One More Big, Fat Feather in Colorado's Interactive Cap

We’ve talked a lot about the progress the advertising program at the University of Colorado in Boulder has made over the last two years, gaining serious attention in ad education circles. We’ve also talked a lot (some might say ad naseum) about the benefit of having Crispin Porter + Bogusky here in Colorado for increasing our creative caliber.

The two have now come together, along with CP+B’s holding company, MDC Partners, to blow the roof off the digital scene here in Colorado – creating a breeding ground for the best talent in the world. Curious? Damn straight. Read on.

MDC Partners, together with the University of Colorado at Boulder, announced today that they have partnered to create a new kind of school focused on the digital arts and sciences. It’s called Boulder Digital Works, and it will offer a multi-disciplinary, project-based learning program designed to provide the skills needed by future digital leaders and entrepreneurs. The school is based in Boulder and is a part of the University of Colorado Extension Division. The faculty of Boulder Digital Works will provide a unique array of expertise, including educators from the University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the College of Engineering, as well as acclaimed practitioners from leading digital companies throughout the U.S. and the world. Sweden’s Hyper Island, one of the most highly regarded digital learning programs in Europe, will also be a partner in the program providing exchange programs for teachers and students.

“Boulder Digital Works was created to provide real world skills and capabilities for people who want to be a part of the digital revolution,” said Chuck Porter, Co-Chairman of Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Chief Strategist of MDC Partners. “The most effective digital leaders are collaborative with a broad base of skills. It’s not easy to create a traditional curriculum that addresses this, but at the University of Colorado we met people with the vision and flexibility to make it happen. The Boulder Digital Works learning model is adaptive, integrated and practical, and it covers the spectrum of digital disciplines and media. Students learn to be multi-disciplinary thinkers and problem solvers, and they learn to change the world.”

“Even in this economy there’s a critical shortage of digital talent,” said Miles Nadal, CEO and Chairman of MDC Partners. “Virtually every enterprise needs digital thinkers who are versatile, smart, and connected, and who can move comfortably and intelligently across the disciplines of technology, creative and business. At MDC Partners, our fundamental philosophy centers on the importance of talent and creativity. We can think of no better investment than the future digital talent of our industry.”

Initially, Boulder Digital Works will offer a 60-week Certificate Program in Digital Arts and Sciences. The Certificate program will begin this Fall with applications due by August 15. Beginning in late July, the school will also offer 36-hour, intensive immersion Executive Programs in digital fluency for working professionals.

“We knew that if we wanted to have a true impact on the world through digital education, we needed to do more than offer courses in digital. We needed to fundamentally rethink the learning environment as well as the content offered in higher education,” said David Slayden, Professor of Advertising at the University of Colorado and the Executive Director of Boulder Digital Works. “Our research has surprised us and challenged our assumptions about education, including the insight that most people interested in digital work don’t care about a graduate degree. What they care about is being digitally savvy and connected to the best work out there and the best people doing it. Students graduating from this program will leave prepared to make an impact in the fastest growing medium in the world.”