The Essential Art Department

“I have worked with Brandi as an Instructor at the Art Institute of California Hollywood and I have found her to be extremely focused and detail oriented. Her teaching is highly imaginative and her ability to develop strong teaching concepts through practical industry standard skills and training, consistently shows in her work. Her methodology is very hands-on, yet she insists that each student develop their own creative vision. Brandi is an excellent Production Designer and Teacher and she has an incredible ability to involve and inspire her students to do their best work. Her projects and assignments range from individual work to complex group projects and all of her students strive to excel in whatever tasks Brandi presents to them. ”

Trefoni Rizzi / Creative Director-Author-Teacher

“Brandi is an extremely talented designer. She works with Set & Exhibit Design students to understand the professions of Set Decoration and Art Direction. She has organized excellent field trips and invited impressive guest speakers to speak to the class. She has an approachable team-oriented style with the students. She is a good role-model for her students. She has an excellent attitude and is always positive about any program she teaches. Although Brandi works in the entertainment industry, she is extremely passionate about teaching. She works very hard to teach professional skills to all students (beginning to advanced). She has the respect of all her students. Brandi has used her professional contacts in the film studio and TV industries to benefit the students.”

Gary LaVasser / Academic Director - AI

“Brandi Creason, who is not only in my humble opinion, a wondrously talented Production Designer and Art Director, but a great collaborator and undeniably - a lovely person. Whether designing a realistic set or an impressionistic dreamscape utilizing forced perspective - her work is always creative and beautiful to behold. In addition, having come out of the theatre, she has the ability to turn less into more and few into many making producers like me look good to our bosses when we come in under budget. Let me close by saying - not only is she a force to be contended with - but she has always gone above and beyond with the young people she has had come intern on sets with her - making sure that they share in the creative process and understand concepts and execution behind all of the design components. Any student would feel lucky to have her as a teacher and mentor.”

William Katt / Actor-Director-Producer

“Brandi is truly one of the “great” ones! Talented, smart, dedicated! Most importantly, she is one of the best collaborators any project or class could hope to have. She brings a passion to everything she works on, and that in turn, becomes infectious (a term that really can be positive). I’ve been fortunate enough to work with her as a designer in a professional capacity, but equally fortunate to interact with her through her teaching. In the past I’ve participated occasionally with her students in the classroom, to share my end of the “entertainment business” and have been amazed at how much they have learned to embrace all aspects of industry, not just the artistic, but everything it takes to execute their artistic vision. This ability to share real world experience within the safety of the classroom is something I have always found inspiring. Her students go forth engaged, passionate, well rounded and well prepared.”

Joel Smith / Universal Studios-Senior Project Manager Prod. Admin.

“There are very few people in a person's life that can truly help mold the person you become. Some may say your family, a close friend, a life partner, and if you're lucky, a teacher. If you were fortunate enough to have Brandi Creason as a teacher, you are a better person because of it. It's very rare to have a person come into your life that is incredibly knowledgeable about the field you are passionate about. I was lucky enough to have Brandi as an instructor for a few of my classes in college while obtaining my BA in Set and Exhibit Design. This was a crucial time in my life as I developed the skills and the path I would take for my career. Having an instructor like Brandi, truly helped mold and develop the necessary skills I needed to be successful. Not only is she knowledgeable about the lessons she is teaching, but she also has a passion for teaching others. Her passion and love for her work are extremely contagious and truly motivates you to soak as much in as you can. If Brandi can even put a quarter of her knowledge, passion, and love into The Essential Art Department, it will still be more than enough to help you succeed in the field of Art Direction. ”

Matt Maldonado / Industry Designer-Student