When your campus is located in the advertising epicenter of the world, you have a unique advantage, with direct access to each non-profit, tech startup, fashion brand, government agency, and entertainment business that calls New York City home. All seniors take the Advertising Agency: Portfolio course, home of the Ad Lab, for the opportunity to flex their skills on campaigns for actual clients.

Developing multi-platform campaigns from the classroom is exciting enough, but the work takes on a deeper meaning when it contributes to sustainability, equity, and social responsibility. It’s also in the numbers—purpose-led businesses are now outperforming their competitors—and the advertising industry is no exception. That's why the Lab often partners with community-driven organizations, allowing students to collaborate on work that resonates with their values and affords them the competitive edge.

Maybe you’ve seen us around? If you noticed one of the hundreds of billboards and bus shelters across New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other major U.S. cities that featured our collaboration with WildAid, the answer is likely, “yes!”

Our BFA Advertising seniors worked with their award-winning advertising instructors to develop concepts for a food waste campaign, celebrating small acts by ordinary people who reuse their leftovers, which they then presented directly to the global environmental nonprofit.

One vision became a reality when SVA students, faculty, and staff, along with a professional photographer, videographer, and food stylist, came together on set for a photoshoot with the renowned culinary nonprofit, the James Beard Foundation. Ordinary food scraps were transformed into delicious meals shared with friends, family, and community.

The ads made their way onto billboards and kiosks across NYC and in online campaigns for WildAid’s initiative, “The Environment Excuse.” 

Fashion sustainability and AI startup Good Fit (GDFT) enlisted our Ad Lab for their go-to-market launch, empowering students to shape the future of sustainable and tech-forward fashion. Students helped craft the brand’s voice, digital storytelling, and launch strategy, even designing their new logo, created by 2025 graduate Dong Hyun Kim.

Like many of our classes held at agency offices, students met each week at the stunning Johannes Leonardo headquarters, which offered valuable windows into the industry (and onto some stunning views of lower Manhattan). They also met regularly with the Good Fit team as the creative strategy began to take shape.

At the end of the spring semester, fueled by pizza, the excited AdLab students gathered around an agency conference table for their final pitch to the Good Fit team, who called in from Los Angeles. They confidently presented innovative social media and out-of-home activations that impressed the team and generated even more buzz for the upcoming launch.