Posters are a powerful medium for conveying information and capturing the attention of viewers. Whether you’re promoting an event, sharing research findings, or showcasing a product, a well-designed poster can make a significant impact. However, to achieve maximum effectiveness, it’s crucial to carefully consider what to include in your poster design. There are a few key elements to incorporate when creating a strategically designed poster, and including these will help towards ensuring your poster has maximum impact.
Clear and Concise Title
The title of your poster should be eye-catching and succinctly convey the main message or purpose of your poster. You should make sure the font is large enough to be read from a distance, and consider using bold or contrasting colours to make the font stand out from the background.
Visual Hierarchy
When organising your content you can utilise visual hierarchy to guide viewers’ attention and help them navigate your poster. Information should be arranged in a logical sequence, using headings, subheadings, and bullet points to organise content in importance. You can emphasise the important points through size, colour, or typography, making them visually prominent and obvious to readers which pieces need paying attention to.
Engaging Visuals
When designing your poster you can incorporate relevant and high-quality visuals such as photographs, illustrations, or infographics to enhance the visual appeal and convey information effectively. Any visuals used should be done strategically to support your message and draw attention to the key points. You should avoid cluttering the poster with excessive images that might distract or overwhelm viewers, and find a balance between text and imagery.
Key Message or Takeaway
When thinking of the information to put on your poster you will want to ensure that you are clearly communicating the main message or takeaway of the advertisement. You will want to summarise the key findings, benefits, or insights in a concise manner, using a combination of visuals, headings, and bullet points to highlight the most important information. By making your main message easily identifiable, you can ensure that viewers grasp the core idea even if they only have a brief interaction with the poster.
Professional Imagery
To ensure that your poster looks professional you will want to ensure that you include strong, high-quality images that capture the attention of readers quickly. Remember your poster will be a representative of your brand so you will want to ensure that all content displayed is of a high standard and well designed. The poster should have a good text-to-image ratio (the recommendation is 60/40) and it may be a good idea to use a design tool like Canva or hire a professional such as a designer or a photographer, to ensure the imagery meets standard requirements.
Captivating Design
You will want to create an aesthetically pleasing design that captures the attention of your reader and reinforces the message of your poster. You should pay attention to colour schemes, typography, and layout, and choose colours that complement each other and evoke the desired emotional response. You should select fonts that are easy to read and maintain consistency throughout the poster. The layout should also be well-balanced, allowing for a smooth flow of information. Once you have your design mapped out it’s important to use a good-quality printer for your products to ensure the final product is produced to a high standard and looks professional.
Contact Information and Call to Action
When designing your poster you will want to Include your contact information, such as your email, website, or social media handles, so that interested viewers can reach out to you for further inquiries or collaborations. If applicable, you can include a call to action that encourages viewers to take a specific action, such as visiting your website, signing up for a newsletter, or attending your event.
Designing a strategically effective poster requires careful consideration of what to include and how to present it. By incorporating these steps above you can create a poster that grabs attention, communicates your aims effectively, and leaves a lasting impression on viewers. Remember, a well-designed poster can be a powerful tool to inform, persuade, and engage your audience when designed right!
