Education Leaders Program / Deborah Morrison
Deborah Morrison
Eugene, OR
School affiliations
"I believe the optimism, passion and problem-solving goodness of creative professionals lift the world."
Morrison is the Chambers Distinguished Professor of Advertising in the School of Journalism and Communication. She teaches conceptual thinking, creativity and content, portfolio, mobile media and creative strategist courses from a perspective of social responsibility and creativity. Prior to the University of Oregon, Morrison was the leader of Texas Creative at the University of Texas at Austin for 18 years. Her students have gone on to great careers around the world. She believes strong university programs should uphold the promise of developing intellect and talent for the advertising industry, and always work as conscience for the industry. Her research concerns professional creativity, social responsibility and creative leadership in advertising, and creative process.
She consults regularly for brands in issues and education, and leads workshops in professional creative development. Her books include Idea Industry: How to Crack the Advertising Career Code with Brett Robbs (2009) and, with Glenn Griffin, The Creative Process Illustrated: How Advertising's Big Ideas are Born (2010). Morrison has judged regional, national, and international shows for the Addys, The One Show, and The Art Director's Club. She is a two-time winner of the SOJC Marshall Award for Innovative Teaching (08 and 09). She has been named Educator of the Year by the Austin Ad Federation, was selected for the Blunk Professorship at the University of Texas, and was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award from UT. Morrison was also a member of the Board of Directors for The One Club for Art & Copy in New York for two terms, the only university educator to hold that honor. Morrison has been a featured speaker at SXSW Interactive, the HOW Design Conference, and The One Club Unconference. In 2009, she was named a Grandmaster by The Art Director's Club in New York.
