Application dates
2024 applications are now closed
2025 applications open in February

Course term
March - July

Graduation night
August

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Yes

8 - 22 February 2024

2025 applications open in February 2025

Two weeks

Applicants will be asked to answer four questions. Questions One and Two are the same every year. Start practising now!

Question One: Why do you want to do the course?

Question Two: Find a bad ad, and make a better one.

You will only be judged on your ideas! No professional artist or photoshop skills are required. You're welcome to trace required images as part of your submission.

This question allows you to show the judges your personality. Have fun with it.

The first step is to find a bad ad in a magazine, newspaper, billboard etc. Rip it out or take a picture of it and print it out. Keep the ad in it’s original size and stick it onto an A4 sheet of paper (colour ads are fine) and take a picture of it so you have it as a JPG. Step two, create a better ad. Your ad must be black and white.

To determine the proposition in your ad (the version that you think needs improving), think about what the message inferred in the ad is. This may not be the headline, but think about what the ad is trying to say about the product or service featured. Use this as the same message you convey in your idea for the improved ad. For example, an ad for fries may have a headline that says “cheap as chips”. The proposition – or meaning – inferred in this ad is that these fries are cheap. This then becomes the message your amended ad or creative needs to include.

Check out the question 2 cheat sheet here.

Question 3 highlight a single-minded proposition. A single-minded proposition sums up the most important thing you can say about the brand or product. Keep this top of mind when you're coming up with ideas.

Here are some tips on how to crack a brief:

Start practising now. Check out some practice briefs here.

Get "hands-on" or very familiar with the product/service - review the website, hold the product etc. Think about your experience as a customer, did you identify any unique selling points?

Talk with people that are the product/services’ target market - what do they think of the product/service. Show them your ideas and get a gauge on what they think?

Look at the product/service category - what are their competitors doing well? What are they doing that's not so great?

Take a look at past AWARD School winners' portfolios here

Take some inspiration from AWARD (online), D&AD and ONE SHOW annuals. Most of these books are available at TAFE or university libraries, or speciality bookstores.

If you get a creative block, go for a run, do something you enjoy and then come back to it tomorrow. The best ideas can come at the most unexpected time.

Tell us one way you express yourself creatively. 100 words or less.

Note: Applications are blind judged, please ensure no identifying information is disclosed.

Goal means what the ad ultimately wants to achieve, whether it’s to make people think a certain way or do a certain task. Proposition is what the ad wants to say.

Yes, but your final work should be drawn over with a black Sharpie or marker and scanned/photographed so it’s a JPG. Remember, no professional art skills are required and tracing of all images is fine. This course is all about the idea - you will be judged on your ideas, not your creative execution.

Applicants are evaluated based on the merit of their ideas rather than their drawing proficiency. It's important to emphasise that proficiency in drawing is not a requirement for participation in AWARD School. This ensures that applicants can allocate their time and efforts towards generating creative ideas, without feeling pressured by drawing skills.

Applicants have the flexibility to either hand draw or utilise a device/program for drawing purposes. However, if a digital device/program is used, the output should maintain the essence of a hand-drawn scamp, avoiding excessive rendering.

It’s your choice, landscape or portrait, but make sure your work uploads the correct way up. All judging will be held online so it’s best to keep this in mind and present work as A4 size. Written work (i.e. question 1 - if you choose to write rather than draw your response) can be typed on A4 and then saved as a JPG. All answers are restricted to a maximum of one page (except question two, which will entail two JPGs - the 'bad' ad - or the ad that needs improvement - and your scamp, or improved version).

All the state-based programs feature in-person interaction via selected lectures, tutorials, mid-program events and graduation nights. The online program is all delivered virtually and includes pre-recorded lectures and GoogleHangout tutorials - even a virtual graduation event.

No, you can only apply in one state/territory/program.

No, you can only provide one idea/execution per question.