DG1S49 - Advertising Fundamentals 27 Apr 2023 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: DG1S49
Module Title: Advertising Fundamentals
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Fashion, Marketing and Photography
Faculty Sub Group: Marketing
Module Leader: Lee Thomas, Steven Wright
Module Team: Kara Tennant, Callum Evans, Philip Harfield
First Intended Intake: SEP 2017 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100048 - design
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 27 Apr 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

• Introduce you to the fundamental principles of advertising as a strategic tool for communication and business
• Explore a range of the communication systems and processes adopted by the advertising industry
• Encourage critical engagement with the historical and sociological issues surrounding communication and advertising

Content Summary

In this module you’ll explore concepts such as audience demographics and typologies, footfall, circulation figures and reach. Being able to translate business needs in to strategic goals and identify objectives (e.g. which magazines or websites does a target audience read? What sort of language do they prefer? What sort of tone, or imagery do they respond to?) helps to determine the creative direction you will take.

By using case studies of different agencies and campaigns, you will gain insight into the nature and scope of the advertising industry and begin to understand the relationship between client, agency and audience.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 8
Project supervision 20
Supervised time in studio/workshop 20
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 52
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Explain the relationships between client, audience and agency and how objectives link to planning and creative decisions.
LO2 Create a media plan to make recommendations to a client on their campaign based on key strategic aims.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Visual Journal 1 A visual journal contributing to a shared resource on a given media outlet (e.g. a newspaper or TV channel), describing aspects such as its audience, reach, content, price, and current advertising buyers. You will be given a target audience, a simple objective, and a budget. In a group, use the Media Case Studies to propose a media buy and a broad creative direction 0 1500 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Presentation (Asynchronous) 1 A presentation describing a recent advertising campaign with a focus on objectives, effectiveness, media and creative direction. 20 N/A 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Visual Journal 1
Presentation (Asynchronous) 1

Reading List

Brilhart, J. And Galanes, G.J. 1999. Effective Group Discussion. Boston, Massachusetts: Mcgraw-Hill.

Crompton, A. 1987. The Craft Of Copywriting. 2nd Edn. London: Business Books

Dyer, G. 1999. Advertising As Communication. London: Routledge.

Dzamic, L. 2001. No-Copy Advertising. Rotovision.

Gettins, D. 2000. The Unwritten Rules Of Copywriting. London: Kogan Page.

Hickey, L. 2002. Design Secrets: Advertising. Gloucester, Massachusetts: Rockport.

Littlejohn, S. 1998. Theories Of Human Communication. London: Wadsworth

Morgan, J. And Welton, P. 1992. See What I Mean?: An Introduction To Visual Communication. 2nd Edn. New York: Edward Arnold.

Van Riel, C.B.M. 1995. Principles Of Corporate Communication. Hertfordshire: Prentice Hall.

White, R. 2001. Advertising. 4th Edn. London: Mcgraw Hill.