Young? Completely satisfied with your lot in life? Then don’t bother reading this.
Milwaukee’s only portfolio school is back and on a mission to give those who truly desire a job in advertising as an art director or writer a means to getting a job in advertising as an art director or writer. Coming off a successful Summer session, Coffmansen’s Portfolio Finishing School for Good Girls and Boys is now signing up students for their Spring course. And although they’d probably tell you that testimonials and pseudo-celebrity endorsements are a pretty lame thing to put in your book, they’d like you to check out the following.
“There’s no better ad program in the Midwest. Cori and Jeff know what top creative directors are looking for. I have personally hired four creatives at BVK that have come directly from their classes. If you’re serious about getting a creative job in advertising, this is the fastest way to get there. Even if you’re already in a four-year program. Cori and Jeff don’t suck nearly as much as some other creatives I know. They have the best ad program on Water Street that I’m aware of.”
– Gary Mueller Executive Creative Director BVK
“I think what Cori and Jeff are doing is great. Even with Milwaukee’s current schools and universities teaching advertising, their curriculum only focuses a smart part on advertising. It’s great to see a school focused entirely on creative advertising. I wish this program was around when I was in school, even though I did get the benefit of their knowledge when they taught a similar course elsewhere. I think Ms. Coffmansen’s will not only attract aspiring young creatives to Milwaukee but help to keep them here. With better talent in the area there are more opportunities for agencies to snag them. Every agency wants only the best and with better agencies come bigger and better clients. Which in turn will help make Milwaukee a destination for great advertising . Milwaukee has been overshadowed by Chicago and Minneapolis for far too long.”
– Dan LaVaigne Art Director Freight Train Former Student
“This is an excellent opportunity for students majoring in design, advertising, writing, and business to add breadth or depth to the formal education. I couldn’t think of a more exciting and inspiring environment for classes to be held and professionals to interact with than at The Eisner – American Museum of Advertising & Design!”
– Kim Beckmann-Moegenburg Associate Professor UW Milwaukee
“The truly great advertising programs in this country understand the importance of teaching writers to think visually and art directors to think articulately. Both are dependent on the other. Many programs forget this basic fact. The Finishing School is focused on teaching its students these disciplines. As a potential employer, I appreciate the balance.”
– Dave Hanneken SVP Creative Director Laughlin Constable
“As someone who teaches creative and strategy classes I have long been trying to figure out how I could clone Jeff and Cori so that we could team-teach. In the absence of such a prospect the best alternative is to recommend that all of my students, who hope to land a job in creative, attend Ms. Coffmansen’s Finishing School. Students will benefit immensely from the depth of breadth of Jeff and Cori’s combined talents, entering the industry polished and well prepared.”
– Jean Grow Professor – Marquette University- Co-author: Advertising
Strategy: Creative Tactics for the Outside/In
