Marketing expert, J. Walker-Smith claims that an average human will face up to 5,000 advertisements every day. Some people do not even pay any attention to ads because they simply perceive them as a disturbance or as being manipulative. However, after completing the Media unit in Grade 8, the three of us now truthfully view advertisements as a form of art and literature.

Throughout the unit we developed a whole new understanding of what makes a high quality advertisement. We analysed diverse examples of media, ranging from a labour movement party ad to a print poster for weight loss programme Weight Watchers. We decoded the techniques that successful advertisers use to create impactful, influential and persuasive advertisements. We learnt that regardless of what product or service the ad promoted, all ads imply a meaning, beneath the aesthetics. Colours, organisation of items on the page, font and imagery are all taken into consideration. For instance, the use of blue can indicate knowledge, trust and power and therefore is often used in ads for dental companies or educational institutions. We also uncovered that advertisers deliberately use explicit and implicit messages that are impressed upon the audience; specifically the targeted demographic.

Towards the end of the unit, Grade 8 students were asked to apply our learning and create a print poster ad for an activity, club or event within the CIS community. With this task we were also asked to convey empathy through our ads. While working on this task, we began to take notice of the significance behind every word, colour and image within the frame of the ad we were creating. This encouraged us to provide meaning and reason for every detail, just as professionals do.

After taking part in this unit, we now perceive advertisements with a more analytical and perceptive mind.

• 1st place (Meatless Mondays) - Julia Trevatt
• 2nd place (Meatless Mondays) - Julie Westerbeek
• 2nd place (Open Mic) - Sasi Yuksel
• The most meaningful association - (Jazz Club) - Paige Clarke
• The most out of the box - (Space Art) - Kieran Law