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Introduction to Advertising Concepts

Crazy enought to think you can create advertising? Seek professional help.
Date: Tuesdays
Sept 17 - Nov 12 
Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Location: University of Montana campus
James E. Todd Building 
Hours of Instruction: 18
Course Fee: $450
Registration: Register Now

Course Description:

Effective advertising doesn’t happen by accident. It is a combination of the right words and the right images, neither of which, by themselves, has the impact of the two together. This course is designed to help you create messages that cut through the clutter of today’s crowded media markets. Working with a partner, each week you will solve a communication problem by creating a concept for a print ad, TV spot, or other advertising message, which will then be discussed in class the following week.

This class is a prerequisite for Advanced Advertising Concepts: Copywriting, offered in Winter.

  • Learn to spot and avoid cliches
  • Learn to use a creative brief
  • Work with a creative team each week to develop advertising concepts for print, TV, radio, and web

By the end of the course students will have developed an awareness of effective communications and know that "concept is king" no matter what the medium.

About the Instructors: Marlene Hutchins and Patrick Hutchins

Marlene graduated in 1978 from the country’s premier ad school, the Art Center College of Design, Pasadena and worked her way up the ranks of several agencies in Los Angeles, including Horlick Levin Hodges. When Montana called, she joined Spiker Communications as Senior Art Director, and was a driving force behind the agency’s work for clients such as First Security Bank and St. Patrick Hospital.  Marlene now works with a constellation of the best freelance professionals in the area, building  brands with focused strategies and creative, campaign-worthy ideas. Marlene’s work has appeared in the CLIO awards, the Lulu awards, and the Addys (Montana and Northwest). Marlene knows every aspect of print and broadcast production.

Patrick built his career in advertising on a good old-fashioned liberal arts education. Starting with a degree in English from the University of Washington in Seattle, he later attended the Ad Center in Los Angeles, and soon after, landed that all-important first job at a small agency. A year later he moved to Hakuhodo Advertising America, the LA office of Japan’s second largest advertising agency where he rose to Senior Copywriter, working on a variety of Japanese brands, including All Nippon Airways, Sapporo Beer, and Kenwood Electronics. In 1989, Patrick was recruited to Spiker Communications in Missoula where, as Creative Director he created award-winning outdoor, print, radio, and television advertising.  Patrick now owns a successful freelance business, and serves as Creative Director with Helena’s Moving Pictures Productions.

 Course refund and parking information

  • School of Extended & Lifelong Learning
  • The University of Montana
  • 32 Campus Drive
  • Missoula, MT  59812
  • Phone: (406) 243-2900
  • Fax: (406) 243-2047
  • Email: sell@umontana.edu