This dynamic, challenging Advertising course produces professional advertising creators to go into the creative side of the advertising business, in all over the world advertising agencies.
Courses in the Department of Design are rooted in Creative Thinking (innovative ideas generation and making). The student will be exposed to the best contemporary work and the most influential historical work. Modules develop skills in computing, drawing, contextual studies, professional practice, typography, art direction and copywriting. Verbal presentation is also a big part of the course. There are live industry briefs and competition briefs from 2nd year onwards and a wide variety of media are used.
The course has many links to advertising agencies in Thessaloniki and Athens, plus visiting consultants such as art directors, copywriters, TV commercials directors, photographers and creative directors.
Programme of Study
Students concentrate on ideas generation from the day they arrive on the course. All students on the course are encouraged from the start to think in words and images. The Advertising course concentrates on fast moving projects where innovation and thinking out of the box is critically important. Advertising briefs generally have a weekly deadline but can be interspersed with longer projects, and verbal presentation plays a big part on the course. Answering the brief in an effective, intelligent way is necessary to emulate the way the advertising industry functions.
Students work on a variety of creative briefs ranging from fast moving consumer goods, charities like the Samaritans, and advocacy briefs such as a governmental health campaign or anti-drink and drive campaign. The students handle the full range of media including print, TV, radio, ambient and stunt media and web.
The course produces Advertising Creators, for example, art directors and copywriters who will work in the creative departments of advertising agencies.
Course Content
The first year starts with ideas generating projects, gradually progressing into specialist advertising briefs at the end of the first semester. The second semester deals with an introduction to advertising media. Fast moving one week projects are a main feature of the course and occasionally one day projects. The modules you are taught are:
Introduction to Advertising
Creative Thinking
Historical Contextual Studies
Plus one elective module
The second year concentrates on different products with some specific copywriting projects then moves into the advertising campaign and how to produce one. Competition briefs are introduced at this point. Live briefs from advertising agencies and competitions take place in final year and there is a lot of freedom for students to develop their own projects plus do briefs from tutors. The modules you are taught are:
The Products
The Campaign
Contemporary Contextual Studies
Plus one elective module
In the past we have done live briefs with the museums in Thessaloniki and worked closely with advertising agencies in the city. We also have links with agencies in Athens.
Final year study is used to concentrate on producing the industry portfolio which culminates in a stimulating, professional, end of year show of work. The modules you are taught are:
Honours Project
External Project
Production Writing
Contextual Studies - Design Futures