What I Learned in Advertising Design
This advertising design class helped me see advertising as much more than just making something look nice or writing a catchy slogan. I learned that strong advertising is built through strategy, storytelling, and having a strong understanding of your audience. Before this class, I honestly kept thinking that ads were mostly individual visuals or messages, but now I see them as intentional choices that work together to create a feeling, solve a problem, and motivate action. To create such ads is a challenge, but one that is so worth it.
One of the topics that stood out to me most was sequential storytelling. I liked thinking about advertising almost like a comic book or storyboard, where each scene builds on the one before it. I also like the minimalism ad concept creation. It got my creative brain going trying to think about ads from a different angle.
And while I do already know a lot of the foundational information, this class has helped me understand more how pacing, music, sound, camera angles, and emotional shifts can make an ad more memorable. All of that also applies to photography and my goal of making galleries feel like story books, so I really appreciate the opportunity to practice.
I also learned a lot about target audiences and how important it is to design with a specific person in mind. Instead of trying to appeal to everyone, good advertising speaks clearly to the people most likely to connect with the product. The people pleaser in me wants everyone to like my stuff, but that's simply not reality. All of these topics is something I can apply directly to my own creative work, especially when thinking about branding, photography, social media, and client communication.
My view of advertising changed because I now see it as both creative and strategic. A successful ad is not just pretty; it has a purpose behind every choice. The colors, words, layout, and story all need to support the message.
A personal revelation I had is that I enjoy the storytelling side of advertising. I really enjoy crafting concepts that feel emotional, cinematic, and human. Stuff that pulls people in and speaks to a deeper part of them.
