The School of Visual Arts in New York City will add a Master of Professional Studies in Branding to their degree offerings beginning fall of 2010. Focusing on "the intellectual link between leadership and creativity", the department was co-conceived by core-friends Debbie Millman and Steven Heller.

The one-year, 36-credit curriculum will offer a unique course of study in four distinct but related disciplines: cultural anthropology, behavioral psychology, commerce and creativity. Students will gain a broad understanding of branding as taught in leading MBA programs including diverse branding strategies, brand valuation, and brand development life cycle. Areas of study will include brand theory, cultural and behavioral science and market research methodologies. Courses will explore package design, cross-cultural demographics and corporate-level discourse. Through a summer thesis project, students will develop and launch a real world brand, either with an existing organization or as a sole proprietor. The line-up looks pretty exciting--faculty will include: Pamela De Cesare (Sterling Brands), Dan Formosa, PhD. (co-founder of Smart Design), Rob Giampietro (former principal of Giampietro+Smith), Tom Guarriello, PhD. (True Talk), and Joshua Liberson (Helicopter). The school is also bringing in an all-star roster of guest lecturers, including Malcolm Gladwell, DeeDee Gordon, Jona Lehrer, Grant McCracken, PhD., Daniel H. Pink, Virginia Postrel, Cheryl Swanson, Gong Szeto and Rob Walker.

Prospective students should contact the new SVA Branding Department at 212.239.4609 or via email.

Congrats Debbie and Steve!