Examples of Outdoor Advertising

Last week we tried something a bit different (we have a bit of habit of doing that).

Ben Kay – creative director of MAL London, author and advertising blogger – asked the third year's to suggest ideas for Water Water Everywhere's next activity.

Water Water Everywhere believe that bottled water is an unnecessary strain on the environment and making tap water widely available they can ensure that everyone gets the water they need for a fraction of the cost to themselves and the planet.

So, we decided to run a one-day project. Ben (working in London) briefed the students by Skype and at the end of the day the student's uploaded their work so Ben could review it.

Ben then ran a Skype feedback session the following week and along with all the excellent advice and feedback that he gave to each student about their work, it was great to hear that he'd chosen Matt Parson's and Chloe Middleton's idea to take into production!

It's great to get the programme and the students involved in a project with such high ethical, sustainable and environmental credentials. Thank you SO MUCH Ben for all your time, enthusiasm and feedback.

And we're really looking forward to seeing the final ad.

Last week it was great to welcome back 2010 graduate Creative Advertising team Josh Dando and Steve Dodd (www.dandoanddodd.com).

Josh and Steve work at VCCP and came back to Lincoln to speak to the third and second years about moving to and living in London; portfolio advice; tactics for landing placements; what's it's like on placement and the nature of their day-to-day jobs.

We're right in the middle of Interviews for the University of Lincoln Creative Advertising programme at the moment and the standard of work on display this year is satisfyingly high.

It's not just the projects in the folio's that are impressive, the students themselves have been just as entertaining as their work and have made the whole process energetic and inspiring.

We realise that some people get a little nervous before interviews and we don't believe that you get the best out of people when they're feeling that way. That's we try to conduct things in a fun and informal way whilst still asking some searching questions.

So what are we looking for in a portfolio? It's important to remember that we don’t expect anyone to have done any advertising before they join the course (but we don’t mind if you have!). Your portfolio should show your best work (not everything that you’ve ever done) that demonstrates a wide range of media (drawing, painting, collage, photography, sculpture, design, creative writing, textiles etc.), an inquisitive open mind, creative thinking, intelligence and wit. And when we interview you we are very keen to meet students who are good at communicating verbally as well as visually.

Finding out if Lincoln University's Creative Advertising course is the right course for you is very important and so we encourage interviewees to ask the staff and student crew some questions of their own in order to help make up their minds.

So if you're reading this blog post and you happen to be coming to see us with your portfolio over the next few months then consider thinking of some questions beforehand to make the most of your time with us.

We look forward to meeting and seeing the work of the next generation of Creative Advertisers!

Professional copywriter David Sandhu paid a visit to our third years last week in order to sharpen up their copywriting skills. David has a great deal of experience in the field of professional writing and has worked across a number of areas including editorial and design as well as advertising. So with competition deadlines looming and the end of year assessments on the horizon David’s workshop was very timely for the level three copywriters. Third year Jade Sturman explains how the day went.

“David's workshop was interesting and engaging and we participated in a number of exercises throughout the day. We tried a range of writing techniques in order to help us focus on the essence of a brand and find it’s tone of voice. David also encouraged us to explore and concentrate on our ambitions as copywriters and after this we were encouraged us to share our thoughts with the group. The various exercises David set were fun as well as challenging. Overall the whole workshop was a very useful and enjoyable experience.”

A key part of the Creative Advertising programme's level three is the dissertation. Following the stress, strain and overwhelming sense of relief once it had been submitted for assessment, the students chose to let their hair down by doing 'Come Dine With Me' on a big scale. So, all round to Portuguese student Artur Deyneuve's house to sample his fine culinary skills....!

Here's level three student Philippa Beaumont to tell you more:-

'It wasn't just a 'dissertation celebration', it was a chance for the guests to experience the food of Portugal and enjoy a cultural injection into our typical Lincoln lives.
'We were transported to the Mediterranean for an evening full of good food, good wine and great company. It was one of the most relaxing and sophisticated of our social gatherings! Everyone was full of chatter and a specially chosen playlist got everyone in the relaxed spirit. The evening had a really friendly feel to it and just highlighted how the Creative Advertising programme is more like a community than just a university course.



'Guests were treated to five amazing dishes, including stuffed peppers, spicy chicken, crostinis and, probably the favourite of the evening, bread stuffed with peppers, cheese, bacon and mushrooms.

'The dinner party provided a much needed cultural escape from the workload of the third year, whilst reminding everyone of how lucky we have to have such supportive course mates!

'As the Portugese say, "Bom Apetite!"
Thanks Philippa. Sounds like you all had a great evening.

Regular readers of this blog will know that Lincoln Creative Advertising graduate from 2010 Sophie Yeoman works at FOAM agency (part of SONY Music Entertainment).

Whilst she was working there on placement with creative partner Keighley Allen the girls developed a very creative and innovative idea for promoting Dry the River's debut album 'Shallow Bed'.

Sophie has since produced the idea: twelve string art posters placed around East London with each one depicting an animal and representing a track from the album. At the end of the string, Sophie fashioned tin can telephones to allow passers-by to listen to a song, creating truly unique listening experience.

The posters are powered by an Arduino/Waveshield combo with a sneaky speaker hidden under a fake bottom in the painted tin can telephone.

And the first one, is University of Lincoln Creative Advertising's very own Sophie Browness.

Sophie graduated from the Creative Advertising programme last year and is currently working at Brothers & Sisters.

Once again, it's great to see how our graduates are being identified as some the best new talent coming out of university and that they are working in the best places in the industry.

The third year students were recently treated to a masterclass with the legendary art director, Alex Taylor. Alex's masterclass in Art Direction is a wonderful opportunity for students to work with one of the best Art Directors in town and focus on the essential craft of making ads look great and communicate effectively. The workshops are very cleverly structured but intense sessions that - without exception - leave the students energised and inspired to create engaging ads that get noticed. Alex is a fantastic tutor who knows how to get great results, third year student Laura Clark explains more.

'Alex got us excited about being Art Directors right from the beginning, by showing us her extraordinary work. She taught us that whilst you always need a good idea, fresh art direction can make an ad up to 70% more effective.

'We had all been asked to re-art direct some adverts before the workshop and Alex critiqued our work showing how we needed to be more dynamic with our layouts and be truly adventurous with our art direction. This made us eager to go back to the drawing board and do it all again.

'At the end of the session Alex awarded some of her prestigious tomato awards to those of us who had pushed our layouts the furthest and this was a great way to finish off the session. Overall she taught us to be ‘different’ with our art direction and not to be scared to break the rules occasionally, everyone one of us left that day inspired to be the very best Art Directors.'