A biker with long hair and a beard, wearing a bandana and patches, is beside an advertisement. The ad reads, "How can you even call it a MOTORCYCLE? It's friggin' ELECTRIC!" in an urban street setting.

Student Experience

Social media, print, online videos, billboards, radio, websites, TV shows, and video games are just some of the forms advertising takes today. In the School of Advertising at Academy of Art University, you will learn to master all media with ideas that intrigue people. The structure of Future Agency reﬂects the conditions students will be thrust into upon graduating. While academically unconventional, it’s an extremely popular and important class that provides real-world experience and valuable lessons for entering the advertising industry.

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Facilities

People engage in creative work: audio production, video editing, digital drawing, and 3D modeling. Each section showcases specialized equipment and software in a professional, academic environment.

Collaborative Study Spaces expand_more

Our buildings feature multiple spaces where you can work with fellow students from the School of Advertising. Experience what it’s like to work in a real agency by collaborating and working together on projects using industry-standard resources.

Post-production Facilities expand_more

Our editing labs and private editing suites oﬀer the latest in editing software: Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Eﬀects, DaVinci Resolve, and Pro Tools.

Computer Lab expand_more

Our computer labs oﬀer the latest digital workstations, software, and new media technology to support our curriculum.

AD2SF

San Francisco’s ad club for professionals under 32, AD2SF runs the San Francisco Student ADDY Awards. The club also partners with Academy students for portfolio nights each semester so our students can be mentored by tomorrow’s industry leaders.

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Future Agency: Shaping Tomorrow’s Creative Solutions

In the dynamic Future Agency course, you will collaborate with peers on real-world projects with clients like Apple, Adobe, and other leading brands. The experience transcends traditional advertising—embracing a hybrid of disciplines including design, user experience, and AI-driven strategies. You’ll work directly with industry professionals to develop cutting-edge solutions, including generative AI to redefine how campaigns are created and executed. Guided by expert instructors, you’ll pitch ideas to brand leaders. This course exposes you to the realities of the agency world, giving you the tools, connections, and experience needed to succeed today and in the future.

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Events

ADDY Awards

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) SF Bay Area runs the San Francisco Student ADDY Awards. The club also partners with Academy students for portfolio nights each semester so our students can be mentored by tomorrow’s industry leaders.

ALL EVENTS

Alumni and Student Interviews

I know people in the industry who are learning what we are learning, but they have to do it by themselves with YouTube without anybody to teach them. I feel like we have a massive leg up.

William Gustavson

BFA in Advertising