(Fully Online Postgraduate by Coursework Elective)

When global giants Coca Cola first entered the Chinese market, its people interpreted the English name with a strange Chinese meaning which was ‘bite the wax tadpole’. Not surprisingly, Coca Cola began as a poor selling product in the new market. Today, its interpretation has been amended to ‘happiness in the mouth’ thus receiving far greater commercial success.

This fully online course considers such issues when looking at cross-cultural representation and perception in advertising design. It invites you to analyse some interesting advertising design case studies, with emphasis on print media advertising from magazine ads to billboard posters. Nowadays, with many companies trying to sell their goods in the global market, there is a claim that the developed world has evolved into a global monoculture. Nevertheless, designers and entrepreneurs still need to be aware of cultural nuances.

In this Masters Course, greater emphasis is placed on the perception of these nuances, and the successful realization of successful visual communication solutions that integrate both cultural familiarities and design standardisation through use of colour, layout, format and design strategy. You will analyse relevant current and past case studies, compare various competitor’s approaches and then develop a rationale in relation to design, graphics and promotional solutions to persuade potential national and international consumers.

This online course offers you an opportunity to explore global advertising’s graphic design strategies through a series of structured themes. The course will help your understanding through activities that require individual reflection, discussion and project-based collaborative interaction in conjunction with written tutorial lessons.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Students will receive course website location and log in instructions via their UNSW email account prior to the commencement of the course.