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Course profile

Creative Advertising Development (ADVT7509)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Postgraduate Coursework
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Business School

This is a course in creative thinking. It covers the creative process in an advertising context and also the broader context of creativity applied to business problems. Students will learn ways to train their brains for conceptual thinking. That is, lateral ways to solve problems in more innovative ways. In an advertising context, students will learn the process: from the strategy and
insight that goes into a creative brief; ideation and emotional appeals; how to sell and evaluate a creative idea; and how an idea can evolve over time. This will be explored through executing in different media channels such as broadcast, print, digital and experience, and for different audiences.

This course is designed to introduce students to contemporary creative advertising practice and concept development and production. The course materials are designed to build a connection between creative strategy theory and practice, through two-way discussion and engaging practical exercises. Students will develop skills in deconstructing and analysing existing advertising campaigns in terms of their effectiveness, as well as develop new creative advertising strategies for an array of client briefs.

The course aims to give students practical experience in advertising production processes, including how to explore and engage with creative thinking, analyse creative briefs, and develop and write creative concepts that will appeal to target audience(s), as well as the planning, producing and editing of multimedia advertisements.

Course requirements

Assumed background

Before attempting this course, students are advised that it is important to complete the appropriate prerequisite course(s) and/or check incompatible courses, as listed on the front of this course profile. No responsibility will be accepted by the School of Business, the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law or The University of Queensland for poor student performance occurring in courses where the appropriate prerequisite(s) and/or incompatible courses have not been adhered to, for any reason whatsoever.

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

ADVT7508

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

ADVT3507 or MKTG7509

Restrictions

Quota: Minimum of 15 enrolments

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email business.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:

  • Full Name
  • Student ID
  • Course Code

Aims and outcomes

The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the creative strategy process and its importance in producing effective IMC (integrated marketing communication) campaigns, to meet strategic communications objectives.ᅠ Commencing with the identification of the role of the creative team in campaign development, students will acquire knowledge and skills to examine creative advertising concepts through the dissection of client and creative briefs and campaign executions.ᅠ Message strategy and execution techniques are examined, with connections back to creative process theory. Students will investigate ideation strategies based on insights, to illustrate knowledge of big ideas, central to creative strategy.ᅠ Students will acquire skills in the development and production of creative executions of advertising strategies to meet defined client/creative briefs and illustrate their understanding of and applicability of the creative strategy to effectively reach a desired consumer segment and achieve strategic communication objectives.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Understand the role of the creative team in campaign development and how creative advertising concepts are developed in response to client and creative briefs.

LO2.

Analyse and critique creative strategies to assess the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, through identifying strengths and weaknesses in message strategy and execution styles.

LO3.

Understand how to access and use creative thinking and apply that to practical idea generation and other processes involved in contemporary creative production and development.

LO4.

Develop skills in idea generation, conceptualisation, design and production to develop impactful creative advertisements and promotional content for a variety of media-matched delivery platforms.

LO5.

Demonstrate an understanding of strategic implications in the creative development process, to achieve strategic creative message objectives.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique Creative Strategy Analysis 25%

30/08/2024 5:00 pm

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique, Portfolio Creative Strategy Portfolio 35%

4/10/2024 5:00 pm

Portfolio, Product/ Design, Project Creative Strategy Campaign Development 40%

25/10/2024 5:00 pm

Assessment details

Creative Strategy Analysis

Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique
Weight
25%
Due date

30/08/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03

Task description

Creativity is the soul of advertising. Without the creative execution – no one will pay attention to the message and clients will not successfully sell their products or services. A creative strategy defines the important strategic choices required to develop and effectively deliver a targeted message to the desired consumer segment. The creative strategy defines what you will say about your product or service and addresses how you want consumers to think about your brand. Developing an effective advertising campaign involves design of a strong message strategy, with impactful advertising appeals and execution style.

In this assessment, you are required to select an existing advertising campaign* for a product/service and critically dissect the elements of the campaign, including the message strategy and execution style. Students will be provided with a structure for their creative strategy analysis.

* Note: content in the advertisement must all be in English and the product/brand needs to be familiar to the teaching staff. In addition, the campaign needs to have been in the market from present time to past 2-3 years only.

Your critical analysis of the advertising campaign will be supported by insights gained from secondary research and connections to creative strategy theory. You are also required to address whether you felt the campaign was/was not effective (and why) in achieving advertising campaign objectives and present recommendations as to how the creative strategy and execution could have been improved for greater effectiveness.

This is an individual assessment and as such, students should not work with/collaborate with other students in the cohort when working on this written report. A step-by-step assessment brief including full details of the individual report will be located in the assessment folder on the unit’s Blackboard site. Please refer to this guide for full details of this individual report. The skills acquired from this creative strategy analysis will be built on in the following two assessment items.

The Creative Strategy Analysis report word count is 1,500 words (10% over/under allowable). Reference list and appendices are not included in the word count. All submissions must be written in English.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task.. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance.

A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

This assignment is to be submitted online through the Turnitin submission link on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Creative Strategy Portfolio

Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
Category
Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique, Portfolio
Weight
35%
Due date

4/10/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

In this assessment, you will be required to build on your acquired strategy analysis skills and develop original and creative advertising strategies (message strategy and executions) in response to specific creative brief/s.

Starting with analysis of the creative brief/s students will be required to undertake some research into the desired target audience, in order to utilise ideation skills to arrive at a Big Idea behind the campaign and from this, design the message strategy and the execution of the ad campaign (or advertisement).

Students will be required to the creative brief/s, to design their own portfolio of creative work. A creative rationale will be crafted to explain and justify the creative elements of the campaign/s.

This is an individual assessment and as such, students should not work with/collaborate with other students in the cohort when working on this Portfolio.

A step-by-step assessment brief including full details of the individual report will be located in the assessment folder on the course Blackboard site. Please refer to this guide for full details of this individual Portfolio assessment.  

The Creative Strategy Analysis report word count is equivalent to 2,500 words (10% over/under allowable). Reference list and appendices are not included in the word count. All submissions must be written in English.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task.. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance.

A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

This assignment is to be submitted online through the Turnitin submission link on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Creative Strategy Campaign Development

Mode
Activity/ Performance, Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
Category
Portfolio, Product/ Design, Project
Weight
40%
Due date

25/10/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

In this final assessment, you will be tested on your ability to bring all the learned concepts in creative strategy theory together.

You will be required to create and sell-in (via a pre-recorded pitch video) your own, original, creative strategy in response to a creative brief. Polished, produced (print/multimedia/social media etc) executions of advertisements will be developed as part of this assessment. In addition to responding to a creative brief for a campaign, students will craft (and sell-in persuasively) their creative rationale to explain and justify the creative elements of the campaign’s creative strategy.

This is an individual assessment and as such, students should not work with/collaborate with other students in the cohort when working on this creative strategy campaign.

A step-by-step assessment brief including full details of the individual report will be located in the assessment folder on the unit’s Blackboard site. Please refer to this guide for full details of this individual campaign development assessment. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI in completing this assessment task.. Students must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance.

A failure to reference generative AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

This assignment is to be submitted online through the Blackboard Assessment link.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 29

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 30 - 46

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1
Lecture

Introduction to the Course

Intro & creative strategy overview

Learning outcomes: L01, L03

Week 2
Lecture

The Role of the Brief in Creative Development

From the client brief, to the creative brief, to the creative rationale.

Learning outcomes: L01, L03

Tutorial

Week 2 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L03

Week 3
Lecture

Creative Strategy

The role of emotions, appeals, and creative process theory

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Tutorial

Week 3 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03

Week 4
Lecture

Idea Management

From an insight to the Big Idea

Royal Queensland Show Public Holiday - Wednesday 14 Aug 2024 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Tutorial

Week 4 Tutorial

Royal Queensland Show Public Holiday - Wednesday 14 Aug 2024 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 5
Lecture

Activation

How to connect the right creative message with the right target audience

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Tutorial

Week 5 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Week 6
Lecture

The Creative Process 1

The role of the Copywriter

Assessment #1 due, end of week 6 (30th August, 2pm Brisbane time)

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05

Tutorial

Week 6 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05

Week 7
Lecture

The Creative Process 2

The role of the Art Director

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05

Tutorial

Week 7 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05

Week 8
Lecture

Stages of Design and Production

Delving in the creative development process

Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L05

Tutorial

Week 8 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L04, L05

Week 9
Lecture

Media through the Creative Process 1

Designing campaigns for print and outdoor

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

Tutorial

Week 9 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

Mid Sem break
No student involvement (Breaks, information)

IN-SEMESTER BREAK WEEK

Self-directed learning

Week 10
Lecture

Media through the Creative Process 2

Designing campaigns for broadcast, radio, digital, & experimental

Assessment #2 due, end of week 10 (4th October, 2pm Brisbane time)

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

Tutorial

Week 10 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04

Week 11
Lecture

Technical Production Skills

Audio and Video production

King's Birthday Public Holiday - Monday 7 Oct 2024 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes.

Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05

Tutorial

Week 11 Tutorial

King's Birthday Public Holiday - Monday 7 Oct 2024 - Check Blackboard for announcements about affected classes.

Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05

Week 12
Lecture

The Future of Creativity

AI powered creative

Learning outcomes: L03, L05

Tutorial

Week 12 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L03, L05

Week 13
Lecture

Course revision and review

Assessment #3 due, end of week 13 (25th October, 2pm Brisbane time)

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Tutorial

Week 13 Tutorial

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.