“A History of Brands is smart, stylish and succinct — a solid introduction to branding’s long and complex history.”

Richard Shear

As an entrepreneur partner and chief creative officer of Invok Brands, Richard Shear’s expertise lies in helping clients uncover the visual heritage of their most iconic brands and using this design equity to help them build and position these brands in ways that inform, connect, and motivate. As a member of the School of Visual Arts founding faculty of the Masters in Branding program, Richard teaches The History of Branding, focusing on the interconnected evolution of global consumer culture and visual history through the last two millennia and its influences on contemporary retail brands.

Mark Kingsley

Mark Kingsley is a creative director and strategist with a wide range of experience and recognition. He is a faculty member in the School of Visual Arts Masters in Branding program. As Executive Strategy Director at Collins, he developed the new global positioning for Ogilvy and helped Equinox enter the luxury hotel business. For over 17 years, his studio Greenberg Kingsley specialized in music and arts, including several years of branding and advertising for Central Park SummerStage; work for the Guggenheim Museum store; and music packaging for John Coltrane, Pat Metheny, and Quincy Jones. His current studio, Malcontent, serves global advertising firms, fin-tech startups, arts organizations, living legends, and Pulitzer Prize winners.

Debbie Millman

Named “one of the most influential designers working today,” Debbie Millman is an author, educator, and brand strategist. She is also president emeritus of AIGA, the creative director of Print Magazine, and host of the award-winning podcast series Design Matters, the first and longest-running design podcast in the world. In 2009 Debbie cofounded with Steven Heller the world’s first graduate program in branding at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Now in its sixth year, the program has achieved international acclaim.