HOW IT WORKS:
Students
AdLab is a two- or four-credit course at Boston University that helps advertising students build their portfolios and gain real-world experience. Students are assigned roles and teams based on experience and an interview process.
Each team consists of an account executive, strategist, art director. copywriter, and project manager. Teams are formed and assigned clients within the first few weeks of AdLab. Executive board positions involve more responsibility, and students have the option to apply after completing one semester in AdLab.
Our students have gone on to work for renowned agencies like Hill Holiday, MullenLowe, Ogilvy, and more.
team roles
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
The account executive acts as the liaison between the client and AdLab supervisors. They maintain weekly contact with the client, keep the project on track, and ensure the success of the team through weekly reports and detailed communications.
STRATEGIST
Strategists strive to uncover the behaviors and attitudes of the target audience for our clients. They conduct research to generate a detailed report over the course of the semester. They use their findings to create a creative brief that is placed into action by our creative teams and our clients.
ART DIRECTOR
The art director executes the visual elements of the project, working closely with the copywriter and creative supervisors to create a cohesive, strategic campaign that meets the client’s goals. Our art directors frequently work with Adobe Creative Suite products, like Photoshop and Illustrator.
COPYWRITER
The copywriter creates the written elements of the project, working closely with the art director and creative supervisors to zone in on tone, style, and word choices that match the client’s needs.
PROJECT MANAGER
The project managers are highly organized and interested in all aspects of AdLab teams. They create schedules, provide status updates, review and reprioritize milestones, and recommend changes as needed.