Traditionally, posters have played a vital role in informing and educating members of the public. Posters have been
used extensively by businesses to advertise their wares and services to existing and potential clients. However, for
a poster to communicate to the intended audience out rightly, there are a set of guidelines that should be adhered
to. These guidelines are critical during the design and deployment stage to ensure the poster’s message is
understood with little difficulty. In this article, we discuss some of the most tips which will help use develop
impressive posters. The guidelines include;
- Identify your audience
This is always the first step to being considered when designing any advertisement media, and therefore, posters
should not be an exception. Identification of audience is critical because, in most cases, a poster has about three
seconds to attract the attention of the intended audience and impresses them.
As a designer, you need to identify what your target audience needs and how to structure your message well for
them. The poster should pull their attention with just a glance. For example, if your intended audience is composed
of children, it could be advisable to design your poster blending bright colors and possibly a mix of cartoons. On the
other hand, if you are targeting adults, design content that is mature and that could appeal to their reason rather
than emotion.
- Focus on the message you intend to pass across
Marketing pundits believe that an effective poster should communicate to the audience the expected message in
the shortest time possible. Your poster should be eight words or less and should effectively appeal to your audience
hence prompt them to make the “right” step. Posters with conflicting messages seem to confuse readers, and they
fail to attain the intended goals. To avoid confusion, ensure your message is short and clear for your readers.
- Organize your information well
A typical poster outline consists of a heading, a statement, and some supporting material. It is, therefore,
important that you craft your information well to ensure it is communicated effectively. It is advised that the
heading contains the most relevant and striking information. In fact, the title should include a poster's largest
typographical element. The other content could come after this valuable information. A headline should stir interest
in people to ensure they respond to the "call." This is the sole purpose why posters are developed and distributed.
- Use color effectively
The color is used in posters for different purposes; lend background color, break up text information and point out
the most relevant information in the poster. When using color, ensure you understand its effect without creating a
wrong impression. Appropriate color would make readers want to associate with the advert. Many tools on the
internet can help pick a color.
- Use appropriate text that is easy to read
Advertising experts’ advice that content in your poster should be visible from at least 10 feet away. When
designing an advert, it is recommended you test its visibility from about 20 feet away. Try walking past the advert
the distance and determine if you can read the words. One of the fonts that are easy to read on posters is Sans
serif fonts.
In this technological and digital age, creating a creative and inspirational poster would be a gateway to attracting
attention and traffic from online users interested in your poster and have their interest awaken. The secret of
success in the poster design if religiously following the tips mentioned above. This will ultimately place you ahead
of the pack when scrambling for the competitive market.
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Note: This article was written by a guest contributor. Jessica Kane is a professional writer who has an interest in graphic design, marketing, and printing.