Advertising & Beyond

Willem de Kooning Academy is the only art academy in The Netherlands that has a major in Advertising. WdKA will teach you to be an all-rounder with a strong conceptual twist. You will be the spider in the web, the link between clients and ‘creatives’. You have your own vision, are passionate and driven. You know what is ‘happening’ and have broad interests so that you can understand the world around you. You have strong communication skills and like to work in a team. You have a ‘feel’ for marketing and trends in the arts and in society. You use all of these to solve issues with the right tools in an appropriate way.

You learn to explore and analyse complex issues, and then you learn to develop a concept strategically. Presenting it is half the work and that is why you work out the concept, give it shape and present it with conviction. You will work on projects in which you learn to position yourself and to influence and manipulate those around you. You familiarise yourself with and build a deep understanding of the profession in order to be able to develop effective campaigns. Above all, you will determine the professional field in which you will graduate. To do this, you will do internships at well-known agencies in The Netherlands and abroad.

WdKA encourages you to take part in national and international contests such as the ‘JongeHonden’ pitches followed by the Cannes Young Lion Competition, SpinAwards (our students have won the ‘Young Talent Award’ four times in a row) and The One Show New York. One of the spin-offs of our students winning nominations and awards regularly is that the world of advertising agencies and press follow our every move.

After graduating, you will start working as an all-round creative concept developer, art director, copywriter or creative strategist with a specialism in Commercial, Social or Autonomous Practices.

Creating Pioneers
Our successful Advertising alumni include: Joris Tol & Gijs Sluijters (winners of Cannes Lions, Eurobest, FWA and the ADCN Awards, working at DDB Amsterdam and previously at FHV BBDO); Tim Arts & Stefan van den Boogaard (winners of Cannes Lions, Eurobest and CCB Awards, working at DDB Brussels and previously at Mortierbrigade); Daan van Dam & Bas van der Poel – The WonderYears (winners SpinAwards Jong Talent, working at Anomaly Amsterdam, internship at JWT New York and CP+B Miami); Wouter Keijzer (founder and partner of From Form and winner of an ADC Merit Award); and Bryan Wolff & Daniel Sumarna (winners of the SpinAwards Jong Talent, working at Droga5 New York and previously Achtung Amsterdam).

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