus mission is to graduate the
best-prepared, most avidly sought-after creatives in
the marketing communications industry.

The Circus trains students in Art Direction, Content Creation,
Copywriting, Creative Technology, Graphic Design, and Photography.

Latest News

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT – Eric Doctor

Senior Designer, The Unemployed Philosophers Guild

August 29, 2021

#AlumniSpotlight The Creative Circus graduates the most sought after creatives in the industry. Take a moment to read about the lives, careers & personal stories of some of our fantastic alumni. Eric Doctor – Senior Designer, The Unemployed Philosophers Guild Design – September 2012 What does the Circus mean to you? Before I went to the Circus making a living as a graphic designer seemed like an unattainable pipe dream. Since I graduated… Read More →
Kelley Conner Lear

Interim Copywriting Program Director

August 16, 2021

We are excited to announce Kelley Conner Lear as the Circus’ Interim Copywriting Program Director. Kelley Conner Lear is a creative director and chameleon — part art director, part copywriter and one hundred percent defender, cheerleader and chaperone of great work. After a brief stint in Atlanta as a print and broadcast production manager, she soon decided she’d rather be making work and left to study art direction at the… Read More →
Friday Forum – The Many

Ashley Milhollin - CD, The Many

August 12, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Friday, August 13 at 1:30 PM Ashley Milhollin is an award-winning, award-losing, award-judging ACD with experience across a whole bunch of clients and categories–from Target and Taco Bell to tuna and toilet paper. (And a lot of others that don’t quite fit in the above sentence as alliteratively.) Creative director and copywriter by day…. Read More →
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT – Hollis Callas

Designer & Illustrator

August 12, 2021

#AlumniSpotlight The Creative Circus graduates the most sought after creatives in the industry. Take a moment to read about the lives, careers & personal stories of some of our fantastic alumni. Hollis Callas – Designer & Illustrator Design – Spring 2016 What does the Circus mean to you? The Circus symbolizes growth and new beginnings to me. I was an art educator before I decided to go back to school and study design…. Read More →
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT – Jelena Kolomejac

Art Director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners

August 5, 2021

#AlumniSpotlight The Creative Circus graduates the most sought after creatives in the industry. Take a moment to read about the lives, careers & personal stories of some of our fantastic alumni. Jelena Kolomejac – Art Director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Art Direction – 2018 What does the Circus mean to you? It means being rewarded for those strange thoughts that are always rolling around in your brain and finding other people who… Read More →
Friday Forum – Tomorrow Pictures

Frederick Taylor –CEO, Tomorrow Pictures

July 29, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Friday, July 30th at 1:30 PM Frederick Taylor is CEO of Tomorrow Pictures and an Emmy award-winning Filmmaker/Producer. From Linkedin: For this southside of Chicago native, the story is in the telling. Fr3deR1cK brings his exceptional filmmaking talent for capturing stories to his work traveling the world as a documentary filmmaker and photographer. His projects… Read More →
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT – ELLIOTT GRAHAM

Elliott Graham – VMLY&R New York

July 26, 2021

#AlumniSpotlight The Creative Circus graduates the most sought after creatives in the industry. Take a moment to read about the lives, careers & personal stories of some of our fantastic alumni. Elliott Graham – Associate Creative Director, VMLY&R New YorkArt Direction – 2012 What does the Circus mean to you? Circus was a pivotal point in my creative life. I knew I had something in me but it was hard to figure… Read More →
Friday Forum – Genexa

Alex Russell - CCO, Genexa

July 22, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Friday, July 23rd at 1:30 PM Alex Russell is an award-winning CCO at Genexa, the world’s first and only clean medicine company. Prior to Genexa, he has served as the creative lead for Coke’s internal agency, directing a 360 range of work across Coke’s family of brands, BBDOATL and Arnold. He has worked on… Read More →
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT – PAIGE SOLOMON

Paige Solomon – Madcap Motel

July 5, 2021

#AlumniSpotlight The Creative Circus graduates the most sought after creatives in the industry. Take a moment to read about the lives, careers & personal stories of some of our fantastic alumni. Paige Solomon – CEO and Creative Director of Madcap MotelCreative Circus Alum – Design (2015) What does the Circus mean to you? The circus taught me to work hard and to grow up. The work ethic I have today is 100%… Read More →
CIRCUS SPOTLIGHT

Derek Smith – The Martin Agency

June 28, 2021

#AlumniSpotlight The Creative Circus graduates the most sought after creatives in the industry. Take a moment to read about the lives, careers & personal stories of some of our fantastic alumni. Derek Smith – Senior Art Director at The Martin AgencyCreative Circus Alum – Art Direction (2016) What were you doing before coming to the circus? Before the Circus, I was a college athlete at the University of Memphis. I tore both… Read More →
2021 Maymester Round-Up

Another Successful Maymester

June 21, 2021

We’ve recently completed another Maymester at The Creative Circus! For those who are unfamiliar, Maymester @ The Circus is a partnership between The University of South Carolina & The Creative Circus. Students can earn up to three hours of upper-level elective credit offered by The University of South Carolina. Students have the option to participate in this program for course credit or simply for the experience. The first week of the program focuses… Read More →
On-Campus Open House

Saturday, July 17

June 7, 2021

Join us on Saturday, July 17th & learn more about our individual programs offered, career placement assistance & financial aid. Student-led campus tours begins at 10AM followed by a panel of students and individual program break out sessions. We’ll fill you in on what it takes to build a killer, life-changing, memorable circus portfolio. A portfolio that will land you in some of the most amazing, talked about creative agencies,… Read More →
Friday Forum – Ranch Rider Spirits

Sean Curran - Vice President of Creative & Marketing at Ranch Rider Spirits

May 25, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Due to COVID-19, we transitioned to virtual forum events. However, this will be an in-person event. Friday, May 28th at 1:30 PM Sean Curran – Vice President of Creative & Marketing at Ranch Rider Spirits Sean Curran is an award-winning Vice President of Creative & Marketing best known for his work with the… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Thrasio

Lauren Goldsmith - Associate Creative Director at Thrasio

May 18, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Friday, May 21st at 1:30 PM Lauren Goldsmith– Associate Creative Director at Thrasio Creative Circus Alum – Art Direction (2014) Lauren is currently an ACD for Thrasio, a company that acquires third-party vendors for Amazon then takes those brands, evaluates them, and addresses their creative needs accordingly. Lauren is self-described as a little bowl… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Lemonade

Nuno Ferreira - Head of Creative at Lemonade

May 4, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Friday, May 7th at 1:30 PM Nuno Ferreira – Head of Creative at Lemonade Nuno is the Head of Creative at Lemonade, working hard to make insurance a little more cool. Before that he was a Creative Director at 72andSunny In New York and Los Angeles, working on Facebook, Google… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Grey Group

Andre Gray - Executive Creative Director at Grey Group

April 20, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Friday, April 23rd at 1:30 PM Andre Gray – Executive Creative Director at Grey Group Over the course of his career, Andre has made integrated campaigns for varied categories, from deodorant to Ultraboosts, leading global campaigns for brands like adidas, Gatorade, and Nissan. Andre is a staunch advocate for underrepresented… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Kryptonie

Marie-Chantal Milette - Founder at Kryptonie

April 13, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Due to COVID-19, we have transitioned to virtual forum events. Friday, April 16th at 1:30 PM Marie-Chantal Milette – Founder at Kryptonie Creative Circus Alum – Graphic Design (2012) Growing up, Marie-Chantal Milette wanted to name the colours in paint stores; today she is the founder of Kryptonie and one of few colour experts… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Johannes Leonardo

Omid Amidi - Creative Director at Johannes Leonardo

April 1, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Due to COVID-19, we have transitioned to virtual forum events. Friday, March 5th at 1:30 PM Omid Amidi – Creative Director at Johannes Leonardo Omid Amidi is an internationally awarded Creative Director at Johannes Leonardo in New York. He is of Persian descent, though he was born in France and grew up in Libya before moving… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – EP+Co

Will Isom & Tim Kang Associate Creative Directors at EP+Co

April 1, 2021

#CircusForum The Creative Circus hosts special guests every Friday as part of our Friday Forum Series. Due to COVID-19, we have transitioned to virtual forum events. Friday, February 26th at 1:30 PM Will Isom – Associate Creative Director at EP+Co Creative Circus Alum – Copywriting (2013) Tim Kang – Associate Creative Director at EP+Co Creative Circus Alum – Art Direction (2013) Tim and Will have been doing this advertising thing since they… Read More →
Nakita Pope

Design Program Chair

March 23, 2021

We are excited to announce that Nakita M. Pope, the Circus’ Diversity & Inclusion Advisor & adjunct faculty member, has taken on the role of Design Program Chair for The Creative Circus. Over the past 20 years, Nakita has worked as a strategist, graphic designer, creative director and brand manager which has given her experiences that inform how she works with her clients. Her passion for brand strategy is also… Read More →
Content Creation, Design & Creative Technology Open House

Saturday - April 24th

March 18, 2021

Are you curious about what Creative Technologists or Content Creators actually do? What exactly goes on at portfolio school? And why is The Creative Circus named that and will your family and friends think you’re in clown school? Answers to these burning questions and more await. Join us on April 24th at 10 AM for an on-campus Open House event. We’ll fill you in on what it takes to build… Read More →
Art Direction & Copywriting Open House

Saturday - May 1st

March 18, 2021

Join us on Saturday, May 1st & learn more about the Art Direction & Copywriting programs, career placement assistance & financial aid. We’ll fill you in on what it takes to build a killer, life-changing, memorable circus portfolio. A portfolio that will land you in some of the most amazing, talked about advertising agencies, design shops, and studios around today. Event Details 10 AM – 10:30 AM: One-on-one campus tours… Read More →
Creative Circus Alumni – Ad 2 Austin’s 2021 32 Under 32 Awards

Lauren Doerr & Tyler DeBoard

March 10, 2021

Ad 2 Austin has announced their finalists for the 2021 32 Under 32 Awards honoring the young talent around the Austin advertising industry. Congratulations to Creative Circus alumni, Lauren Doerr & Tyler DeBoard for making the list! Lauren Doerr – Senior Copywriter at GSD&M Creative Circus Alum – Copywriting (2016) Tyler DeBoard – Associate Director, Talent Acquisition at GSD&M Creative Circus Alum – Art Direction (2014) Similar to the Forbes 30 under 30, this list recognizes the best of… Read More →
2021 Atlanta Addy Winners

Congratulations!

March 9, 2021

The American Advertising Awards® (AAA), also known as the ADDYs, is the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competitions. The mission of the AAA competition is to recognize and reward the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising. Congratulations to all The Circus students who were recognized at the 2021 Atlanta ADDY Awards! Creative Circus students brought home the Student Best in Show plus 9 Gold… Read More →
Creative Circus Alumni – Makeda Loney

Black Tea- Interview Series With Black Women in Advertising

March 8, 2021

This #InternationalWomensDay, we are shining a spotlight on Makeda Loney, and her recent video interview with Muse by Clio. Makeda Loney – Copywriter at The Martin Agency Creative Circus Alum – Copywriting (2016) Makeda Loney (she/her), is an award-winning copywriter at The Martin Agency. Makeda is a Brooklyn native living in Chicago, a semi-pro Twitch streamer, illustrator and poet. Basically, she wakes up each morning and chooses which kind of… Read More →

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