One of the top three universities in Victoria, Swinburne is known for being cutting edge in creativity. Which is why it was so fitting that Swinburne should be the first uni in Australia to provide its Communication Design students with the opportunity to learn the craft of copywriting, taught by our very own Vicki.
That’s right folks. Last year I was given the honour of co-teaching the Swinburne Copywriting unit alongside the venerated Bridgette Engeler Newbury. Together we delivered a unit enlightening students on the power of words and just how an understanding of copy can inform and elevate the design process to something far greater.
From real estate advertising to supermarket packaging, students learned to decode what’s really being said in order to sell punters (that would be us) all and sundry. We also watched and dissected the documentary Art and Copy by Doug Pray, which helped students understand that not all advertising peops are vultures out for the kill – in actual fact those creating great words and imagery can actually elevate advertising into an art form.
We also had a lot fun discussing the bee’s knees and the cat’s pyjamas – whatever it takes to teach these Gen Y’s some basic grammar!
