Hands-On Learning
Highwire Brand Studio
Highwire Brand Studio is an innovative hands-on learning capstone focusing on developing branding strategies and tactics to address opportunities faced by real-world client companies. Each semester senior students from marketing, communication design and other university majors compete on disciplinary-diverse teams to develop the best overall recommendation for the client’s branding challenge.
Clients partner with Highwire Brand Studio in order to tap the unique perspectives and experiences of Miami’s top students and commonly use student-developed strategies and tactics in their subsequent marketing and branding efforts. Recent clients have included P&G’s Pringles, Olay, and Pantene brands, Nestlé’s Purina and Toll House brands, Speedway, Pepsi, Microban Europe, New Chapter Natural Vitamins, Kellogg's Poptarts, The Nuxhall Foundation, and Hasbro. Deliverables for these projects included strategies and tactics for brand positioning, brand naming, brand design and visual elements, promotional programs, in-store merchandising, and display materials, social media programs, and product packaging.
Contact: Dr. Tim Greenlee, 513-529-1204, greenltb@MiamiOH.edu
StrategyWorks
StrategyWorks is a capstone offering with a core focus on the development of effective marketing strategy executed through the full spectrum of the marketing mix. Each student team develops a go-to-market plan for the client over the semester. Teams conduct an extensive market analysis, including primary and secondary research, and use these research-driven insights to identify the optimal target market and brand positioning. Each team then develops recommendations on how to execute the marketing strategy across the marketing mix. Student-client interaction is integral to this offering, both during the semester and for final student presentations. Students are encouraged to tell a story with their proposed strategies—learning how to weave a tale is an important part of the marketing process, and as they prepare for their final presentations, this storytelling aspect is critical.
Past clients include J&J Ethicon Endo-Surgery, NCAA, AdvancePierre Foods, Cessna Aircraft Company, Nestle and Reebok, and Stryker.
Contact: Dr. Gregory Fisher 513-529-3368, fishergj@MiamiOH.edu
Interactive Media Studies Practicum
Interactive Media Studies Practicum examines the tools and methodologies involved in creating and managing the production of new media. Students study different development models in a real-world setting and work with a client in business or industry to produce an interactive solution. This course particularly focuses on two aspects of the client project: (1) the management of new media development, and (2) the processes that best develop the synergy of an interdisciplinary team working toward a shared goal and the tools of development. It also emphasizes project planning and management. While it may be the case that programmers need to know coding and graphic designers need to know vector graphics, the successful manager will know something about both of these tools, about how they work together, and about how to specialize in one of them.
Contact: Dr. Glenn Platt, 513-529-2808, plattgj@MiamiOH.edu
KickGlass
The Center for KickGlass Skills, founded by Professor of Marketing Dr. Gillian Oakenfull, prepares students with essential human capabilities that support effective leadership, innovation, and adaptability in today’s technology-enhanced, rapidly evolving workplace.
These future-oriented skills include:
- Adaptability and Resilience – Navigating change and uncertainty in dynamic environments
- Interpersonal and Cross-Cultural Awareness – Working effectively across various cultural and digital contexts
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving – Analyzing information and developing effective, innovative solutions
- Communication and Collaboration – Building productive teams and fostering cooperation across different functions
- Ethical Decision-Making – Applying sound judgment and integrity in complex professional settings
Contact: Dr. Gillian Oakenfull, 513-529-1209, oakenfg@MiamiOH.edu
Hands-On Learning
Business is hands-on. We believe that learning should be, too. That's why every Farmer School student works on a project with a real business client their first year here, and has multiple opportunities to practice what we teach throughout their Miami years. Students participate in competitions, work on client projects, study away and abroad, complete internships and more. By graduation, they have years of experience - working with clients, presenting to executives, preparing analyses, leading groups.. all of which translates into Farmer School students graduating beyond ready to launch successful careers.
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