DATE: 8-week course will take place on: Monday, 2/1, 2/8, 2/22, 2/29, 3/7, 3/14, 3/21, 3/28
INSTRUCTOR: Jim Bell, Associate Creative Director at Forge Worldwide
AUDIENCE: Aspiring Copywriters and Art Directors in the early stages of their career
PRICE: $550 members // $695 non-members
LOCATION: Forge Worldwide, 142 Berkeley Street, Boston
CONTACT: Molly Sullivan: molly@adclub.org

ABOUT THIS COURSE:

The bad news: Creativity isn’t something you can learn.

The good news: You don’t need to learn it – you were born with it.

Everyone has creativity inside them. What you can learn is how to flex your creative muscles harder, and more quickly separate good ideas from mediocre. And just like any other skill, the more you practice the better you get.

This course provides an opportunity to do just that. We’ll discuss ways to think about problems from various angles, push solutions beyond their obvious form, and combine creativity with strategy to develop concepts that support solid, insightful campaigns.

Each class will provide a chance to share and discuss your work with your instructor and your peers, as well as hear from occasional guest speakers from related disciplines such as digital, social, and account management.

Classes meet once a week in the evening for two hours over a period of eight consecutive weeks. Themes that will be explored:

• How to use a creative brief
• Concepting: Getting started and keeping it going
• Refining ideas into campaign concepts
• The power of collaboration
• Putting together a solid portfolio

ABOUT THIS INSTRUCTOR:

Jim Bell has a hard time leaving things alone. And he doesn’t see anything wrong with that.

Over a 15-year career in some of Boston’s finest ad agencies, this inability to be satisfied has driven him to create thoughtful, award-winning work for clients like Dunkin’ Donuts, Spaulding Rehabilitation, John Hancock, Bank of America and McDonald’s. He also rearranges his desk a lot.

Not surprisingly, Jim messes with other people’s stuff as well, overseeing creative as an ACD at Forge Worldwide, serving as a judge for award shows like the Addy’s and Radio Mercury, and making his kids fix their homework.

There is a good chance he’s rewriting this bio right now.