This program will not be running in 2020. For information about 2021, please contact the program director.

Check us out on the website: http://summeratthecircus.com/

Summer at the Circus

Imagination. Industry smarts. Design savvy. Those are just a few of the skills you'll need to find a career in the advertising field. Highly competitive? You bet, but thee's no better way to sharpen your creative chops than spending your summer at the Creative Circus.

Summer at the Circus is a partnership between the University of Georgia and The Creative Circus. Students can earn up to six hours of upper-level elective credit offered by the Department of Advertising and Public Relations while studying on-site at The Creative Circus in Atlanta. It's an in-depth and specialized crash course in advertising creativity from one of the top portfolio schools in the country.

You'll be instructed by Creative Circus' industry pros and UGA's seasoned faculty and surrounded by other like-minded, aspiring creatives. This is the most hands-on way to gain experience in all things creative advertising!

Program Location

The Creative Circus
812 Lambert Drive
Atlanta, GA 30324

Academic Program

The Summer at The Circus program is split into two sections for a total of eight weeks. Students attend classes five days a week, from around 9am - 4pm each day, for the entire session.

Session 1: Advanced Creative Explorations
Weeks 1 & 2:
Idea Development & Creative Teams 

Learn what it’s like to think like a writer. Tell the brand story and leave them wanting more. One part strategy, two parts creative thinking, it’s a small glance at the life of an agency copywriter.

Art Direction for Everyone 
Discover the exhilarating world of art direction. Learn what goes into the most compelling compositions and see what it’s like to walk in the shoes of an agency art director.

Weeks 3 & 4:
Using Creative Suite Effectively 
See what it’s like to bring ideas to life. Tackle everything from infographics, to web design, package design, print and digital magazines using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.

Creative Strategy and the Selling of Creative Ideas 
Master the art of establishing credibility and selling yourself. Learn how to discuss strategic messaging and articulately convey campaign concepts, comfortably addressing your design and copy choices.

Session 2: Advanced Creative Applications
Weeks 5 & 6:
Dipping Your Toe in Type 
Your introduction to the vast, rich world of typography. Discover fonts as a tone of voice to amplify and enhance your messaging. Learn why type is important, be able to choose wisely and communicate with it.

Photo and Video Basics for Marketing Communications 
Creatively explore brand direction and vision through the camera lens. Become well-versed in important aspects such as lighting, framing and visual storytelling. Learn how to shoot compelling and engaging images.

Weeks 7 & 8:
Board Games - Applied Creativity
Embrace the team challenge of creating a comprehensive board game. Use laser-guided focus to apply typography, hierarchy and color harmony. Employ your new skills to create the next American pastime.

Deathmatch: Concepting to Win 
Get a taste of what life is like in our ‘idea-based’ industry. Engage in time-sensitive concepting exercises and work productively in a team setting, learning to problem solve with optimum efficiency.

Housing

The majority of program participants can opt to make individual arrangements to reside in the local Atlanta community and commute daily. However, students enrolled at Summer at the Circus will have access to book housing at Emory University if desired at an extra expense. Students are responsible for arranging their own lodging on this program. Lodging is not provided in the program fee listed below.

Program Costs

The Program fee is $2,950 for all students who participate on this program (this includes the $150 security deposit paid upon acceptance to the program). For those who do not want to receive course credit on this program, this is all that you would pay in order to participate on this program. 

For those who DO want to receive course credit, in addition to paying the $2,950 program fee, students will be expected to pay for 6-hours of tuition (in-state or out-of-state depending on your state of residence) and UGA mandatory fees. See UGA's website for the most up-to-date tuition rates for Summer 2019. HOPE and ZELL scholarships may be applied towards the TUITION part of the program costs if applicable.