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The Art Direction Portfolio Program
Build your dream career in just 2 years.
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What does an art director do?
As an AD, ideas are your playground. Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to bring brands to life.
Together with your copywriting partner (most pros work as a pair) you tinker and explore new concepts, and new ways of communicating your client’s promise. You create websites, billboards, TikTok campaigns…anything to deliver your message. Every day is a new adventure.
JAYANTA JENKINSHead of Content Marketing at Disney+
“Going to M.AD gave me the opportunity to know if this business would be right for me. I can’t describe how grateful I am for the experiences I’ve gotten through this profession.”
The Art Direction Curriculum at M.AD
What (and how) you’ll be learning.
Your training covers everything you need to know for a brilliant career in Art Direction.
Courses are practical. Instructors are all top communication professionals (art directors, creative directors, videographers, producers, etc..) They teach you the skills they use everyday at the agencies where they work. Class projects are realistic. You may even work on a live project for a brand and present your ideas to the client. Students have created a Super Bowl spot that aired, a Facebook app for UNICEF and a social media campaign for Burger King.
You’ll use design, type, illustration and photography to create anything that can tell a story for a brand. Teamed with a copywriter you’ll brainstorm and produce magazine ads, videos, websites, TV commercials…maybe even temporary tattoos, or an original action figure. It gets wild and creative. And the skills you learn will last for laugh.
It all goes down with an innovative curriculum of courses like:
- Ideas First
- Video Storytelling
- Short & Sweet
- Everything is Media
- User Experience
- Visual Impact
- Motion Graphics or Short Cutz
- Digital Campaigns
- Gaming Concepts
- Pop Culture Engineering
- Social Media
- The Brand Called You
- Product Creation
- Content Creation
- Get a Job
Want to know what else you’ll be learning? Learn more about the courses you’ll take in the course brochure.
Hands On Experience Around The World
The NoM.AD Program
After spending at least one year (4 quarters) in your home location, you can apply for NoM.AD. This program gives students the opportunity to work and learn in up to four more cities around the world. Imagine client meetings in Atlanta, a photoshoot in Tokyo, or a breakthrough brainstorming session in New York. You’ll be working on the front line…and building your worldwide network of professional friends.
Each quarter, we send students a massive list of active opportunities. It’s like a backdoor into the industry. We have partners in cities like:
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New York 
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Vancouver 
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Tokyo 
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Amsterdam 
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Our Teachers Are Industry Insiders
Art Direction courses at M.AD are taught by industry professionals. They constantly revise the classes to be as relevant as possible to the industry. What you get is the most up to date skills and best practices, applied to real projects based in reality, which produces the best work for your portfolio.
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Larry LukDirector of Brand Partnerships, Localeur -
Soham ChatterjeeGlobal ACD, WhatsApp -
Belen MarquezGlobal ACD/AD, FaceBook / WhatsApp -
Anja DueringExecutive Creative Director, Chemistry -
Justin Monroe Kwame AduGlobal Social Media Marketing & Community Management, THX Ltd
BRIG WHITEFreelance Director (Apple, Adidas, Amazon)
“Before M.AD, I was pretty much without a plan. I liked design, but didn’t know much about it. I liked reading books and watching movies. But other than that, I had no idea what I wanted to do."
Campuses Across The United States
Each school has a unique charm.
With campuses on both coasts (and one in the middle), the School of Ideas represents the best of what America has to offer. The cities we’ve chosen all boast a special blend of people, places, and energy. Just pick your creative cocktail.
Schedule A Tour At Any M.AD Campus
Experience the School of Ideas for yourself.
Check out our locations in: Atlanta, Miami, New York and San Francisco
How To Apply
The application is as creative as the career.
Four Stages to Apply
Step 1
The application is as creative as the career.
Enter your information and register for your M.AD School of Ideas account.
Step 2
Choose a city, program, and start date
Select the school you are most interested in right now. Should you change your mind later on, you can easily change your application.
Step 3
Follow the process laid out in the application portal
Show us who you are as a creative thinker. Share examples of things you’ve
created.. Or do one of our fun creative exercises. Finally, schedule an introductory meeting with your Admissions Advisor.
Step 4
Review and Submit
Make sure all your information is correct, and that you’ve paid your application fee. We’ll get back to you soon!
Our Next Cohort is Starting Soon
Program Starts: July 2 | Application Deadline: May 24
Important Program Information
Tuition
Tuition of $4,850 is due quarterly. It takes eight quarters which is 2 years to complete the art direction program.Total tuition cost for the program is $38,800.
Financial Aid &
Scholarships
We work tirelessly to make M.AD affordable for students of all backgrounds. For our American students, federal loans can often cover some or all of tuition costs. We also offer a variety of scholarships.
International Students
In the past decades, students have come to us from every corner of the world. If you’re worried about getting here, never fear: you’ll likely be able to attend the campus of your choice. Click for more about the visa process.
Have A Question? Reach Out.
Career advice with no strings
attached.
Our admissions team love to chat with people like you—answering questions, proposing solutions, and making plans for a creative future. An advisor can help you figure out what’s next in your creative adventure. Maybe that means Art Direction at M.AD.
Download The Course Brochure
Crucial information about the Art Direction program.
- Exclusive video content
- AD Career Facts
- Average salaries
- Information on co-ops and internships
- Example projects for real brands
- Detailed application process
The Creative Network
Join 50,000 creatives getting the M.AD newsletter.
We’ve quietly built the world’s most influential creative network. It’s time for you to tap in. Each week we collect the most important creative content around the world, and share it straight to your email for free.
When the winds of change start whispering… you’ll know about it first.