Hasta La Ideas

(Photo: John C. H. Grabill, 1888)

Eager to make your mark in the world of branding? Look no further than the School of Visual Arts, which today announced a new advanced degree program focused on the intellectual link between leadership and creativity. Beginning in the fall of 2010, the one-year Masters of Professional Studies (MPS) in Branding will “examine the power of design thinking as a way to combine creative skills with problem-solving and decision-making processes,” according to SVA. Who’s in charge? The dynamic duo of Debbie Millman and Steven Heller, who conceived the program and will serve as its co-chairs.

The curriculum will encompass cultural anthropology, behavioral psychology, commerce, and creativity, from brand valuation and market research methodologies to package design and a summer thesis project that will challenge students to develop and launch a real-world brand. Among the faculty on board are Pamela De Cesare (Sterling Brands), Dan Formosa (Smart Design), Rob Giampietro (Giampietro+Smith), Tom Guarriello (TrueTalk), and Joshua Liberson (Helicopter), with a slate of guest lecturers that will include Malcolm Gladwell, Grant McCracken, and Rob Walker. Interested in applying? E-mail gradadmissions AT sva.edu, and tell them UnBeige sent you (it’ll be good for our brand).