| Simple rules of poster design | | | | - Keep a structured layout and display bold and |
| If you are about to design a poster for a client, or you | | | | easy-to-read lettering -the design should not detract |
| want to have-a-go at creating your own company | | | | from the text. |
| posters, there's a few handy tips that you may want | | | | There is a logical and structured path that the average |
| to follow so that you can create an effective poster | | | | person's gaze takes. Because we learn to read from |
| print. | | | | top to bottom of a page, our minds naturally follow this |
| With all the wealth of online design and print resources | | | | same path, whether it's textual or visual information. |
| available to freelance designers and small business | | | | You should always bear this in mind when designing a |
| owners nowadays, it's not difficult to create a really | | | | poster. Although it's not a "hard 'n' fast rule" that you |
| professional-looking poster. However, it's not easy to | | | | must create a poster with a typical |
| create a poster that will immediately engage the | | | | headline-image-body copy, it's a formula that works! |
| passerby and peak their interest. To create a | | | | Unique layouts can be great and show inventiveness |
| successful poster, it is essential that the combination of | | | | and originality, but a designer must put themselves in |
| words and imagery are straightforward and | | | | the mindset of an "average Joe" walking past the |
| convincing. | | | | poster and ask themselves; "Can I read this easily?" |
| I have worked in many design, advertising, and | | | | and "Does this visually make sense?" |
| marketing environments, and I have been given the | | | | - Use color wisely |
| same advice by every Art Director and Creative | | | | A designer should always try to choose harmonious |
| manager I've ever worked under; keep the design | | | | colors, i.e, reds, oranges, and yellows create a very |
| simple and the message clear! | | | | 'energetic' statement. Used correctly, this color |
| Some of the most successful poster campaigns of all | | | | combination is very effective when a designer needs |
| time are a simple collaboration of words and images. | | | | to convey excitement. In contrast, green, yellow, and |
| No matter what century they were conceived in, they | | | | blues represent "natural" colors that people associate |
| have a common appeal; a harmonious combination of | | | | with clarity and calmness. These are good colors to |
| color, beautiful graphics, and a convincing headline. | | | | use when you want to give an impression of reliability. |
| Simple but eye-catching graphics and minimal text are | | | | Different colors mean different things, and the pairing |
| the key to making your poster eye-catching. | | | | of colors is often difficult. Try tpo stay away from |
| With a little thought and imagination, it isn't difficult to | | | | flourescent colors or 'shocking' colors. Generally, people |
| create a really convincing poster.Before you begin | | | | don't respond very well to colors that "yell' too much. |
| designing, here's a quick visual rundown of some of | | | | There's really no clear definition of a "bad color |
| the things you should be aware of when creating a | | | | choice". However, a designer should take the time to |
| poster: | | | | play around with color variations and to choose colors |
| - The less text and imagery you can put on a poster | | | | that send an appropriate message, i.e., don't choose |
| the better. | | | | only dark colors to advertise a florist and don't use |
| Advertising and marketing studies on the length of time | | | | only pale and pastel colors to advertise a business that |
| that a consumer will view an advertising piece have | | | | sells Halloween Costumes! |
| concluded that up to 50 percent of viewers will bail in | | | | - Use a modern up-to-date design style |
| the first 4 to 8 seconds! That means that your poster | | | | If you're about to design for the first time, or you |
| hasn't got very long to make a connection. With this in | | | | haven't done it for a while, it would be advisable to |
| mind, you would be well advised to keep everything | | | | familiarize yourself with what's going on in design lately. |
| "neat and clean". | | | | Don't try to directly "copy" a design but certainly be |
| It's very fashionable to create "busy" designs | | | | aware of current trends. Whatever type of business |
| nowadays. With the invention of Photoshop, a | | | | you are advertising, it's easy to find examples online of |
| designer often finds it irresistible to keep adding layers | | | | up-to-date design styles. Do your research before you |
| upon layers of design elements to a piece. This might | | | | begin your poster. |
| work well for a magazine ad or a flyer - where a | | | | To create a design, you may want to utilize the many |
| person has more time to view it, but customers | | | | online stock resources. Stock sites are an essential |
| walking past a poster, view it in a more "transient" | | | | design tool, but you have to use their stock wisely. |
| fashion. Its influence has to be immediate. | | | | Most stock sites are a mix of really good up-to-date |
| Exceptionally detailed designs look great when the | | | | images and slightly behind-the-times stock photos and |
| viewer has time to appreciate them. As a designer, it's | | | | illustrations. The trick is, to take different stock |
| always tempting to create a "many layered" design | | | | elements and put them together in an interesting way |
| that looks really good in your portfolio. However, your | | | | to create a whole new image. |
| average Joe doesn't respond to the subtle nuances of | | | | This short guide to designing a poster was hopefully |
| design and doesn't appreciate the time and effort that | | | | helpful to any readers who are thinking of designing |
| you've put into creating your "masterpiece". Your | | | | their own posters. Good luck creating your poster |
| average Joe is looking for something far easier to | | | | masterpieces. |
| visually comprehend. | | | | |