Flow, Sagicor, and Yello Media will headline BrandCamp: The Marketers Meet-Up, an inaugural brand storytelling event hosted by the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) as part of its 50th anniversary celebration. The showcase, developed in partnership with Chaynge Co – an intelligence-driven marketing and social impact agency – will feature these leading brands sharing the “backstories” behind some of their most successful campaigns executed in Jamaica.

Conceptualised by Chaynge Co, BrandCamp, scheduled for May 7, 2025, at UWI, Mona, represents a unique convergence of academic insight and industry innovation. The event will bring together marketing and communication professionals, students and thought leaders to hear, share and celebrate some of the most impactful brand marketing and social impact campaigns of the past decade.

Beyond a single-day event, BrandCamp aims to create a lasting repository of knowledge, with highlighted cases published to inspire current and future marketers.

“BrandCamp is more than an event—it’s a strategic knowledge exchange that bridges the critical gap between academic theory and real-world marketing practice and ultimately having the cases available for research and reference,” said Kalando Wilmoth, Co-Founder of Chaynge Co and CARIMAC alum.

“By partnering with CARIMAC during its milestone 50th year, we’re not just documenting some of Jamaica’s most compelling brand stories; we’re creating a blueprint for marketing excellence that will inform and inspire the next generation of Caribbean marketing talent.”

CARIMAC’s Director, Dr Patrick Prendergast, highlighted the significance of this partnership: “As we mark 50 years of excellence, CARIMAC remains committed to fostering innovation and thought leadership in media and communication. BrandCamp provides an invaluable platform for dialogue on the evolution of brand storytelling and its impact on society.”

For this staging Flow will highlight its highly successful, multi-year “Yaad & Road” campaign; Yello Media will detail the behind-the-scenes of its transformational rebranding campaign – from Yellow Pages to Yello and Sagicor Group Jamaica, will share insights into the formula that has built the iconic “Sigma Run”.

“Flow’s Yaad & Road campaign wasn’t just an ad or an offer—it redefined how we connect with each other and how seamless telecommunications enables these connections. By highlighting the ease of staying connected both at home and on the go, we showed how our services bring real value to everyday life. We’re excited to share our journey at BrandCamp and celebrate the power of storytelling in brand building,” said Latoy Lawrence, Head of Marketing, Flow.

For her part Keisha-Maria Cools-Lartigue, Yello’s Executive Director, product and marketing, believes the showcase will allow her team to demonstrate how a brand can evolve while keeping its essence, adding that: “Yello’s rebranding from Yellow Pages to Yello marks a significant step in our digital evolution, allowing us to better connect with modern audiences while staying true to the core values that have defined our brand for decades. We are thrilled to be part of BrandCamp’s inaugural initiative on Brand Storytelling and excited to share our journey as presenters, offering insights on how a brand can evolve while preserving its authentic identity in today’s digital landscape.”

“The evolution of the Sagicor Sigma Corporate Run reflects our deep belief in the power of unity. What started as a modest event with fewer than 1000 participants has grown into the Caribbean’s largest road race, attracting over 30,000 registrants in just under three decades. We are excited to share the story behind this remarkable brand journey and hope to inspire the next generation of communications and marketing professionals,” said Nicole Campbell-Robinson, VP Communications, Digital Media and CSR Sagicor Group Jamaica.

Additionally, the National Library of Jamaica will participate in BrandCamp, reinforcing the importance of archiving and preserving local brand narratives.

“As brands navigate an evolving digital and cultural landscape, BrandCamp will serve as a forum to showcase the best in creative marketing and purposeful storytelling. We are excited to collaborate with CARIMAC and our presenting partners to create an event that inspires and educates,” said Burchell Gordon, Co-Founder of Chaynge Co.

BrandCamp: The Marketers Meet-Up is open to marketing professionals, students, and brand enthusiasts.

Source: Jamaica Observer

Jamar Cleary's short documentary film, Raizal: The Jamaican/San Andreas Connection, produced for the course COMM3399 Media Research and Production at CARIMAC, won the Cultural Resonance Award at the Films That Move Festival in December 2024. In addition to this win, Cleary's work has garnered notable recognition on the festival circuit since its screening. The film was selected as an Official Selection for the 15th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival 2024, the Heritales VI International Heritage Film Festival 2024, and the Lift-Off Global Film Festival 2024. These selections highlight the film's impact and Jamar's strong storytelling skills in the realm of documentary filmmaking. For more, see RAIZAL THE JAMAICAN CONNECTION, Jamaica Observer & Kaboom Magazine.

Global Game Jam Jamrock 2024: A Resounding Success

KINGSTON, Jamaica. Monday, January 29, 2024

Global Game Jam (GGJ) 2024, the world's largest game creation event, concluded on Sunday, January 28, 2024 after 48 hours of intensive collaborative game development. The Jamaican staging of the event entitled 'Jamrock' was hosted by the Jamaica Game Developer Society (JGDS), in association with the Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC). The hybrid event brought together 40 in-person participants to CARIMAC Annex 2 and 8 online participants to celebrate creativity and diversity in the gaming industry.

The majority of the jammer were students from the University of the West Indies (UWI), University of Technology (UTECH) and the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU). The participants formed teams to create a total of eight different games based on the Global Game Jam theme ‘Make Me Laugh,’ showcasing a wide range of ideas. These games demonstrated not only technical skill but also the creativity and innovation fostered during the intense 48-hour jam.

The jammers revelled in the experience and expressed the network opportunity as the main benefit of participating in the event. “I had a very full experience. Met a lot of new people. I was satisfied with accommodation and food, and I will come next year if I can" noted Safiya Burgess, 19-year old student of Engineering in Mechatronics. Another participant, Jamaica Game Developer Society member Cleon Williams said, "I had a great time. Had fun, met new people. The food was great as well. I got looked after and the hospitality was good."

     

Mr. Glen Henry, co-founder of the JGDS, was more than satisfied with the staging of the event and had high praises for the group of final-year Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) students who were the organizers. "The student team excelled in bringing everything together,

securing sponsors who were genuinely interested in the event and our project goals. Witnessing returning jammers enthusiastically supporting and participating was truly heartening. The seamless collaboration among the teams from the very beginning vividly illustrates the essence of the Jam—a spirit of creation firmly taking root. CARIMAC's ongoing support remains outstanding and highly valued. I'm genuinely impressed by the accomplishments of the student volunteer team and what they have achieved with the event."

The sponsors for the event included Real Decoy, Grace, Pizza Hut Jamaica, Red Bull Jamaica, Nardo’s One-Stop Shop, UWI Social Welfare and Howlers Café. The organizing team, CARIMAC and the JGDS extend profound appreciation to these local businesses who were essential to the success of Global Game Jam – Jamrock 2024.

Although the event has come to an end, there is more to expect this year in the game development community as expressed by Mr. Henry. “Stay tuned for forthcoming announcements on an array of meticulously planned events, workshops, and initiatives, poised to elevate and shape the gaming industry in the months ahead”.