OVERVIEW
The American Advertising Federation (AAF) hosts the National Student Advertising Competition each year, giving college students real-world experience in advertising, media, and marketing. Students work in teams to develop a strategic campaign for a corporate sponsor, usually a real-world company. They are provided with a case study and tasked with proposing a plan involving extensive research. The competition has three levels: District, Semi-Finals, and National. In 2023, the client was Indeed, and I had the opportunity to participate in the competition through Team 133, representing the school and working on the creative development for the plans book.
DRAFTS
These still creative executions showcase individuals proudly showing who they are. The colors scream bold and confident. The movement screams forward thinking. The work embodies the celebration of differences.
PLANS BOOK
Being limited to 13-pages, it was certainly quite a task to fit in all the information and research into these pages as well as deciding creative input for each individual page per the campaign identity. Nonetheless, I am personally proud of where it ended up and the recognition it received from Districts and throughout the competition overall.
FINAL THOUGHTS
In District 8, Team 133 was awarded Best Plans Book, Best Presentation, Best Presenter, and 1st place overall. In the Virtual Semi-Finals, we ranked 4th place, moving us into Nationals and Finals, where we also placed 4th overall. In addition, we recieved awards for Best Presenter and Best Presentation Team. I couldn't have been more honored to work alongside our wonderful and talented team this year, and I wish them nothing but the best moving on. I have to thank the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication (HSJMC) and our professor Richard McCracken for this opportunity. NSAC is definitely an opportunity I recommend any current student graphic designers to consider, as you work with a real-world client and are creating real-world work in an agency-like setting.
