Project Summary

This project involves creating a digital advertising agency where students from various programs collaborate on projects for local entrepreneurs and national non-profits. Services offered include user testing, social media plans, CRM system builds, SEO audits, website design and paid media campaigns. The agency focuses on supporting small businesses, newcomers to London and Indigenous communities.

The Challenge

The Lawrence Kinlin School of Business, in collaboration with Innovation Village, established Village Creative, a living digital advertising agency where students from various programs collaborate on projects for local entrepreneurs and national non-profits, providing students with valuable work-integrated learning experiences.

To call Village Creative a learning experience would do it a disservice. It was invaluable working experience and a program that I will (and do) recommend to friends and colleagues. I wanted to thank you for your guidance throughout the term - it really helped push our projects and presentations to another level.

- Jessy Van der Vaart,
Marketing Management student

The Solution

The solution began with the launch of the first cohort in January 2024. Village Creative secured 10 for-profit and 10 non-profit clients from January to April 2024, and 14 for-profit clients from May to August 2024. Partnerships and sponsorships were established with Meta, TikTok and Northern Commerce, and a waitlist for clients was created for fall 2024 and winter 2025. Out of 90 interviewed students, 33 were selected for winter 2024 and 16 for summer 2024. The team completed a business plan, partnered and secured funding with TechAlliance and FOBITPTS. A partnership with Downtown London was secured for fall 2024, reserving five client spots for their clients. The agency’s demand has grown so much that there is now a one-year waiting list for clients. Additionally, student workers from four different programs have joined Village Creative, collaborating on projects with other departments such as travel and tourism, radio broadcasting and photography.

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