Anyone can design a poster

Many people may view the task of designing a poster as an incredibly daunting and stressful one, however in most cases it is nowhere near as difficult as it is perceived to be. When initially tackling the prospect of designing a poster it can often be tough to figure out where to start. For this reason, it is important to plan out the process of your design before you try to create an image or blueprint for your poster. There are several elements to consider when designing a poster, however once these are analysed it can be truly a straightforward task for anyone to design a poster.

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The first element to consider when designing a poster is the type of poster you wish to design and what the purpose of the poster will be and the audience it is targeting. Without a thorough understanding of the purpose of the poster and its audience it is impossible to design a truly effective poster. The use of various techniques, components and colours can be beneficial, detrimental, or simply pointless depending on the event or product the poster will eventually be advertising.  For example, a poster advertising an exciting event such as a festival or public gathering should contain a relatively simple design yet bright and vibrant colours in order to attract as many viewers as possible and retain their attention once they have seen the poster. In contrast to this, a poster advertising a brand such as a financial institution or large corporation may need to contain a more complicated design in order to convey more information, while also making use of a more subtle range of colours as a means of appearing professional while providing information about the brand or company. 

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Once you have determined the purpose of the poster you are designing, you can then move on choosing one of the multiple styles and variations available for the design of the poster. It is important in this scenario to match the level of sophistication in the design with the purpose of the poster. As mentioned above, a poster for a festival is likely to contain a straightforward design while a business advertisement may be more complex. This is an incredibly important aspect as it will ultimately lead to the success or failure of the poster. If an overly simplistic poster is used in an environment in which viewers are expecting a more intricate and complicated design, the outcome can be either positive or negative. In some cases, the break from the sophistication the viewers are used to can be a welcome relief and therefore the poster will be a success, however if the design is received as childish and unprofessional it will not be taken well and may even be removed from its location.

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In addition to this, once the design of the poster has been decided, the next step is to choose a colour scheme to work in combination with the design. Much like the design itself, the colours chosen can make or break a poster and be a major decider in its popularity among viewers. For example, a poster advertising childrens toys is recommended to contain bright and vibrant colours in order to catch the attention of children in supermarkets, toy stores and other similar locations. This is a straightforward element in the design of a poster, however it is incredibly important and when completed effectively it can dramatically increase the potential for success of the poster and everything it represents.

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In contrast to popular belief, designing a poster is not rocket science and once the process is planned out and tackled structurally it can be an enjoyable and rewarding procedure. Among the most important elements of poster design are the purpose of the poster as well as the design features and colour themes involved. It is vital to be aware of your audience before creating a poster in order to know how to truly capture their attention and produce a poster that they find attractive and interesting. This is also an incredibly important element when considering the design styles and colour variations of your poster. Various audiences will react differently to various design styles and what works well for one group of viewers may not work well for another. This may appear as an added element of stress for designers, however it is truly a blessing in disguise as it allows anyone who wishes to design a poster to simply determine the purpose of their poster and their target audience and consequently use this information to determine the most suitable design techniques and colours to use in order to create the perfect poster.