Written by Colleen Miller, Photos by Nick Thomsen
Stuart “Stu” Thompson is one of the new additions to SCAD’s advertising faculty. This professor feels strongly about engaging with students in their creative processes. As he worked alongside one of his students in Adler Hall, Thompson’s laid back,
Thompson’s journey to become a SCAD professor began as he searched to reconnect with these creative, collaborative experiences.
“I was a writer by discipline, but I call myself a
thinker, because I think almost as much visually as I do in words.”
Thompson’s own advertising career had many twists and turns. After graduating from the University of Alabama and attending Creative Circus in Atlanta, Thompson began to work for a variety of agencies.
“I’ve pivoted a bunch of times in my career in advertising,” Thompson said. “I did traditional advertising, then I did digital, social and experiential. So, I’ve done these crazy shifts and enhanced my skillset the longer I’ve gone on. I kind of got burnt out to be perfectly honest. I have done 20 years in traditional agencies.”
“I wanted to do more of the problem-solving that is inherent in this job. That’s where the magic happens.”
Thompson’s leadership roles in agencies often removed him from the hands-on aspects of creative problem-solving. “I taught on and off the past 17 years at different places while I was working full-time. It kept me on my toes and in the spirit of students where there is free-thinking and no rules,” Thompson said. As working at advertising agencies became more time consuming, he was unable to continue his teaching. “I missed that environment,” Thompon said.
When the opportunity to teach at SCAD arose, Thompson jumped on the chance. “I like to follow the opportunities that comes to you,” Thompson said. “Just chase and embrace.”
Thompson plans to continue his freelance work even as he works as a SCAD professor. Just this fall, he worked with Main & Rose to collaborate with the United Nations (UN). He continues to contribute to their social campaign raising awareness of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Using #ItStartsWithUs and the #OneWordChallenge, people are encouraged to write one word that describes how they want to change the world on their finger to post on social media.
Through freelance projects and past advertising experience, Thompson brings a level of relevancy to the classroom that he is happy to share with students. “Students are our representation, our ambassadors,” Thompson said. Approaching his classroom with high energy, Thompson seeks to nurture these ambassadors of the future.
