BIC Certificate en Español
During two amazing weeks between the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters, BIC launched a new certificate program in partnership with the University of Palermo (UP), Buenos Aires and in association with CCNY's Office of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Students arrived on Monday, January 9th for instruction in the core principals of the CCNY Master’s Program in Branding + Integrated Communications (BIC). Instructed entirely in Spanish by BIC faculty, alumni, and industry professionals, the course focused on how to utilize market research, strategize, and create content that builds a narrative for corporate identity as well as consumer experience.
Anchored at The City College of New York campus in the Hamilton Heights section of Harlem, students also had site visits to Y&R, Adobe's Behance, Google, YouTube, and Samsung. “This course was so interesting and it was great to be in New York City. It’s professionally oriented and more hands on; it’s very different from courses in Argentina that are more theoretical, “ said Melisa Ana Inés Poggio, a BIC certificate student who wants to pursue a master’s degree in branding.
The second week wrapped up on Wednesday, January 12th as students made presentations on a branding campaign that included research, strategic thinking, and conceptualizing -- as well as put their design skills to work. Student work on Gatorade, Nestle's Quick, and Red Bull was reviewed by an audience that included MCA Chair Jerry Carlson who also handed out the BIC certificates during the awards ceremony.
Gustavo Stecher, BIC Professor Gerardo Blumenkrantz, and BIC Program Director Nancy R. Tag at UP's VII Latin American Congress of Design Education in Argentina, July 2016. |
The idea for the certificate came out of a Spring 2016 brainstorming session with BIC Board Member Gustavo Stecher, BIC Program Director Nancy R. Tag and BIC Professor Gerardo Blumenkrantz. Later in July, they made a presentation as honored guests at UP's VII Latin American Congress of Design Education in Argentina which helped promote the certificate program. “We thought that an intensive workshop-style course would be a great way to increase interest in the BIC program for international students, faculty, and professionals who reside in the Spanish Speaking Americas,” said Professor Tag.
BIC gives special thanks to those who made this experience possible: CCNY Executive Director of Continuing and Professional Studies Sharon Mackey-McGee. Our BIC alums Rolando Leal (BIC '16) Strategist at SociedAD, Chardonnay Noble (BIC '17) Internal Relations at Google, and Carol Burns (BIC '15) EBC Concierge at Samsung. From Y&R, EVP Global Strategy Belle Frank, Senior Strategist Gustavo Quinteros, Global Comms Associate Elisabeth Bierschenk, and Raysa Figueroa. At Adobe Behance, Director of Branding Mark Brooks, Head Curator Oscar Ramos, Head of Community Roxanne Schwartz, Community Experience Associate Jackie Galeano, Assistant Editor of 99U Kiana St. Louis, and Events Leader of Behance & 99U Andrea Rosen. At Meno es Mas, Pamela Blanco and Flor Cicirello for their design work. Finally, BIC would like to thank Oscar Echevarria, the Dean of Design and Communications at the University of Palermo, and Gustavo Stecher who not only helped conceive, plan, and promote the Certificate, but accompanied the students from Buenos Aires and helped provide an awesome experience for them here in New York City.
"Hasta Siempre!" to our BIC Certificate students from Buenos Aires...