Adam Yau, a web designer by trade who passed with top honours in the inaugural class of 47 students, said: "At the beginning of the course, I was very confident but as the courses progressed, I was becoming less and less confident because I realised that there was so much that I didn't know."
Joey Chung, a Hong Kong University graduate, and Annie Loo, a computer programmer - both of whom finished with flying colours - said the intensive programme of two courses per week over a three-month span taught them about marketing communications.
Chung said: "I am very green when it comes to advertising, so it was a big opportunity for me to learn practical things, such as producing campaigns and my own portfolio, from creative directors of famous agencies."
Loo added: "I really wanted to learn from the CDs and I think I did, and now I would like to try advertising as a career."
Jeffrey Yu, the chairman of the 4As and Bates Asia president, said the programme aimed to develop new, creative talent in Hong Kong.
In the graduation ceremony, he said that background didn't matter because everyone possessed creativity but that it was a case of nurturing the talent.
Marc Lucas, the association's creative committee chairman who also took part as a lecturer, said Ad School gave participants hands-on experience about the industry. But he stressed that creatives should be "learning all the time".
The target for student recruitment was young creative potentials, who did not have to be necessarily working in the industry but who wished to be a creative.
The students were given five briefs covering outdoor, print, radio, television and integrated.
The final integrated brief was a competition used to select three participants to be considered for placement in a 4As agency.
