Senior | TAI Creative Track
Some paths are carefully planned. Others begin with a simple “Why not?”
For Da’Shon Bright, that question – asked while dropping off an Uber Eats order on SMU’s campus – changed everything.
From Cleveland to Dallas… and Back to Ford Stadium
Da’Shon is from Dallas, Texas, though his journey started in Cleveland, Ohio before his family moved south when he was young. As a kid, he played little league football at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, never imagining that one day he’d return – not as an athlete, but as a student at Southern Methodist University.
At the time, he was studying at Dallas College and working for Uber Eats when that delivery to SMU sparked a realization. Later that year, he applied. Looking back, he calls it “one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Today, Da’Shon is a senior at SMU, finishing his degree on the creative track in advertising.
From the FBI to Advertising (Yes, Really)
Da’Shon’s route to advertising was anything but linear. He jokes that he “got lost on the way to the FBI.” With a background in philosophy and experience from his time in the military, he had connections, clearances, and a realistic path toward a career in federal service.
But as graduation approached, something didn’t feel right.
“I wanted a career where I could have fun, be a people person, and actually enjoy my work,” he says.
In search of that fit, he explored engineering, law-related courses, and other disciplines before landing (almost accidentally) in advertising. The turning point came in Professor John Hall’s Survey of Advertising course while watching a program featuring legendary creative George Lois.
Two thoughts crossed his mind:
1. “This man is a beast.”
2. “I could totally see myself doing this.”
After taking Professor Willie Baronet’s Intro to Creativity, everything clicked. Da’Shon had finally found a major that aligned with both his personality and his curiosity.
A Favorite Class That Felt Like a Soirée
While advertising courses helped define his career path, Da’Shon’s favorite class at SMU so far has been: Arabic, taught by Professors Liljana Elverskog and Omar Al-Rashdan.
Team-taught and highly interactive, the course blended structured learning with real-world conversation. Rather than feeling like a lecture, class time felt more like a lively gathering – full of laughter, openness, and genuine connection.
“It didn’t feel like school,” Da’Shon explains. “Not because it wasn’t challenging, but because it was genuinely fun.”
The experience remains one of the highlights of his time at SMU.
Finding Fandom Through Creativity
Though he hasn’t completed an internship yet (he plans to intern at an agency this summer), Da’Shon has already had standout hands-on experience through coursework – especially a Letterboxd campaign project.
Working alongside Nicole Sustaita-Felici and Gabriella Spear, his team developed a campaign encouraging users to “find their fandom” on Letterboxd. The concept relied on visually striking color treatments and a crossword-style layout using films that shared words in their titles, a creative challenge that required both precision and patience.
Once the team cracked the system, the project came to life. Late nights turned into inside jokes, problem-solving sessions turned into friendships, and the final work reflected the bond they built along the way.
“What started as a group project ended with strong friendships and lasting bonds,” Da’Shon says. “I couldn’t have asked for a better team.”
What’s Next
As he looks ahead, Da’Shon is most excited about building his portfolio and competing in the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) – opportunities that allow him to sharpen his creative voice and collaborate at a high level.
Beyond the Classroom
Outside of advertising, Da’Shon’s life is rich with passions that deeply shape who he is as a creative and as a person.
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Family: A devoted husband and father, Da’Shon credits his wife (his high school sweetheart) and their daughter as his biggest supporters. Family road trips, movie nights, game nights, and school events are at the center of his world, and every decision he makes is with them in mind.
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Photography: Drawn to moody visuals and silhouettes against the sky, Da’Shon loves capturing moments – whether it’s the moon, animals, or overlooked details. One day, he hopes to take a road trip photographing abandoned homes and small towns, fascinated by the unseen stories they hold.
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Philosophy: His academic roots still run deep. Da’Shon believes philosophy underpins everything – art, science, politics, and society itself. He’s especially interested in humanism, metaphysics, and questions surrounding time, space, and the nature of existence.
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Space: A lifelong fascination, space continues to inspire awe and curiosity. Though poor eyesight ended his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, Da’Shon eagerly follows missions like Artemis II, hopeful that space exploration can once again unite humanity.
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U.S. Marine Corps Veteran: Da’Shon’s time in the Marine Corps shaped his worldview profoundly. Working alongside allied forces from the UK, the Netherlands, and Australia exposed him to diverse cultures and perspectives. Those experiences taught him empathy, adaptability, and the importance of collaboration, skills that now define him as both a creative and a leader.
A People Person at Heart
Across every chapter of his life – military service, philosophy, photography, family, and advertising – one thing remains constant: Da’Shon Bright is deeply curious about people and their stories.
“You never know what someone else is going through,” he says. “I always try to keep that in mind.”
It’s that mindset – open, thoughtful, and human – that makes Da’Shon not just a strong creative, but a powerful presence in any room he enters. TAI is lucky to have you Da’Shon!
