November 10, 2025

by Lauren Ferguson

Kayla Brand ‘25 may have just graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey in May, but her design work is already lighting up the world-famous Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA.

Brand, who studied visual communication design at Ramapo, is the winner of a billboard-design contest launched by NBC in honor of the network’s new advertising competition show, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon.

“It was an incredible feeling, seeing my work displayed on such a large scale for the first time. It almost felt surreal, like something I’d always hoped for but never imagined would actually happen so soon,” Brand said. “I’m really grateful to have had the chance to experience that moment. Sharing the excitement with my family and friends made it even more special — getting to experience their reactions alongside my own was amazing.”

Creating the Winner

When Fallon announced the contest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in September, the comedian told people to “Get creative. Have fun with it. We can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.”

What Brand came up with stood out.

Fallon and his On Brand co-host, Bozoma Saint John chose the Ramapo alumnus’ design out of more than 1,000 entries. It went live on October 29, on the NBC Videotron on Sunset Boulevard.

Kayla Brand ’25 designed a billboard that is lighting up Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA. Photo credit: On Brand

The billboard features yellow, red and blue Post-it notes from an apparent brainstorming session, with phrases such as “Design. Pitch. Win.” and “The Next Big Thing.” In the middle, is a white Post-it, with the On Brand with Jimmy Fallon logo.

“Based on the concept of the show, I wanted to capture the energy of what the creative process looks like for marketers and designers. When conceptualizing the design, I thought about the ideation stage — that chaotic jumble of thoughts, notes, and inspiration — and wanted to bring that feeling to life,” said Brand, who used the online graphic design platform Canva to create the design. “I use sticky notes or any form of paper to jot down quick ideas, so incorporating scattered notes felt like a natural way to represent that creative chaos.”

Brand’s big win was covered in ADWEEK, a leading source of news for the global brand marketing, advertising, and media industries.

Saint John told ADWEEK in a statement that Brand’s billboard won “because it instantly captured the creative chaos and collaboration that fuels every marketer’s process. The colorful sticky notes represent the brainstorms, debates, and wild ideas that happen before brilliance strikes; and placing the On Brand logo right at the center made it clear: This show is where ideas come to life.”

Learning at Ramapo

Brand’s success post-Ramapo is hardly a surprise.

When she was a senior, Dean Ken Goldstein of the School of Contemporary Arts chose her to represent the school on Ramapo’s 2025 Honor Guard, based on her outstanding scholarship and contributions to the College. In her role, Brand led fellow Contemporary Arts classmates during the processional at commencement, and carried the school gonfalon during the storied tradition of Arching.

Kayla Brand ’25 was a member of Ramapo’s 2025 Honor Guard. She  held the gonfalon for the School of Contemporary Arts during Arching.

Professor of Graphic Design and Interactive Media Bonnie Blake said she had “no doubt” her student would thrive. Before Brand graduated, Blake called her “a tremendously skilled writer, leader, and human-centered designer,” who would leave the College with “an exceptional portfolio and a multidisciplinary skillset.”

Brand said the classes she took with Professor Blake and Associate Professor of Communication Arts Lawrence Mascia  helped prepare her for the professional world. “They always offered valuable feedback and created a fun, encouraging environment that made learning design exciting,” she said.

Designing a Future

Brand earned a trip to New York City and tickets to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for her winning design. She is now working contract freelance in a marketing and design role, which she described as a great opportunity to continue growing her skills and gain real-world experience.

“Looking ahead, I want to keep creating designs that are seen, appreciated, and hopefully make an impact,” Brand said. “The world is full of creative work everywhere you look, and I’d love for my designs to contribute to that visual landscape. This billboard feels like just the beginning, and I’m excited to see where my career evolves from here.”