Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center

Healing and release. Four years of divisive leadership and on this momentous day our president and vice-president-elect inherit a deeply polarized nation as we grapple with foundational questions of racial justice and economic fairness, not to mention we in the grips of a virus that has killed more than 236,000 Americans and reshaped the norms of our lives. We can build a better future forward as John Lewis in his last moments imagined, Democracy is not a state it is an act.... A former student today in this time of stress, of belief, sent me an amazing observation of our time and a promise from the awesome poet by Mary Oliver and it seems fitting to share it. Wild Geese You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about your despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile, the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the river. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

An open letter to students. Coming together. I am so lucky to have four amazing grandchildren Molly, Jackson, Billy, and Colben. Last night, Billy called me to ask if I was watching the election. I shared, I was and why. Because it is an important time in our country to be a part of this process. We have so many amazing students at Miami Ad School at Portfolio Center and this evening I listened to a few of them as they called also. Ours is a time that you, each student, youn...g as my grandchildren, or those in post-graduate studies find a sense of anxiousness, confusion, or even uncertainty in the time of this election. We are fortunate no matter, which side we may vote for, that we might understand the unifying principles and values that have kept us a democracy for well over two centuries freedom of speech, freedom of religion, all people are created equal. These principles are our promises their is so much more to do, there is more to discover in each of these areas to make them what they need to be. Our school is a place tomorrow and every day where it must be a day of empowerment, hope, and justice- a climate of inclusion, safety, and unity. Each of us, teachers, staff, and administrators we will do our best to be there and available for any student who may need an ear toward channeling or expressing their feelings. If any student in my classes needs a few moments for themself in this week, take it- take time for yourself. The class will wait. You won’t be counted absent. I will help you afterward. Self-care is so important to be able to function, and, most importantly, manage stress. This is a time to realize we find strength in our compassion and mercy. It is time now to come together and to solve challenges and to listen with empathy. I was ‘goodly surprised today as I spoke with a student whose very name means ‘love- it is a good time to remember how important love is in our lives, and as we go into the next days to be motivated by love, kindness and generosity I’m about if you might wish to talk- 678-772-6300. See more

What does the future of design hold? Bennie F. Johnson, Executive Director at AIGA Design, will let us in on the secrets of how to solve future human experiences through design. This Wednesday, November 4th at 4pm EST. Zoom with us!

It's Pumpkin Time! Join us this Friday, October 30th at 4pm EST via Zoom, for our MAD Pumpkin Carving Party! Grab your favorite fall drink, some tasty snacks, dress in a costume if you like, and join MAD flamingos from all over the world! Don't want to carve a pumpkin? No worries! Print out a picture of a pumpkin and color it, or make your own pumpkin with supplies you have at the house. Let's get creative!... *photo credit unknown*

Am I too old to change careers? Why did you change your job from marketing to creativity? How did you find your creative partner while at Miami Ad School? How did you go from Droga5 NY to GUT Miami? Am I too old to change careers? To answer these questions Miami Ad School's Paula Vasone, will chat with GUT Miami's Senior Creative, Frank Garcia, about his creative journey from Panama to Miami on a new episode of Nomad Talks.... Before becoming an advertising creative, Frank was the VP of Marketing at a bank in Panama, his home country. He left his job to go to Miami Ad School. After graduation, he got a job at Droga5 NY and is currently at GUT Miami as a Senior Creative. His work has been awarded at numerous international shows including Clio Awards, The One Show, New York Festivals, ADDY's, Young Guns, Wave Festival, Applied Arts and Young Glory. And it has been featured on Adweek, Ad Age, Fast & Co, Luerzers Archive, E!, Mashable, Glamour, Huffington Post, Vogue, Washington Post, among others. Have your questions ready for Frank on October 29th at 7PM EST. Join us! bit.ly/NeverTooOldMAS

People will tell you what is and isn't possible in life. What the rules are and sometimes even who you are and who you are not. This talk is about breaking the rules and creating your path. Please join us Wednesday, October 28th at 4pm as we welcome Marissa Velez, CEO/Co-Founder, Producer and Filmmaker at Mythologie Pictures, a creative entertainment production company based in NY and LA. A rule breaker in her own right, her career began as a Creative Executive for brands in the fashion spaceDiane Von Furstenberg, Kate Spade, and Oscar de la Renta. She most recently worked at Rag & Bone as VP of Creative before co-founding Mythologie. Zoom with us! Wednesday, October 28th at 4pm EST and learn how to be fearless!

Yesterday was Purple Thursday, a national day of awareness for domestic violence. Five of our studentsSarah, Izzy, Aisha, Marisa, and Allisonwill work with Tantrum Agency and Furman University & Miami Ad School's Strategic Design program to focus on brand development & strategy for the Alma G. Davis Foundation. They will gain real world experience in working with a non-profit while also applying the skills that they've developed in school to a live client. More importantly, they get to give back & help their community while doing it. It's a win-win for everyone involved. Good luck students! We can’t wait to see what you’ll come up with.

Congrats to Team Brain Juice one of @netflix winners!! Led by #MADMingleHackathon Coach Carl Corbitt, your ideas & creativity were spot on!! Congrats to you guys!! #MiamiAdSchool

Join us today at 4pm EST as we welcome Beto Fernandez, Founder and Creative at Activista Los Angeles For those of you who may not know himyou know his art. His career has been punctuated by some of the most impactful social & emotional ideas of the last years, including DOVE Real Beauty Sketches, a social experiment that became the most-watched ad ever on YouTube with over 180 million views. Zoom with us! Today, Wednesday, October 21st at 4pm EST as Beto shares how you might join social, cultural, & economic change through the power of your ideas.

And the Telefónica winners are...... Team The Overthinkers & Team Area Code! Your ideas were phenomenal!! Great job guys!!

Day 2 aka Day of Presentations! Today our students will present their ideas to a team of judges. Who will the winners be?! Stay tuned... #MADMingleHackathon #MiamiAdSchool

The time is finally here! Our students are currently working on their #MADMingleHackathon briefs for Netflix and Telefónica. We can't wait to see what they come up with! Good luck guys! #MiamiAdSchool

130 students. 22 countries. 15 school locations. 16 coaches. 2 clients. 1 school. The news is out! Miami Ad School is proud to announce our 1st MAD Mingle Hackathon! Upper quarter students from all over the world will team up to work on a client brief for some of the most notable and recognizable clients in the world! Who are these amazing clients? Just wait and see. #MADMingleHackathon #MiamiAdSchool

We have something brewing. Stay tuned. Tomorrow all will be revealed......