Broke Ad School is a 100% free online advertising school created for aspiring creatives in developing countries. Since its launch, the project has grown organically to a community of around 16,000 people, gaining support from some of the biggest names in the creative industry, including Uncommon, Mischief and Liquid Death.
I was responsible for developing the visual identity as part of the rebrand, translating the school's mission and audience into a distinct visual direction. Unlike traditional advertising schools such as Miami Ad School, where high tuition fees can make creative education inaccessible to many, Broke Ad School aims to make learning available to everyone, regardless of their financial background or location. At its core, the project is about breaking down barriers and giving young creatives from developing countries the opportunity to enter the creative industry.
The rebrand draws inspiration directly from this audience, taking cues from their cultural heritage and visual influences. The aim was to create a vibrant, playful and youthful identity that feels relevant to a new generation of creatives while celebrating the diverse cultures that shape them
BROKE AD SCHOOL
Year: 2026
CLIENT
Broke Ad School
Services
Logo Design
Visual Identity
Photo direction
Digital Design
LOGO
Stars appear on many national flags. Many flags of developing countries have one or multiple stars on their flags, more specifically, 58 national flags of developing countries have one or multiple stars on it. A Star is a strong symbol of independence and secession from oppression and control which is a deep-lying theme in most national identities of developing countries, and a cause of diaspora of over the last more than 200 years. These events have had a significant impact on today's youth from or originating from developing countries.
This is why a star is chosen as the new logo mark. It is 6-pointed and here is the why: Firstly, each point represents the 6 continents in which there are developing countries, tapping directly into the purpose of Broke Ad School. Secondly, a vast majority of stars used as logo marks for other brands are conventional 5-pointed versions, so the chosen 6-pointed one stands out more in itself. Utilizing 'The Golden Ratio' and the white space in middle, a smaller star is created, seemingly showing a bigger star around it. This is done to symbolize growth as Broke Ad School is where the youth grows, both educationally and personally. Finally, the star is tilted in the angle of the earth, 23,5 degrees, as a reference to our world which consists of contents, and then consists of countries - many of them developing countries.
COLORS
The colour palette is energetic and vibrant, designed to appeal to a younger audience and reflect the spirit of the brand. Combined with a visual style that celebrates cultural heritage and identity, the overall direction aims to empower students and create a sense of pride in where they come from.
To further distinguish Broke Ad School from traditional institutions like Miami Ad School, the colour palette takes a deliberately contrasting approach. By using complementary colours to those of Miami Ad School, the identity establishes a clear visual distinction while reinforcing its own energy and character.
IMAGERY
The imagery celebrates the talented, creative young people who make up the Broke Ad School community. Every image is designed to capture their confidence, individuality, and cultural identity in a bold, authentic, and empowering way.
To further strengthen the brand identity, duotone treatments can be applied as a distinctive visual style across imagery. This stylistic approach reinforces the brand's creative expression while adding consistency, depth, and a bold, recognizable aesthetic to every image.
SYMBOLS
In cultures of developing countries across the world, symbols have been used to convey messages, express religous beliefs and to exert pride and power. They are an ancient form of communication and hold a significant cultural value and heritage in many developing countries, through Africa, The Middle East and South America etc.
With inspiration from my own Ghanaia origins, I stumbled across a small book Adinkra symbols from which I traced most of the symbols used for Broke Ad School’s identity. Many of the symbols are visually stunning and have been turned into design elements to tap into the cultural and youthful attitude of Broke Ad School while maintaing strong cultural character in the brand
