Miami Ad School, an advertising and digital media school with 15 locations across the world, has opened its first Canadian location in Toronto.
Miami Ad School Toronto, now open in the Burroughes building, says that the presence of a school focused on an intensive create program is long overdue. Rather than offering textbooks and exams, the School offers assignments that have students working with agency professionals and the opportunity to study at Miami School locations abroad. According to the school, this allows Toronto students the opportunity to study and intern in other world advertising capitals, and build skills that are globally competitive.
“There’s an emphasis on portfolio development and guiding our students to create the best possible portfolio that ultimately lands jobs. For example, we bring in real clients to assign briefs to students. In the past (in U.S. locations), Starbucks, Wendy’s, Ford, and UNICEF have all given students assignments, and many pieces of project spec work have gone to market,” said Jocelyn Chan, community manager for Miami Ad School. “Toronto is an advertising hub – there are so many ad agencies in the city, it’s the perfect place for the student or young professional who wants to pursue a career in art direction, copywriting, strategy or planning.”
Miami Ad School Toronto’s advisory board and instructor list includes JWT chief creative officer Brent Choi, Havas Worldwide Toronto CEO/CCO Helen Pak, Zulu Alpha Kilo CEO Zak Mrouehand, and Publicis Canada president Duncan Bruce. The School is also hosting public events for the public creative community, including a guest speaker series featuring leaders in the advertising industry, and the 3% conference in August with speakers addressing the lack of female leadership in creative industries.
