Role
Creative Director, Brand Strategist, Marketing & Design Director, Team Leader, Storyteller.
Challenge
Following critical evidence released in ’06 showing “How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement,” Stanford began setting a precedent for how our large universities can prioritize arts and culture.
Stanford University, long celebrated for its STEM dominance, recognized a critical gap: the arts needed to be elevated to the same level of prestige. With world-class resources—including two renowned museums (the Anderson Collection at Stanford opening during my tenure) a state-of-the-art (and rapidly expanding) Arts District, and the largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside of Paris—the university aimed to reposition itself as a cultural leader with a pioneering interdisciplinary academic program in the arts, broadening its identity from STEM to STEAM.
Insights
Stanford’s arts ecosystem was rich but fragmented. To create true impact, the story needed coherence, bold creative, and an audience-first approach. The opportunity was to inspire unexpected champions of the arts—from alumni and donors to prospective students, faculty, and staff—through innovative, immersive, beautifully designed and emotionally resonant experiences.
The Solution
As Marketing and Design Director, I led a cross-functional team (staff and students) and top-tier outside creative talent, to architect a unified creative and marketing strategy engaging and immersing an ambitious range of audiences in the arts. Collaborating with cross-campus stakeholders, the initiatives included:
- The First-Ever Student Arts Brochure — A striking, artful publication that defined the umbrella of Stanford Arts. Designed as both inspiration and invitation, it featured student voices, exquisite photography, poetry, and a glimpse into the growing Arts District. The piece became a touchstone for prospective students and their families.
- Digital Storytelling & Video — A vibrant, student scored music-driven video showcasing artistic expression across disciplines, energizing alumni and broadening online engagement.
- Interdisciplinary Event Branding — From Imagining the Universe, a year-long, campus-wide consortium of concerts, lectures, and exhibitions, to a collaboration with Warren Music, I developed bold visual identities and campaigns. These efforts turned once-niche programs into highly visible, fully attended events.
- Student Engagement Campaigns — Branded contests and participatory initiatives that empowered art students to contribute original creative assets, further fueling buy-in and ownership.
Results
These and many more campaigns transformed perceptions of the arts at Stanford, positioning the university as a cultural innovator on par with its scientific reputation. Attendance grew, alumni engagement deepened, and a new generation of arts advocates emerged. As Stanford’s Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education expressed: “Thank you for elevating the Arts at Stanford.”