CCAD: BE THE NEXT
BE THE NEXT is CCAD’s 2026 undergraduate enrollment campaign built to inspire future creatives and showcase the impact of a CCAD education. This brand guideline system establishes a flexible visual and verbal identity that creates a consistent experience across digital, print, social media, and admissions touchpoints.
Imagery by Claire Brown & Hayden Reed
The world moves because creators move it. Artists who see differently. Designers who shape what’s next. Storytellers who influence culture.
THE PROBLEM
CCAD needed a compelling, cohesive recruitment and brand equity campaign to stand out in a competitive higher-education landscape. The challenge was twofold: first, to articulate the tangible value of an art and design education to prospective students and their families; second, to inspire incoming talent by connecting the college’s legacy with the future impact of its creative alumni, framing creative ambition as an active, achievable trajectory.
The solution was the development and execution of the dynamic "Be The Next" campaign narrative across multiple touchpoints. By combining bold visual typography, impactful photography, and clean graphic layouts, the campaign positioned CCAD as the definitive launching pad for future industry leaders. Deliverables spanned print media, large-format event graphics, environmental signage, and social media assets that reinforced a unified visual identity across digital and physical spaces.
THE solution
FUTURE-MAKER CONFIDENCE
Comprehensive research and audience-driven enrollment-funnel strategy yielded the core campaign concept and messaging, which directly informed the visual identity and branded campaign system, ultimately producing a full suite of print, digital, social, and recruitment deliverables.
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Brand Strategy and design
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Social media ads: static
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Social media ads: motion
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Brand Strategy and design
The BE THE NEXT campaign strategic design system positions CCAD’s 2026–27 undergraduate recruitment drive as a powerful, career-focused catalyst for Fall 2027 enrollment by pairing a grounded brand strategy—focused on demonstrating the practical return on a creative education—with a high-impact utilitarian visual identity that utilizes bold primary and secondary color coding, structured grid layouts, handmade technical micrographics, and a modular framework built to deliver unified, seamless messaging across every digital, print, and event touchpoint.
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Social media ads: static
The BE THE NEXT static social media ads connect campaign messaging, visual identity, and audience engagement into one accessible, high-impact digital presence. The campaign feed graphics allow prospective students to explore CCAD’s career-focused programs, discover student-led success stories, and engage with tailored admissions information built for their specific creative goals.
The ad series extends the campaign experience beyond basic outreach by delivering a clear preview of the supportive CCAD creative community. Together, the static ads and digital touchpoints create a seamless ecosystem that empowers future artists and designers with the tools, knowledge, and motivation they need throughout every stage of the enrollment funnel.
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Social media ads: motion
The BE THE NEXT motion social media ads connect dynamic campaign messaging, utilitarian motion graphics, and audience engagement into one fluid, accessible digital experience. The animated feed assets and video deliverables allow prospective students to explore CCAD’s career-focused programs, watch accelerated student success stories, and discover dynamic portfolio insights tailored to their creative aspirations.
The companion short-form video series and motion graphics extend the campaign experience beyond static outreach by providing animated cycle pacing of a vibrant window into the supportive CCAD creative community.