Alumnus-directed music video takes home two VMAs

John Urbano works on the One Direction music video, screenshot from behind the scenes video

Advertising & Graphic Design alumnus John Urbano can now add two VMAs to his list of accomplishments.

Urbano directed the British pop band One Direction’s music video “What Makes You Beautiful,” which won two MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 6 for Best Pop Video and Most Share-Worthy Video, with the band taking home Best New Artist.

The video features the five-member boy band on a road trip, meeting up with friends on a beautiful California beach.

In a behind the scenes video, Urbano describes the film as candid, energetic, and fun.

“In a typical boy-band music video there is this recipe, and we’ve kind of thrown that recipe away—breaking the mold,” Urbano said in the making-of video.

The video has reached more than 200 million views on Vevo, a music video site, since its premiere on Aug. 19, 2011.