What's Happening at Boulder Digital Works?

A couple weeks into the new year, the very first class at the University of Colorado’s new program, Boulder Digital Works, is fully immersed in one of the most impressive educational opportunities to have been created since the internet itself. We wondered how it’s going for the students, so we poked our friend Justin McCammon – a copywriter who’s being schooled up there for an update. Here’s what he said.

History of BDW: For years, David Slayden (CU ad prof) and Chuck Porter had been kicking around the idea of something like BDW (separately, I believe) because portfolio schools weren’t putting out the kind of talent agencies wanted / needed. A year and a half ago, CP+B, SODA members and CU held a round table to discuss the lack of digital talent. SODA / CP+B had approached other portfolio schools trying to get them to create a program, but none were willing to create what they wanted (most were too rooted in traditional models or were only going to “bolt-on” digital). CU stepped up and took on the project, building it from the ground up into what is now BDW. Partners include MDC Partners, Microsoft, Modernista!, OneRiot, SODA.

Each week has a theme from one of the three core skillsets the program focuses on: business, creative and technology. Our first week was business, specifically Presentation, but also offered a meet and greet for interested partners who helped put the program together. This past week was creative, specifically focused on Design Thinking, along the lines of how Ideo’s process works.

So far, we’ve heard from John Winsor (formerly of CP+B), John Keehler (Richards Group, Dallas), Andrew Davidson (B-cycle / CP+B), Winston Binch (CP+B), David Cohen (Techstars), Robert Reich (OneRiot), Layne Becker (getsatisfaction.com / adaptivepath.com), Hugh Graham (RMCAD), and Sharon Glassman (HuffPo).

Sometimes, these people show up and just let us pick their brain for a few hours and sometimes they have a set presentation / lesson for us. It varies (and most have been here multiple days already).

Since we’re the first class, we’re also spending a lot of time working on our branding and web presence – which is why our blogs aren’t live yet (but are coming soon). As students, we’ve been given free reign over what we want the program to be and nearly every resource is at our disposal. We can ask for almost any person / topic to be brought in and it will happen (if you look at our BOD, we’ve got incredible connections).

On top of all this, we’re working in an amazing space (1011 Walnut, formerly a floor Greenhouse Partners occupied) with 24-hour access – so we never have to stop working.

To follow along with what’s going on, there’s a BDW student YouTube channel (one video up so far). You can also follow BDW student Twitters:

justinmccammon
hseal
kygalle
ndubsglobal
tetonmarketing
dasn101
botvinick
dviens
jadedskipping
jefferyjake
roserin
tegoenfuego

There will be a number of student blogs to follow but those aren’t really up and running quite yet (except for Dan Viens who has been covering things pretty well so far). Between all of these channels, it’ll be pretty easy to follow along with what we’re up to (the plan is to be pretty transparent.) Additionally, some improvements will be coming to the BDW site as Modernista! has taken over our branding and PR.

Sweetness.