
	Home Fundraising FYI: Fundraising Fundraising Ideas Event Planning Questions to Consider Event Checklist Movie Policy Potential Costs Space Reservations What is a contract? Publicity Publicity Tips Publicity Regulations Top 25 Places to Publicize Campus Resources Student Activities Participation Form Student Organizations Contact Information

Print this page
(PDF format)

Contact Info

Director of Student Activities

Poster/Flyer Design

White Space.
- White space can actually lead your reader to the important information.
- It's tempting to squeeze as much information as possible into a small space, but a sea of gray text won't get read.
- For example: Which ad would catch your eye, the first ad or the one below it?
  
  This one has very little white space.
  
  On the other hand: Only a couple of lines of text have been cut, but look how the white space around the artists helps draw your eye to that section, as well as the phone number. The phone number is where we expect to see it, also.
  
  Back to top
Follow the Reader.
- Most readers follow the same type of reversed "S" pattern when scanning an ad. That is, they scan an ad beginning at the top left and end up down at the bottom right.
  
  The same ad as above, only the phone number, Web site address, and email address have been reversed out of a black box. Which do you think emphasizes the call to action?
  The line shows you the reversed "S", which represents how most readers read.
  
  Back to top
Consistency.
- People expect to see certain object in certain places, and look for them there.
- Consistent ads will always place the following information in the same place:
Who would you call?

Back to top

Organization Logo.

Creating a logo for your group and putting it on all your posters and flyers will let people know, before they even look at the rest of your advertisement, it belongs to you. This will let them seek out events by your group.

Back to top

Two to three color maximum.

Selective use of color enhances a poster. Colored borders, bullets and blocks serve to draw attention to specific details.
Simple color additions to a plain poster can make your stand out. For example, use construction paper to add your logo or name instead of markers.
Do not choose any color scheme not appealing to the eye.
For example, bright yellow text on a white background or anything else which would cause someone to wince.

Good Color Combinations include:
Purple on yellow	Green on white
White on black	Black on orange
White on green	Yellow on black
White on red	White on purple
Black on white	Red on white
Purple on white	Orange on black

Two font maximum.
- Too much "excitement" takes away from the information.
  
  Back to top
AVOID HEADLINES SET IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS.
- Our eyes and brains are conditioned to identify lower case letters and words. Familiar looking words are glanced over with full comprehension. We also read words by the shape of the word, not by reading individual letters. Ascenders and descenders give distinctive shapes to words; all caps make most words look the same.
  
  Back to top

Visuals.

Photographs, illustrations, diagrams and charts can all present the same information in different ways. Labels must be close to any diagrams.

Make sure that all visuals are clear and not blurred or enlarged so that a "blotchy" (a.k.a. pixilated) effect is created.

Clear:

Pixilated:

Advertise in waves.
- 1st Wave: Teasers two to three weeks before the event to grab attention
- 2nd Wave: One week before the event so people can plan ahead
- 3rd Wave: The day of the event to remind everyone
  
  Back to top
Creativity.
- Make your design different from those around it.
  
  Back to top
Volume.
- Get as many posters and flyers out as you can.
- See Top 25 Places to Advertise at Cornell
- Use word of mouth
  
  Back to top
Keep learning.
- Search the internet for more information or use resources within your group and on campus.
- Design Links:
  Back to top