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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

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 →
Virtual Circus Forum – Guacamole Airplane

Ian Sanchez-Montgomery - Founder at Guacamole Airplane

February 23, 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 19th at 1:30 PM Ian Sanchez-Montgomery – Founder at Guacamole Airplane Before starting Guacamole Airplane, Ian worked as an in-house designer for Chubbies, Areaware and Mollusk Surf Shop. He did his undergraduate coursework in Environmental Science at Stanford and masters work in Packaging… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Goodby Silverstein & Partners

Margaret Brett-Kearns - Director of Production at Goodby Silverstein & Partners

February 23, 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 12th at 1:30 PM Margaret Brett-Kearns – Director of Production at Goodby Silverstein & Partners Director of Production with expertise in digital, social, print and art buying. Particularly excited about working at the intersection of experiential, video, art and digital experiences. Best at embracing… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – In Good Co.

Kirsten Ludwig - Founder at In Good Co.

February 23, 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 5th at 1:30 PM Kirsten Ludwig – Founder at In Good Co. Kirsten Ludwig is the president and founder of IN GOOD CO, a brand consultancy and global collective of creatives, strategists, designers, thinkers, and makers with a shared passion for purpose. While… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Creative Technologist

Blair Neal - Freelance Creative Technologist

February 23, 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, January 22nd at 1:30 PM Blair Neal – Freelance Creative Technologist Blair Neal is a creative technologist who uses a human-centered approach to make weird and fun experiences at the intersection of art and technology. Most recently, he was the Chief Creative Technologist at Fake… Read More →
Content Creation On-Campus Open House

Saturday, February 6th

January 28, 2021

Join us on-campus on Saturday, February 6th to learn more about the Content Creation program, career placement & 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 creative agencies, design shops, and studios around today. Are you a recent college graduate wondering what’s next? Graduates from The… Read More →
Art Direction On-Campus Open House

Saturday, January 30th

January 28, 2021

Join us on-campus on Saturday, January 30th to learn more about the Art Direction program, career placement & 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 creative agencies, design shops, and studios around today. Are you a recent college graduate wondering what’s next? Graduates from The… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Liquid Death Mountain Water

Alex Lang - Director of Visual Propaganda

January 12, 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, January 15th at 1:30 PM Alex Lang – Director of Visual Propaganda at Liquid Death Mountain Water Creative Circus Advisory Board Member (Fall 2020) Alex Lang is a creative director based in Austin, TX, currently leading art direction and design at Liquid Death Mountain Water as… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Disney+

Jayanta Jenkins - Head of Content Marketing

January 7, 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, December 4th at 1:30 PM Jayanta Jenkins – Head of Content Marketing at Disney+ Jenkins is a prolific industry creative who served as Twitter’s first-ever global head of creative. He has held stints at places like HP, Apple’s Beats by Dre and Wieden +… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – Venables Bell & Partners

Elliott & Allie Nordstrom

January 7, 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, November 20th at 1:30 PM Elliott Nordstrom – Associate Creative Director at Venables Bell & Partners Allie Nordstrom – Associate Creative Director at Venables Bell & Partners Elliot is a copywriter from Wisconsin. Allie is an art director from San Diego. They met in the middle,… Read More →
Virtual Circus Forum – The Variable

Matt Cook - Associate Creative Director & J.W. Affourtit - Art Director

January 7, 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, November 6th at 1:30 PM J.W. Affourtit – Art Director at The Variable Creative Circus Alum – Art Direction (2016) Matt Cook – Associate Creative Director at The Variable Claire created a fun, interactive website to pair with this week’s forum. Check it out: https://thevariablereforum.cargo.site/ J.W…. Read More →

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