The school of advertising & marketing

I would like to say that I discovered this school unexpectedly, however, it would be more accurate to say that it was the school that discovered me. The Atomic Garden is an entirely unique phase in my life, which has thrown me onto the merry-go-round of the advertising market.

During my studies, I met my teacher Arnas Aukštikalnis, who invited me to become the art director at DDB Vilnius, and just a few months after graduation, having gained the knowledge from The Atomic Garden, I won Lithuania’s Young Cannes Lions competition and went to Cannes to compete among the world’s best young talents. I came back ranked in Top 9 and very eager to catch my own lion in advertising.

My experience in Lithuania helped me to enrol in the Master’s programme at the Miami Ad School, where I am gaining international experience and striving for new achievements.

The Atomic Garden is a first-class ticket to the advertising industry. When I had already made the decision to study here, I decided to take part in one of the school’s creative sessions. Winning a scholarship unexpectedly brought about even more motivation. I was familiar with the world of advertising in the past, so I believed it would be a quick refresher. I’m happy I was wrong. The Creativity in Advertising course, where the cutting-edge industry knowledge and creative subtleties are shared by teachers of international level, will instill a sense of responsibility and discipline and most likely will guarantee you a job in advertising.

… when you see an elderly supermarket cleaner who seems to be typing something on her phone, but when you get closer you see that she’s just putting on a pair of rubber gloves, you stop for a moment and you realise the differences between generations, the influence of social networks, changing habits, addictions that can easily be transformed into a new advertisement, and then you remember what your teacher said: life comes first, so you stop, you put an idea somewhere in your head for the future, but what can you do when after this course your perception completely changes, so you work every moment, and your thoughts are just one long sentence, full of ideas and insights that never end…

For everyone, but certainly not for those who just want to listen passively. I have to admit, I didn’t expect that much work myself. Now you have lectures, and now, look, you’ve got an assignment to do and you’re spinning around like a bee. There were some stuck moments when you don’t know where to go next, then you call Clare, the course leader, who breaks the ice from your thoughts, leads you out of all the (not only comfort) zones and bang! A few hours later, you have 3 pages of ideas on where to go next. It wasn’t easy, but it was a good, very good process.

This course was not only useful but also a fun challenge for me. I started it with a good understanding of brand strategy, but Clare’s lectures as well as those of the other teachers helped me to delve deeper into different concepts and gave me new tools, which I’ve already had the opportunity to use in my personal and professional projects. It was very interesting to create by looking specifically through the prism of a GOOD brand: from brand story to copywriting or innovative and sustainable packaging alternatives. For both those who have never created a brand before and those who have already experienced the creative process – this course will give inspiration, understanding of market trends or will even help to develop a new brand!

I learned from those hubspot tutorials, Google garage courses and all that bored me. Probably because I was looking not only for knowledge, but also for inspiration. And from the first lesson at school, I immediately felt that passion. From advertising history to insights. From copywriting to research. And you learn all this from the pros of that field. The only disclaimer – it all depends on you. You will get as much work as you put in. And you will probably get a lot.

In your spare time from cooking edible masterpieces, partying, sleepless hours – expand the boundaries of chance and meet your future best friends, colleagues and ex-girlfriends. Naturally, you’ll also learn everything you need to know about advertising at the same time. And you will do it with the help of the best in the industry and with your ability to forget your ego.

How to Create a GOOD Brand is a complex, consistent process, where theoretical knowledge obtained outside the textbook is immediately applied in practice. Professional and inspiring teachers have been sharing their insights and experiences through a continuous, lively discussion. I would liken the full-course trip to an expedition, the intensity of which exceeds the limits of your comfort, it is a bit uncomfortable, you get lost, and the weather conditions are not always favorable. However, by not losing sight of the goal and walking with experienced guides, you will unconsciously reach your summit, which redeems everything.

I trained at The Atomic Garden because I thought that later on, like on Mad Men, I would have a secretary and wearing a suit, with a cocktail in my hand, I would be explaining to clients what women want.

During the course, I realised that this is pure nonsense. It’s a good thing that my teachers and my creative partner helped me to notice these things when I was 22 and not much later in life.

To be interesting and influential in the world of advertising, you have to learn that you’re not here for the sake of self-expression. During my time at The Atomic Garden Vilnius, I developed a sense of versatility and it was the best thing that could have happened.