[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/ad22.jpg” caption=”Way More About Advertising Day showcases creative TV commercials and print ads. This TV commercial for Five Alive features anime. Photo by Susan Bubak.”]

Designed to bring university students face-to-face with advertising as a field of study and as an industry, Way More About Advertising Day will explore the impact the industry has on Canadian businesses, on our psyche as consumers and in shaping our culture and values.

The DeGroote School of Business will play host to Way More About Advertising Day today.

Don Tapscott, author of Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything, discussed his New York Times bestselling book at a kickoff breakfast.

He will be joined by leaders from top ad agencies such as BBDO, OMD, Henderson Bas and Jan Kelley Marketing who will host a series of “how it's made” workshops throughout the day.

In addition, galleries of award-winning advertisements will be featured in the atrium of the DeGroote School of Business and the third floor of the McMaster University Student Center.

Steve Mykolyn, vice-president and creative director of interactive and design at TAXI, will deliver a keynote address this evening.

Building on the day's excitement will be the culmination of Canada's Next Top Ad Exec, a national advertising and marketing competition sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors in conjunction with the DeGroote School of Business. The grand prize is the winner's choice of a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer or Eclipse — no strings attached.

“Advertising is a field of study and an industry distinct from marketing,” says DeGroote lecturer Mandeep Malik. “Way More About Advertising Day brings business and other university students face-to-face with the different aspects of advertising and allows them to gain an understanding of the impact this industry has on Canadian business everyday.”

Way More About Advertising Day is sponsored by BBDO, CIBC, FujiFilm, Harbinger Communications, Mindblossom, Mitsubishi, OMD, Strategy Magazine, Sympatico MSN Windows Live and Wrigley Canada.