Brand managers, designers, creatives, visual language experts, marketing & PR professionals who are looking for an international experience are invited to apply for the fall-winter module of #TheAlternativeSchool: #FutureProofCreativity – an intensive study program, guided by outstanding mentors, focused on creativity and working on real briefs.
The program kicks off with a live event dedicated to international marcom trends, with special attention to “Kindful brands,” and continues online, twice a week in the evenings (7-9 PM), between November 5 and December 8.
The outcome? A massive dose of inspiration and information, delivered in 2-hour evening sessions – designed to fit the packed schedules of marcom professionals, in the shortest possible time – complemented by a diploma respected in the industry and the Cannes Lions experience (June 20–27, 2026) for the winners of the YoungLions Design competitions, empowered by Ursus / RHA & ERA, empowered by Invizibilii.ro.
“As any self-respecting curator would, I’ve cooked a spectacular shock-dose of relevant content. So you don’t start complaining about time scarcity, everything is organized in short capsules of max 30 minutes per speaker, with 3–4 interventions per evening, twice a week in November–December. Just enough for the information to settle in and start laying the right foundation for future results by January, when we all wake up from the winter holiday’ sweet hibernation.
From brandbuilding through food design experiences – via Honey & Bunny, to urban branding & the European Capital of Culture – with insights from Toni Attard; from Japanese innovation and performance – via Gabi Crețu, SVP Sales at Ursus, to mouth-watering AI vs. Video (Gabriel Mihăilescu); from animation trends with the flavorful Mădălin Dragnea, to the art–advertising binomial worth reexploring through Iuna Șerban; from HR for high performers with intact emotional health – through the unmatched Corina Neagu, to the irresistible combo “Design × Local Culture × PR” – via Davor Bruketa; from marketing that truly resonates in business, beyond limitations – with Adi Păsărică, to Kindful Brands, our original approach to branding × SDG – we look at every facet of disciplines relevant to the marcom ecosystem, leaving no stone unturned.
After more than 25 years of exploring the world’s most relevant international festivals for marcom, I’ve baked a royal treat for any professional who respects themselves enough not to miss what is – and what is about to become – relevant in the culture of our industry,” said Teodora Migdalovici, founder of #TheAlternativeSchool and creator of the #FutureProofCreativity 2025–2026 program.
Look who’s speaking
Adrian Păsărică, Alexandra Moisescu, Alexandre Duarte, Andra Constantinescu & Andreea Dîrzu, Andrey Tyukavkin, Anca Ifrim, Bob Liuzzo, Cătălina Manea, Corina Neagu, Cristiana Trifu, Daniel Enescu, Davor Bruketa, Dayana Dorce, Diana Neagu, Gabriela Crețu, Gabriel Mihăilesco, Georgiana Chitaț, Ioana Iuna Șerban, Kirsten Ludwig, Lăcrămioara Loghin, Larisa Ștefan, Teodor Bivolaru, Mădălina Sandu, Mădălin Dragnea, Manuela Mancaș, Manu Drosu, Martin Hablesreiter & Sonja Stummerer, Matei Schwarz, Miruna Potop, Octavian Gheorghe, Olga Abramescu, Rifah Qadri, Ruxandra Papuc, Serena Abi Aad, Teodora Migdalovici, Toni Attard, Vidya Manmohan, Vlad Dumitrescu are among the 30+ confirmed international speakers from Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Spain, UAE, USA.
Highly relevant topics
They guests will deliver, in concentrated doses, topics of utmost relevance for any performer interested in the industry’s dynamics, in all its complexity:
Award-winning Advertising \ AI \ Board Design \ City Branding – Nation Branding \ Culture & Identity in Strategy \ CSR – Kindful Brands \ Cannes 2025 Takeaways \ Design – Graphic + Product \ Experience \ Educated Retina – Art & Advertising \ Gamevertising \ HR for High Performers \ Insight vs. Idea \ Juryboard Wisdom \ Visual Languages – Animation, Illustration, Film, Photography, Shorts, Video \ Luxury & Branding \ Marketing \ Neurodivergent Thinking \ 4 Research Perspectives \ PR \ SDG Goals \ Social Media \ Strategy \ Sales & Trade – a feast of information delivered by iconic names in global creativity, amplified by relevant local voices.
Why attend or send your teams?
- Curated access to knowledge across diverse fields connected to marcom
- Industry updates and broad cultural insights – a controlled escape from autopilot
- Belonging to a community that has been thriving through and for added value since 2005
- Clarity, in a space often dominated by noise
- A diploma respected by industry employers, both Romanian and international
- Hands-on, learning-by-doing expertise: teams under 30 will solve 3 real briefs
– The winning team, chosen by a Romanian + international jury, will qualify for the Young Lions Design competition at Cannes Lions 2026 – an experience worth over €6,000, described by the 20 previous generations as priceless - 3 additional experiences (RHA / ERA), each offering a one-week destination at Cannes Lions for creatives under 25
Fees:
For participants 30+ (access only to the #FutureProofCreativity module, without attending Cannes):
- 1500 € + VAT for a team of 2 over 30
- 800 € + VAT for individual participation over 30
For young and very young participants:
#FutureProofCreativity Module + access to the three briefs for the local Young Lions competition heading to Cannes (for those who are not interested in scholarships):
- 1000 € + VAT / team of 2 under 30
- 500 € + VAT / individual under 30
- 800 € + VAT / team of 2 under 25
- 400 € + VAT / individual under 25
Exclusive access to the three briefs for the local Young Lions competition (without the #FutureProofCreativity specialization):
- 500 € + VAT for a team of 2 (under 30), with access to 3 competition briefs for the local Young Lions Competition heading to Cannes
The application steps are: an email stating the intention to participate, a link to the portfolio, proof of payment of the participation fee, solving the briefs within the published deadlines, evaluation, and ranking.
Contact: andra@thealternativeschool.com
20 scholarships for teams aspiring to Young Lions (under 30 years old)
Ursus Breweries, the supporter of the local Young Lions 2026 competition, is offering 20 scholarships for the most talented young people under 30, for the #FutureProofCreativity module. Applicants are required to propose a promotional campaign with prizes that motivate both consumers and small retailers to use and return the 0.5L RGB bottle (returnable glass container), while improving their experience and lives in the process. The promotional campaign will be supported by design, social media, and PR disciplines.
Full brief here. Deadline: October 27, 10 AM.
“After a first effervescent experience at the 2025 edition, when we had the chance to see how ambitious Gen Z approaches applied creativity on real briefs, we are strengthening our collaboration with #TheAlternativeSchool for their 21st edition: a new brief with a social mission, integrated into a promotion that encourages sustainable recycling; the support of the #FutureProofCreativity module, featuring Romanian and international speakers addressing the complex facets of our industry, thus shaping a new generation of communicators naturally navigating the VUCA World we live in; and a new Young Lions team ready to represent Romania at Cannes Lions 2026, in the Design category. A lot to look forward to”, said Gabriela Cretu, VP Sales at Ursus Breweries.
30 scholarships for talented under-25s, via INVIZIBILII.RO
INVIZIBILII.RO, the supporter of the RHA / ERA 2026 competitions, is offering 30 scholarships for the most talented vulnerable young people under 25, continuing its partnership with #TheAlternativeSchool from 2024 and 2025.
The theme: a 2-minute video answering the brief – “My life is a movie, this is the trailer.”
For those who need guidance, creativity ambassadors specially selected by #TheAlternativeSchool provide live mentorship and are active weekly on Instagram – exactly for this purpose.
Adi Păsărică, Serj Zărnescu, Gia Energia, and Iulia Verzan have already been on board, with more remarkable names to follow, such as Remus Grecu, Teona Toderel and Serena Abi Aaad.
On September 18th, at 3:30 PM, a Zoom webinar with Teodora Migdalovici, the school’s founder, will provide all the details and answer any questions related to the program.
Send your application to: Andra Serea, Communication Architect: andra@thealternativeschool.com
Deadline: October 27, 10 AM.
Key dates – FutureProofCreativity & competitions
- November 5: Live event TheFutureOfCreativity / Kindful Brands
- Nov 10 – Dec 8: Classes (Mondays & Wednesdays, 7–9 PM, on Zoom)
- Nov 10: Announcement of the first 2 module briefs (with feedback)
- Dec 9: 24h brief announcement
- Dec 10-17: Jury evaluation for the 3 Young Lions briefs
- Dec 20 – Jan 7: Individual work on the 2-minute film (with feedback throughout the module)
- Jan 8: Final deadline for video “My life is a movie. Here’s the trailer”
- Jan 15: Announcement of film competition finalists:
- 1 winner represents Romania at Roger Hatchuel Academy / Cannes Lions
- 2 finalists participate in the full Cannes Lions festival experience
- June 20-26: 5 remarkable talents study and enter the dedicated competitions at Cannes Lions
To stay up to date with all the news about #FutureProofCreativity and the other associated competitions, as well as with the new programs prepared in the Creative MBA labs at #TheAlternativeSchool (see YoungLady, empowered by Ursus, recommended by RSM), keep an eye on #TheAlternativeSchool’s social media pages and on thealternativeschool.com.
