Schools of Brand Communications

Create. Communicate. Lead.

Four schools. One mission. Turn your raw talent into industry-shaping power. From AI-driven design to next generation media, you’ll tell the stories that shape the way we see the world.

Rooted in San Francisco. Tied to Silicon Valley. Powered by culture, design, and emerging tech. Here, you’ll earn an undergraduate or graduate STEM degree while building the creative instincts and technical mastery that brands, agencies, and studios crave.

In your first semesters, you’ll build a strong design and technology foundation through a shared curriculum. Then, you’ll branch out, focusing on one of the four powerhouse disciplines of Brand Communications: Graphic Design, Advertising, Communications & Media Technologies, and Interaction & UI/UX Design.

These programs aren’t just about learning skills. They’re about shaping portfolios, sharpening voices, and building leaders in a world where ideas move at the speed of culture.

Graphic Design

In our Graphic Design school, you’ll learn from award-winning faculty who’ve worked with the biggest names in the business. You’ll design everything from print to social media to packaging to UI/UX. You’ll become fluent in the use of AI, a skill that employers are demanding. Join the world of students who have been lauded and awarded by industry-leading publications including Communication Arts, GDUSA, and Graphis.

Your portfolio will speak louder than any résumé.

School of Graphic Design

Advertising

Step into the fast lane of modern advertising. Learn to art direct, write, design, and produce for traditional and digital media. Become proficient in the use of generative AI tools. Learn what it’s like to work inside a high-energy agency in our Future Agency class. Collaborate with real world clients to produce campaigns that make an impact. Graduate with a portfolio so sharp it cuts through the noise.

School of Advertising

Communications & Media Technologies

From broadcast TV to social-first campaigns, you’ll master the language of modern media. Get hands-on with video production, digital strategy, and the generative AI tools reshaping storytelling. Be part of the first-ever Bachleors or Master’s degree program in Artificial Intelligence Marketing & Design. Learn from industry professionals who’ve done it all and have the awards to show it. Graduate with a portfolio that stands out to employers.

School of Communications & Media Technologies

Interaction & UI/UX Design

Design the way the world interacts. Whether you’re new to design or already deep in the game, our program equips you with the full UX/UI toolkit—from research and prototyping to interface design for apps, AR/VR, and beyond. No limits, no boundaries—just skills to create the future now.

School of Interaction & UI/UX Design

Brand Communications AAS Degree Program

With an AAS in Brand Communications, you’ll gain the practical skills and portfolio experience to launch your career in branding, marketing, advertising, user experience, or media in just two years.

You’ll work hands-on with real tools and projects that reflect today’s creative industryYou’ll train hands-on with industry tools, sharpen your creative strategy, and develop the technical skills to step directly into brand-driven careers.

Your first year builds your foundation in creative strategy, communication, and design. In your second year, you’ll specialize in one of five high-demand areas:

Advertising
AI Marketing & Design
Communications & Media Technologies
Graphic Design
Interaction & UI/UX Design

After two years, you’ll be ready to step into entry-level roles or advance your studies through our ARTU 2+2 pathway. Your AAS credits transfer directly into the Academy’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program, so you can keep building toward leadership and creative direction roles in the industry.

Learn More About the AAS in Brand Communications

Students & Alumni

Always Creating. Always Moving Forward.

At the Academy, creativity doesn’t pause at graduation; it accelerates. Our students leave with portfolios that speak louder than résumés, catapulting them into creative careers.

This is where passion meets purpose—on campus, in studios, and on global stages.

Our alumni are out there now winning awards, leading teams, and shaping culture.

Jason Sperling

“Jason Sperling is both driven and humble. His passion for doing meaningful work has made him one of the bright creative lights in the advertising world and in worlds well beyond. The award-winning ad phenom, author, philanthropist, TEDx Speaker, Distinguished Alumni Award winner, and AdWeek list-maker believes that “what makes you great is not luxuriating in your own successes but using the successes of others to push you to do even better.”

MFA Advertising, Chief Creative Officer, Innocean // Author // TEDx Speaker // Adweek Top 30 Creative Directors // Former Media Arts Lab, Meta Reality Labs, Oculus

Kristy Siefkin

“The time I spent at the Academy had a tremendous impact on my ability not only to get my first job but to gain the skills I needed to be able to grow.”

MA Communications & Media Technologies/Anchor, FOX 10 (Phoenix)

Sadie Williams

“The Academy challenged me to really think about why I design, not just how. I got to experiment a ton, refine my process, and learn how to communicate ideas with clarity and purpose. It helped me build a design voice I’m proud of.”

BFA Graphic Design Alumna, Designer at Linktree, previous designer for Meta, Airbnb, and Eventbrite

Claire Kim

“The Academy helped me build the practical skills and portfolio I needed to become a UX designer. The professors truly cared about my success, and the supportive community of students and alumni made all the difference in preparing me for my career.”

MA in Web Design, UX/UI, Senior Designer at Cisco Webex

COMPANIES THAT EMPLOY OUR STUDENTS

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