INSIDE Our Cannes Win: Why Miami Ad School is the 2025 School of the Year
A BIG WIN (THANKS TO OUR STUDENTS)
The crowd is silent in the Grand Auditorium. It’s Night 1 of the International Festival of Creativity 2025, and all eyes are on the Future Lions.
Future Lions. As in, the next stars of the industry. The youngest, freshest, most exciting voices at Cannes this year.
3. 2. 1. The presenter opens the envelope…
And “MIAMI AD SCHOOL” echoes through the hall!
That’s right: this year, Miami Ad School once again took home the coveted Future Lions School of the Year award, recognizing our commitment to exceptional student work, industry partnerships, and innovative pedagogy.
Not only that, but a whole team of our MAS students took home Future Lions of their own for their project: “The Noama Paddle”.
If you’re a future creative talent—or an industry insider hungry for the next wave of advertising disruptors—you’re in the right place. Scroll down as we unpack exactly what this accolade means, how our hands-on, studio-style approach shapes advertising professionals, share alumni success stories, and show you how to join the ranks of the next generation of creative leaders.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w3pUQucSqM
WHAT SCHOOL OF THE YEAR MEANS
About Future Lions
Future Lions is one of the advertising world’s most prestigious student competitions. Launched in 2012 by Cannes Lions, it challenges young creatives worldwide to solve real-world brand briefs using the latest technology, trends, and cultural insights. Past winners have gone on to shape campaigns for global brands and earn spots at top agencies.
This year’s prize challenged entrants to “connect an audience to a product or service from a brand you choose in a way that wasn’t possible three years ago.”
Selection Criteria for Future Lions Winners
Innovation & Creativity: Entries must push boundaries—whether through unexpected media, emerging tech, or forward-thinking strategy.
Craft & Execution: Concepts are judged on clarity, polish, and executional excellence.
Industry Relevance: Ideas must address genuine brand challenges and leverage cultural trends in meaningful ways.
Why Our Students Won for The Noama Paddle:
Our students, Breno Bonelli, Gabriel Lyra, Giulia Rebello, Marina Quadros, and Yago Meneses, put together a project that highlight how great ideas can shape a better future.
In 2024, mercury from illegal mining contaminated seven rivers, poisoning 94% of Indigenous communities who urgently need safe water. Inspired by the Yanomami culture, the Noama Paddle is designed to empower communities by providing a simple yet effective water quality assessment. The paddle’s detailing incorporates mercury-sensitive ink that changes colour upon contact with contaminated water, helping to protect their health and expose environmental damage.
Why SCHOOL OF THE YEAR Really Matters
The official definition from AKQA is this: “The Tom Bedecarré School of the Year Award will recognise schools, academies and educational centres that demonstrate a proven and pioneering approach, broadening access and leveraging technology to amplify impact. The Tom Bedecarré School of the Year Award is in honour of AKQA’s Chairman Emeritus.”
Being named the Advertising School of the Year isn’t just a trophy on the shelf. It’s proof that our curriculum, faculty, and student community are at the forefront of industry innovation. For prospective students, it signals you’ll be learning from instructors who’ve won at Cannes, working on briefs created in partnership with global brands, and graduating with a portfolio that stands up in today’s competitive job market.
In the words of Ajaz Ahmed (CEO of AKQA):
“Future Lions provides young people with a platform of discovery to design influential solutions to many of the most pressing issues. The quality and inspiration evident in this year’s exhilarating entries set the stage for themes and perspectives that matter most to a new generation.
BUT THIS WAS NOT OUR FIRST RODEO
Just last year, at the Cannes Creativity Festival 2024, Ana Gabunia and João Parreira from the Berlin campus of Miami Ad School won Golden Lions in the student competition for their innovative campaign, EarSafe.
This remarkable campaign transformed Spotify into a free hearing tool by using your favorite songs to boost the frequencies you can no longer hear.
OUR UNIQUE APPROACH TO CREATIVE LEARNING AND CAREER BUILDING
1. Real-World Briefs & Live Projects
From Day One, Miami Ad School students tackle briefs sourced directly from agencies and brands. In the past, that list of partners has included Starbucks, Netflix, KFC, and more!
These live projects aren’t hypothetical exercises—they produce work that goes live, gathers metrics, and earns real feedback from industry clients.
2. Faculty & Mentors
Our instructors aren’t career academics; they’re working creatives with Cannes Lions, CLIO, and One Show credits. You might learn copywriting from a director at TBWA\Chiat\Day…or creative direction from a star leader at Activison. In all cases, our instructors are updating their curriculums regularly with the real-world skills and lessons they’re seeing in the industry.
Outside the classroom, weekly mentor sessions give you one-on-one guidance on portfolio development, resume building, and career pathways.
3. Collaborative, Studio-Style Learning
We believe great work emerges when diverse talents collide. That’s why cohorts are structured like agencies, mixing creative strategists, copywriters, art directors, designers, and all kinds of other talent together.
You’ll pitch, critique, iterate, and present—all under tight deadlines that mirror agency life. This immersive environment teaches you not only craft, but collaboration, time management, and resilience under pressure.
SO MANY SUCCESS STORIES
Our alumni are proof that a Career in Advertising can begin at Miami Ad School and accelerate rapidly.
Case Study 1: From Student to Cannes Winner at Ogilvy
Graduate: Maria Lopez (Class of ’22)
Journey: Maria joined MAS’s Miami campus focused on digital strategy. Under the mentorship of a former Cannes jury member, she crafted an interactive mobile campaign for Procter & Gamble’s Tide brand.
Outcome: Within six months of graduation, she was hired as a digital strategist at Ogilvy New York. In 2024, Maria co-led a Tinder campaign that won a Bronze Lion for Best Use of Data.
“Miami Ad School didn’t just teach me tools—it taught me how to think like an award-winning creative. The live briefs prepared me for the real pressures of agency life.”
Case Study 2: Launching a Boutique Creative Studio
Graduate: Ravi Patel (Class of ’20)
Journey: After MAS Hamburg, Ravi returned to India and co-founded “PixelPhantom,” a micro-agency serving startups. He applied his MAS training in AR experiences to build brand activations for edtech clients.
Outcome: PixelPhantom now counts three unicorn startups on its roster, and Ravi regularly speaks at industry conferences about blending technology and storytelling.
“The global network I built at MAS—classmates, alumni, visiting creatives—gave me the confidence to start my own venture.”
These are just two examples among hundreds of alumni currently shaping Creative Careers around the world.
CAMPUS, CULTURE, COMMUNITY
“These awards are a powerful recognition of how we learn at Miami Ad School—students and teachers from around the world coming together to solve real-world problems through creativity and innovation. It’s no coincidence that the winning case and three finalists emerged from our global ideathon. We’re incredibly proud of what our community has achieved.”
– Bernardo Geoghegan, Managing Director, Miami Ad School Buenos Aires
1. Vibrant Campus Life
Whether you’re in Miami or New York (or one of our many international locations), MAS campuses buzz with creativity:
Creative Labs: State-of-the-art studios equipped with video editing bays, VR/AR workstations, and podcast booths.
Speaker Series: Weekly talks from C-Suite leaders, award-winning creatives, and entrepreneurs.
Student Clubs: From Women in Advertising to the AR/VR Collective, there’s a community for every passion.
2. Global Network
Your cohort extends beyond the classroom:
Agency Visits: Organized trips to WPP, Publicis, and independent agencies for portfolio reviews and networking.
Exchange Programs: Semester swaps with partner schools in São Paulo, London, and Tokyo.
Cannes Lions Trips: Each year, select students join our delegation to Cannes for firsthand industry immersion.
3. Support & Resources
Career Services: Dedicated advisors help with interview prep, LinkedIn optimization, and salary negotiation.
Portfolio Clinics: Regular drop-in sessions to update your book as campaigns launch and data rolls in.
Alumni Mentorship: Access a global directory of 5,000+ alumni willing to review your work, make introductions, or offer freelance gigs.
Together, these elements create a culture that’s both rigorous and nurturing—pushing you to excel while offering the community and resources you need to thrive.
HERE’S HOW YOU JOIN
Ready to turn your passion for design, storytelling, marketing, and strategy into a Career in Advertising?
Here’s how to get started:
1. Interview Process:
Every application at MAS starts with an admissions interview. You’ll meet with your admissions coordinator, and they’ll assess whether you’re a fit for a program at Miami Ad School.
2. Portfolio Expectations:
We’ll ask you to show us 3–5 pieces—they could be speculative, or school projects. We look for original ideas and strong craft. The important thing is potential…not necessarily perfect work.
APPLY NOW
Apply now to Miami Ad School—the Advertising School of the Year—and take the first step toward a dynamic, future-proof creative career.
