Brainco
Brainco is the name of the Minneapolis School of Advertising, Design and Interactive Studies.
History
It was founded in 1994 by Ed Prentiss. It is one of few "portfolio schools" in the United States, and it trains people for jobs in advertising, design and media arts fields.
For over a decade, the school went through several incarnations starting as a once a week workshop, and eventually becoming a full-time portfolio school. All classes are held in the evening. Brainco moved to Hopkins, Minnesota, a suburb located southwest of Minneapolis in The Spring of 2006. The school moved from Minneapolis because the block that the small school was located on was bought out. The old warehouse location was demolished in May, 2007.
In a controversial move, Prentiss moved Brainco from Minneapolis to Hopkins, away from the EPICENTER of the advertising industry, and into a small western suburb. The school is significantly smaller, and more finished, than the old warehouse location.
Currently the enrollment at the school is roughly 80 students. The school runs on a trimester system, though students have a couple of months off during summer. The copywriting, art direction, graphic design, and photography programs together take 7 trimesters to finish. The ultimate goal of the school is for students to produce a portfolio worthy of attaining employment in the advertising/communications industry, and students can, have, and do leave school early. The drop out rate is relatively high.
Course of study
Students learn and develop conceptual thinking skills through practical work assignments, critique and interaction with industry professionals.
The Art-direction and Copywriting programs make up a bulk of the student population. The school also offers photography, film and video, interactive, media planning and account management programs.
The school focuses highly--more so than other portfolio schools--on strong, original concept and strategy.