Bachelor of Fine Arts in 
Online Advertising Course
4016: Advertising Design I
How to get ahead in advertising, by design
Ready to put on your Madison Advenue shoes? In this online advertising course, you'll learn the principles of the advertising design from both a creative and a business perspective. Case studies from print, Web, and TV showcase advertising concepts at work: persuasion, color psychology and composition, copywriting and typography, and brand communication. Class projects include ads for newspapers, magazines, subways, and transit/outdoor applications, and a final project in which you create an entire ad campaign.
Course At A Glance
Course Features
- 100% online
- Project-based
- Instructor-led
- Study at your own pace
- Complete this course in 6-8 weeks
Instructor(s)
The course is taught by the following instructor(s):
Bruce Bicknell
is a writer, illustrator, animator, Web designer, video editor, and marketing pro.LEARN MORE
Take this course as a standalone or as part of the following program(s):
Course Projects
Intro to Advertising
We begin the course laying a foundation for your ad design career. You'll trace the evolution of advertising in the United States, and learn about the different roles and departments in an ad agency. Thinking about going it alone? You'll look at some of the key attributes required for success as a freelancer. The fundamentals of form, function, and consumer behavior are discussed, as well as persuasion techniques such as motivation, organizing your message, communicating with images, tapping into connotations, associations, and context.
Designing for Advertising Media
Where does the ad designer place his work? This week kicks off with an overview of different advertising media (newspapers, magazines, outdoor/transit, Internet, television and beyond) looking at some of the unique demands of each medium. Following that, you'll study principles for effective ad design, including the role of concept and design, totality and integration, trendy concepts versus trendsetting ones, and the controversial topic of taste. The lesson wraps up with a discussion of tone: humorous, dramatic/informative, sexual, and scientific.
Color Psychology and Composition
How would you feel about a toothpaste ad in yellow and brown? In this session we will explore the critical role of color in advertising. You'll explore the basics of color psychology, the associations between a color and a mood or a feeling and look at how the effective use of color, in light effects, hue, values and intensities, contrast and temperature, can support the overall message of an ad. The second half of the lesson explores the psychology of composition, how design elements such as texture, line, shape, space, distortion, rhythm, and depth can contribute to an ad's effectiveness.
Copywriting and Typography
In advertisements, the written word should never be neglected. Excellent graphic design and copy must work together to deliver the message. This week we will explore the goals of ad copy, exploring some copywriting techniques useful for freelancer designers who may need to work with copy: active words, alliteration, onomatopoeia, irony, brevity, and Q and A. Agency designers learn some tips on working efficiently with copywriters and the lesson wraps up with some concepts for text layout.
Perception and Brand Communication
Branding, the art of creating a widespread positive recognition for a company's products and services, is based on an understanding of human perception. This week we look at how ads act on such human perceptions as vision, memory, and familiarity, and how this creates brand recognition. You'll learn the do's and don'ts of incorporating a brand into an ad or campaign, as well as the style guidelines typically required by large clients.
State of the Advertising Art
We will wrap up your course with four state of the art case studies from the world of advertising today. You'll look at print, Web, and TV ads, critically evaluating each ad's effectiveness based on principles you've learned in the course. Then you'll look ahead at some trends in the next generation of advertising: product placement, immediacy, targeting, and Internet ad regulation.
Sample Student Work
by Savannah Dimovski
Course Outcomes
What Are The Course Projects?
Learn to design ads and campaigns in a range of settings: Newspaper ad, outdoor ad, food industry ad, resort ad campaign, TV show promotion, cosmetic brand campaign.
What Software or Supplies Do I Need?
- Computer with Internet connection.
- Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
- Basic experience in the above software.
What Will I Learn?
Students in this course can expect to learn to:
- Develop an understanding of the history and evolution of advertising in America and the role of designers in ad agencies and the freelance world.
- Design a persuasive black and white newspaper advertisement, working with copy and typography to create an eye-catching design.
- Identify and apply principles for effective ad design in different media.
- Create two subway ads for a cell phone provider, exploring different approaches to advertising tone.
- Identify and apply design elements such as line, shape, and texture in advertising design.
- Identify and apply principles of composition and layout including space, rhythm, and depth in advertising design.
- Develop a consistent ad campaign using elements that differ based on season and placement.
- Explore and apply tips and techniques for writing ad copy and using typography to enhance the persuasive power of advertising.
- Design a billboard and bus shelter ad using typography to enhance a message.
- Develop an understanding of the ways in which human perception influences ad design.
- Develop a concept for ads in three different media, considering how to present the client's brand and the product's brand in each ad.
- Identify and apply principles for incorporating a brand into a single ad and applying a brand over an entire campaign.
- Draw lessons from case studies of ad campaigns and evaluate their effectiveness.
- Design an integrated advertising campaign using a fictional client's requirements and specifications.
Getting Started
Course Registration
- Enroll today, start tomorrow
- Study at your own pace
- Complete within 3 months
| Course Tuition and Fees | |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $949 |
| Registration Fee* | $50 |
| Total Course Price | $999 |
Registration fees are nonrefundable after 5 days from enrollment. All tuition includes a digital materials fee for course content.
Click Register Now to enter your information and desired start date. An Admissions Advisor will contact you to arrange payment and provide you with an Enrollment Agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Are The Courses Like?
Our courses are project-based. There are no set logins, so you can study at your own pace. In each course you’ll complete a series of lectures and projects designed to stretch your creative skills.
How Much Time Do I Need?
This course can be completed in 60 hours or less. You’ll have three months from enrollment to complete the course studying at your own pace. Extensions are available for those who need more time.
Who Are The Instructors?
Our courses are developed and taught by our faculty of professional artists, designers, and photographers. This means that you’ll learn in-demand skills, get feedback on your work, and build a portfolio of creative work.
Is Sessions College accredited?
Yes. Since 2001, Sessions College has been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).