Students of graphic and arts design presented their portfolios to creative directors from Memac Ogilvy and other leading advertising agencies in the Kingdom. The event, themed “15 Minutes to Shine in the World of Advertising,” ran simultaneously in 40 cities around the world.
Students had the chance to network with agency executives who addressed several key topics and explained how to start and advance careers in advertising.
“We briefed students on different advertising techniques, and they were given the opportunity to practice creative jobs firsthand,” said Rabih Khouri, managing director of Memac Ogilvy Saudi Arabia.
Khouri explained what it is like to be an advertising professional and what the job entails. He spoke about how competitive the advertisement market is in the Kingdom with some 45 major advertising companies in operation.
Answering an question about advertisements that lack local flavor and why actors in some television commercials do not speak the local Saudi dialect even though the advertisements are aimed at the local market, Khouri said this is common and might even have a negative effect on customers.
He added that in order to avoid this young Saudis who know what their culture and peers want, as well as other people who have been residing in the Kingdom for a long time, should be utilized.
Khouri also spoke about job opportunities for women in his company, adding that there are many women in its Jeddah office.
Dr. Suhair Al-Qurashi, dean of Dar Al-Hekma College, praised efforts to promote creativity. She also encouraged similar initiatives that would enable students to receive a learning advantage by interacting with global specialist organizations.
Memac Ogilvy seeks to impact the industry by introducing learning initiatives to students and advertising juniors around the world. Through fostering a creative culture and a career development approach, Memac's programs reflect a belief that the aim of today's professionals is to grow the industry and contribute in the preparation of next generation leaders.
