Advertising and Brand Management

Responsible Designer: Helping Graphic Design Students Adopt a Responsible Approach to Problem-Solving - Read more at Creative Boom

Over the course of one week in May 2011 four Level 4 ABM students worked on an Intensive Project at the Plantijn Hogeschool in Antwerp.

Watch on Vimeo

Staffordshire Students Hit New York - From Creative Boom

ABM graduates, Leanne Holloway and Kieran Ainsworth, win the prestigious Graeme Robertson Trust Student Award. Read the full story at the ABM Blog.

• an exciting mix of creative practice, theory and marketing
• live briefs, team projects and research identifying changing markets, trends, target audiences and customer needs
• experience of multifaceted roles in the advertising and brand management industry

• Read Advertising and Brand Management course information (PDF, file size: 321.09KB)

"Advertising & Brand Management at the Staffordshire University is a unique course that works as a perfect preparation for the advertising & branding industry, building a clear bridge between the creative solutions and formulating the strategy. It is the true 360 degree approach." Christiaan Huynen

Our emphasis is on developing graduates with key advertising and brand communication skills focusing on creative practice underpinned by strategic thinking. Combining a mix of creative practice, theory and marketing, you will develop a clear understanding of the integration of creative activities and marketing functions. You will understand advertising and brand management in a real-world context via our links with advertising and design agencies, visits to cultural centres in the UK, Europe and the US and interaction with industry organisations like D&AD, European Foundation for Commercial Communications Education (EFCCE), and the Manchester Publicity Organisation (MPA).

Level 4 will introduce you to the key concepts and practices that underpin successful advertising and brand communications. You develop an understanding of trends, visual thinking, brief development, marketing principles, brand communications and client/agency relationships. You are also able to take option modules in graphics, photography and advertising history.

Level 5 will introduce and encourage you to explore the methodological and theoretical issues raised by the relationship between advertising, brand management and marketing. You will engage closely with strategy, planning and creative practice as integrated activities. Modules offered at this level include account planning, new media, creative practice and buyer behaviour. You will also begin to develop links with industry.

Level 6 presents you with the opportunity to personalise the direction of your award. Many of the modules at this level are based around guided independent work involving the writing of a research report, multi-disciplinary solutions and creative campaigns. You will also investigate the strategic importance of future thinking in a branding context.

Students will be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to develop careers in the creative industries as account planners, creatives, managers, researchers, media planners/buyers and copywriters. Some graduates may enter these industries from the agency side, others from the client side. These roles are highly regarded in business overall and not just in the creative industries. We will facilitate contact with agencies through our links with industry both in the UK and New York. Some of the agencies we have established links with, in terms of visits and briefs are: Dave, Lean Mean Fighting Machine, AMV BBDO, Thirdeye Design, Skratch Design, Pentagram, The Chase, Bandujo Bros (NYC) and Y&R.

‘The rebranding consultation that we engaged with was a very positive experience for C Media; it  provided a creative platform from which to assess and discuss the company, its image and direction.  It was refreshing to work with such articulate and confident students.  The whole process has been very productive and beneficial for the company.’

Paul Slater, Creative Director at C-Media
(Level 3 rebranding project by ABM students, Christiaan Huynen, Dayve Talbot and Dave Mortimer) 

• Graphic Design
  
  
• Advertising and Commercial Film Production

Related: Undergraduate degrees from Arts, Media and Design

• BA(Hons) Advertising and Brand Management Programme Specification (PDF, file size: 78.65KB)

For more information about Advertising and Brand Management (WNF5) please contact: