Poster design
In this brief we have been given the task to study and represent different analogies in the form of a poster. The upcoming event is a talk given by a number of doctors. The talk is meant to be based around 20 different titles in which we have to choose four. These are the different title choices:
Again, this is a government campaign, but this time it is to do with keeping clean, They show thousands of insects crawling over a woman's body. This would open a few eyes to how dirty our bodies can get. It is a great example of a visual analogy.
Layout
To gain a better understanding of how to portray my work, I need to study current corporate posters and look at how I can incorporate some aspects into my own work.
This is the first type of corporate design which stood out to me. It is very official and has a professional edge. The fonts in it are very basic but easy to read. The hierarchy is up to scratch as well. They have used a clever little image to portray that the meaning of the poster is 'ideas'. This is also a visual metaphor. As you can see, they have included a blue background for the bottom half of the page, and made the writing white, making it legible. They have cleverly drawn the attention off the small print with their choice of image, text etc. This is something I could think about.
This poster is in a different language, but that shows that it is demonstrating the purpose, due to the choice of image. Straight away that stands out of the page and quite obviously shows that it is some form of office based talk. I like the way the text has been set out as I feel it looks very professional. The basic mix of colours gives it a simple, official edge. The colour scheme is also something i need to be looking at for my own posters.
This isn't particularly a completely corporate piece, but I think it demonstrates layout in a clever way. The images and text correspond with each other well as they both have vast amounts of colour. The text works well with each other, with the use of serif, and San-serif aspects. This is vital in my design as I need to find the balance of what text is more important than others.
This is a poster design for an advertising conference. It is very illustrative and immediately catches the eye. With all these posters, I am starting to notice that for each title, they are the centre piece. It is important that the public know what the event is about. When I'm choosing what font to have my title in, I need to make it professional as its for a motivational talk. Although, I don't think it is serious enough to not include any form of illustration.
Now this is a very typical modern form of poster. It shows that text doesn't have to be boring, straight forward and run in correlation. The main title is obviously the centre piece, with the information running off it. They have used three basic colours, which all run off each other well. I think this type of design is different, because it demonstrates professionalism as well as projecting an abstract type of design.
This is a poster for a tax conference. As you'd imagine, it is quite an official type of event, so this type of design isn't usually abstract. The actual poster is french related though, and the combining colours in the background make up the french national flag. The title is effective as it instantly catches the eye. The use of hierarchy lets you know the difference between the essential information as well as additional information.
This stood out to me due to the basic colour scheme, particularly around the sides. It is an advertisement for a trade summit. And below, they have pictured thousands of storage boxes being shipped out. It is important to choose an image that relates to the topic that people would instantly recognise. If I was to change anything about this poster, I would line up the text so its all together. And maybe space the different pieces of text slightly closer.
This is a similar type of design to a piece I have just annotated. Again, it is quite an official piece of corporate design, but it isn't typically lined up and rigid. The pieces of information are split up into their own section if you like with a different coloured background for each.
I really like this type of design. It reminds me of the recent HSBC pamphlet designs. This isn't particularly poster related, but it demonstrates some of the techniques/colour schemes I could potentially use in my own work. The text again, keeps a tight relation with the background with them keeping the same colour.
This is quite an abstract idea for a conference. It uses two basic colours with a background of silhouette type shapes. If I was to change anything about the text would be to space it out slightly more. I feel that it is too cramped together. From these different conference type posters, I have a good idea of what I want my own posters to look like.
Typographic Hierarchy in poster design
Hierarchy is a vital part of poster design.I need to figure out what type I am going to use in my own posters. The poster to the left shows different types of hierarchy. The Title is the main feature, based in the centre of the piece. They have lined all the paragraphs up with 'design'. This creates a professional effect. Different font colours have been used to differentiate the headings from the small print. This is something I could possibly incorporate in my own work.
This is the type of technique I think I am going to use in my own poster design. I like the way all the text lines up together underneath the 'p'. The colour scheme is very basic with black and white overlapping each other. This type of design looks very corporate and would be well suited to the conference that were advertising for.
I tried to look up some very corporate examples. This would be a very basic design, but they have chosen to show the information at an angle. They have prioritised the point of the poster placing it on the left in its own colour, as well as the size of the text. From what I have seen already, the posters involved use two main primary colours. This could be worth thinking about with my own designs.
These are some of the techniques I need to be using if I want to maximise the professionalism of the piece. As you can see to the left of the piece, some of the text is in a different type of font to its others. The mix between serif and San-serif texts gives the piece a corporate look.
This stood out to me as a designer. It involves a type of hierarchy but is actually a visual error. The way the text is placed makes it look like its been written in italic. The smaller text featured below is also in the same italic style. I think that once I have picked certain style, it is important that I apply it to every one of my posters, as consistency is crucial.
Ideas
I then started to look at what possible idea's I could come up with for my posters. I decided that I need to come up with a type of theme so I could relate all my pieces.
I first looked at each title, and weighed up what I could use for each.
Successful teamwork:
I then came up with the idea of using paper chain people for each task. I worked out four different topics that would suit the concept. After starting to make them, I found it hard to shape them, and that the outcome after I had took the pictures would be quite difficult. I don't think that the outcomes would be professional or corporate enough for the intended advertisement.
Here are a few of the other ideas I came up with:
I then looked at what possible games I could use for my posters.
1 The Art of
Negotiation
2 Managing
Change
3 Successful
Teamwork
4 The Influential
Manager
5 Equality
& Diversity in the Workplace
6 Effective
Time Management
7 The Need for
Creative Thinking
8 Imaginative
Leadership & Management
9 Fostering
Motivation & Morale
10 Building Trust
& Loyalty
11 Strategic
Planning
12 Successful Recruitment
13 The Value of
Training
14 Meeting
Tomorrow’s Challenges
15 Organisation
& Coordination
16 Effective
Target Setting
17 Maintaining
Quality
18 Managing
Stress
19 Crisis Control
& Management
20 Developing a
Corporate Vision
As you can see, we have to take four of the following and turn them into visual analogies. We have been advised to pick a theme, in which we can keep a type of consistency.
Analogies
Definition- A comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.
This is a typical piece of analogy design. This could link in with a few different topics on the list that has been given. It would be a fairly simple concept to pull off. I think it is a quite witty and sharp poster design. It demonstrates the the power of choice, and which option you could be immediately drawn to.
This is also a piece what makes you think. The caption at the bottom says 'no disease can test you'. Basically explaining that you are immune if you take their medicine. This is demonstrated well as a vase that would usually be fragile, is surprising as well as resilient.
Analogies
Definition- A comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification.
This is a quite humorous example of an analogy. They wanted to try and represent an agile type figure in their advertisement. But as they have selected an elephant, its out of the norm and catches the viewers attention. I think I could potentially include some form of humour in my pieces as the best form of advertisement is to grab the attention of the viewer straight away.
This is also a good example of an analogy. You could also use this piece as an example of some of the topics in which we have been given. For example 'successful recruitment', as there is one egg outstanding. There are many routes I could go down with for my own analogies, but I am hoping to choose a topic that is eye catching and funny.
 | |||||||
| This is an analogy which takes two meanings of the same word. Again, it is fairly basic but is witty and eye catching also. |
This is another visual metaphor which uses eggs. This could be used for all sorts of meanings. It could be used as 'crisis control and management' or 'managing stress'. It would be a very simple process to complete. This stood out to me on the page as I thought even though its simple, its very creative, and has to make you think.
This is a very creative take on the environment. It uses a sand timer and basically an image of the ice caps melting. It shows us whats potentially going to happen in the future, and warning us that we need to alter our Eco output. The sand timer tells us that it is slowly happening to us. I think a poster like this really makes an impact on the viewer. This is probably the most powerful piece I have seen using visual metaphor/ analogy.
Very basic analogy. Takes two meanings of the word 'light' and is pictured in a fairly creative way. It is sharp and witty.
These two images you can see to the left based on cigarettes, are an ad campaign set up by the government to make us aware how the dangers of smoking can effect us. The first image is very well put together. They simply have snapped the cigarettes in half to look like a shotgun. Basically demonstrating that it is a way of killing myself.
This ad campaign was very successful as it was really an eye opener to the general public. This image shows that cigarettes can cause impotence. They have cleverly shown the ash off the cigarette drooping. I think this campaign is a great demonstration of how visual analogies and metaphors can get people thinking.
This advert is a simple representation of the term 'couch potato'. Very simple and the slogan explains that the company are promoting comfort.
This is one of nokia's phone promotions. They are trying to show that their product are technically sound. They are trying to show that their phones don't take any quality away from hearing music straight from the instrument. This caught my eye when i was looking for examples, because its different and makes you think about the concept.
This is an obvious representation of how exercising and using their product can make you healthier as a person. They have pictured two of their trainers in red together, trying to shape them as a heart. I think to make my analogies or metaphors successful i need to really think about making the viewer think. I don't want them to be too obvious.
This is quite a clever advertisement using a visual metaphoric technique. It explains that if food isn't stored or cooked/prepared properly, it can be quite harmful to us. They have adapted a cabbage to look like a grenade, insinuating that it could be as dangerous as a weapon. Often, advertising campaigns which advise you on your health can be the most powerful.
This is part of the same campaign, but this time they have adapted a mushroom to look like a form of explosion. These designs are really well thought out and not instantly self explanatory. Again, like these I want to produce a set of designs which all correspond and relate with each other.
This is another powerful anti-smoking campaign poster. It features a run down living room in a house, which looks like its been mistreated. It demonstrates that your body is 'your home' and you should be treating it correctly. This image may put people off smoking as its just an example of how potentially damaged our bodies could become.
This piece is a perfect example of an innovative visual metaphor. It is trying to demonstrate that the make of the car involved represents strength, power and structure. I like the way it has been designed and they already give you an idea of what their car might drive like.
These are business based images for what could potentially feature as 'the art of negotiation'. It shows two sets of business people playing tug of war, almost as if to say that they are coming to an agreement. This could potentially work into my ideas.
This is also a brilliant example of a visual metaphor. It features a Lego piece, with the shadow showing an aeroplane, It shows what the imagination can do. Its a very simple advertisement, but it explains itself well.
This is another of the health association warning advertisements. But this time, it features a carrot shaped scorpion. Again, they have cleverly introduced something that can be deadly to us, and included food in the process. As I have stated before, I personally feel that instant shock adverts like this can make a real impact.
Again, this is a government campaign, but this time it is to do with keeping clean, They show thousands of insects crawling over a woman's body. This would open a few eyes to how dirty our bodies can get. It is a great example of a visual analogy.
Layout
To gain a better understanding of how to portray my work, I need to study current corporate posters and look at how I can incorporate some aspects into my own work.
This is the first type of corporate design which stood out to me. It is very official and has a professional edge. The fonts in it are very basic but easy to read. The hierarchy is up to scratch as well. They have used a clever little image to portray that the meaning of the poster is 'ideas'. This is also a visual metaphor. As you can see, they have included a blue background for the bottom half of the page, and made the writing white, making it legible. They have cleverly drawn the attention off the small print with their choice of image, text etc. This is something I could think about.
This isn't particularly a completely corporate piece, but I think it demonstrates layout in a clever way. The images and text correspond with each other well as they both have vast amounts of colour. The text works well with each other, with the use of serif, and San-serif aspects. This is vital in my design as I need to find the balance of what text is more important than others.
This is a poster design for an advertising conference. It is very illustrative and immediately catches the eye. With all these posters, I am starting to notice that for each title, they are the centre piece. It is important that the public know what the event is about. When I'm choosing what font to have my title in, I need to make it professional as its for a motivational talk. Although, I don't think it is serious enough to not include any form of illustration.
Now this is a very typical modern form of poster. It shows that text doesn't have to be boring, straight forward and run in correlation. The main title is obviously the centre piece, with the information running off it. They have used three basic colours, which all run off each other well. I think this type of design is different, because it demonstrates professionalism as well as projecting an abstract type of design.
This stood out to me due to the basic colour scheme, particularly around the sides. It is an advertisement for a trade summit. And below, they have pictured thousands of storage boxes being shipped out. It is important to choose an image that relates to the topic that people would instantly recognise. If I was to change anything about this poster, I would line up the text so its all together. And maybe space the different pieces of text slightly closer.
This is a similar type of design to a piece I have just annotated. Again, it is quite an official piece of corporate design, but it isn't typically lined up and rigid. The pieces of information are split up into their own section if you like with a different coloured background for each.
I really like this type of design. It reminds me of the recent HSBC pamphlet designs. This isn't particularly poster related, but it demonstrates some of the techniques/colour schemes I could potentially use in my own work. The text again, keeps a tight relation with the background with them keeping the same colour.
This is quite an abstract idea for a conference. It uses two basic colours with a background of silhouette type shapes. If I was to change anything about the text would be to space it out slightly more. I feel that it is too cramped together. From these different conference type posters, I have a good idea of what I want my own posters to look like.
Typographic Hierarchy in poster design
These are some of the techniques I need to be using if I want to maximise the professionalism of the piece. As you can see to the left of the piece, some of the text is in a different type of font to its others. The mix between serif and San-serif texts gives the piece a corporate look.
This stood out to me as a designer. It involves a type of hierarchy but is actually a visual error. The way the text is placed makes it look like its been written in italic. The smaller text featured below is also in the same italic style. I think that once I have picked certain style, it is important that I apply it to every one of my posters, as consistency is crucial.
Ideas
I then started to look at what possible idea's I could come up with for my posters. I decided that I need to come up with a type of theme so I could relate all my pieces.
I first looked at each title, and weighed up what I could use for each.
Successful teamwork:
- Sport- Rowing, Badminton etc
- Animals- Birds, Ants etc
- Cog in a wheel- working together
Managing change
- Development of animals?
- Bringing a new born into the world- the process?
I then came up with the idea of using paper chain people for each task. I worked out four different topics that would suit the concept. After starting to make them, I found it hard to shape them, and that the outcome after I had took the pictures would be quite difficult. I don't think that the outcomes would be professional or corporate enough for the intended advertisement.Here are a few of the other ideas I came up with:
- A night out?
- Politics? Previous English Government?
- WW2?
- Toy soldiers?
- Current Global events?
I then looked at what possible games I could use for my posters.
- chess
- checkers
- cross & circles game
- Guess Who
- Dominoes
- Buckaroo
- Ker plunk
- Monopoly
- Battleships
- Connect 4
Chess is typically a game where tactics and strategy play big parts. I decided that this would be best suited to 'the need for creative thinking'. This is a very simple fit to the topic title.
This is the image which i decided to choose for my poster. I decided that I didn't want an illustrated look and went for the slick, clean professional look. I also decided that my posters would be on a blank background so this piece would fit in perfectly. I think the image is clean and a good quality, so would look at home in a corporate type poster.
I then thought that incorporating cards may be a good idea, as it is very much a window to various house hold games. I decided to place 'meeting tomorrows challenges' with the game snap. As in snap you achieve something when you pair up two of the same card. This is an image what I took. I will then later edit this to the specific style in which the posters are designed.
After looking for what might be a typical household game, scrabble seemed to be one of the most popular outcomes. I thought typically, that with scrabble, you are trying to pick letters to make a word. I thought typically that 'successful recruitment' would be the obvious and most sensible option. This again, is my own source image. I chose typically to set out the word recruit, just to give that extra explanation of what the concept was.
'The influential manager' topic, cropped up as another suitable title. I thought dominoes could potentially be the best outcome. Basically, explaining that once a manager has made a decision, the workers then follow suit. This is a great visual metaphor to suit the title. I just got a basic image off the Internet and will edit this later on. As you can see, the relationship consistency has been kept with all the images so far.
Connect four also cropped up in my research as one of the popular family games. I think that the game is mainly about strategy, so I decided that it was best suited to strategic planning, as your always looking towards your next move. Again, I generated this image off the Internet, and will proceed to add the desired effect when I work out a colour scheme.
Jenga is a typical game which measures balance and skill. The end result obviously ends in the tower block falling over, causing obvious stress. So it is very suited to the title topic 'managing stress'.
These are what my final posters look like. As you can see, I went for a very corporate look. I decided to run the text we were given across the right hand side of the piece. As you can see, I used different types of hierarchy in the piece. I put the name of the exhibit at the top of the page and made the topic of the conference the main title. I used very basic but effective fonts. Calibri Bold for the very first piece of text. I wanted the main title of the piece to obviously stand out, but not take anything away from the image at the bottom.
I lined all the text up including the title to make it look professional. For each heading I still used the same text type, but added different types of hierarchy, as in making the sub headings bolder, and the times of the event in italic. I like the way the emptiness of the background works with the text.
I also decided to add a slight colour to the piece, so with each piece, I decided to put the number of the topic in the top corner. So with the red numbers and title, i decided to put a tint of colouring into the actual images.
As you can see, I have taken the same strategy with this poster as the previous ones. Just with the different title and information. I have taken a small piece of the connect four image as I thought it was too large to all fit in. I think after adding a slight effect to it, it fits the corporate standards. I have made each number the same size and font and have placed them in the same position on the page.
With this piece, I had to reverse the dominoes as well as tint it red. I think the placement of the dominoes are crucial. I took influence from the posters which i had already studied for my posters. I tried to keep the design basic and professional as like most conference material, it has to look clean. I think if I was a spectator looking at the poster, the initial numbers and images would capture my eye. This is essential in poster design.
In this piece, I have used the the scrabble image. I have obviously took the background out of the image, and then added a slight abstract effect onto it. The four posters including the one to the left, are the final few which I am going to include in my presentation.
I have decided not to select this in my finals. I feel that even thought I have generated the image myself, I don't think it represents the title well enough. I think it was also hard to find the right type of angle for this image, as snap is not the easiest topic to depict.
Again, this is another of my pieces which I have decided not to use. The reason being that the image quality isn't good enough. I made a decision late on to include this in my designs, so I didn't have enough time to retrieve a quality enough image. I do actually like the concept of the poster as well as the way that it has been laid out.
These are my posters in a public place. I think due to the quality of the pieces, I think they fit it well with the natural habitat.
Conclusion
I think going into the project, I needed to start by gaining a better understanding of the current type of corporate poster. I think that my initial research was fairly in depth. I think that I found a variety of examples which represented modern design. I think that I gained a better understanding of how I should set my own posters out and therefore it was successful.
I think that I understood that what was required of me and that I covered all of the research aspects.
Personally, I think that I found out what my idea would be fairly on. You could argue that I didn't experiment on different ideas slightly more but as soon as I found my idea I wanted to start designing as soon as possible.
I feel overall that the imagery that I have chosen for my particular topics are relevant as well as creative. I feel that they represent the title well, and after asking fellow students on their opinions, this was confirmed.
I feel that the design of my posters were professional and clean. I personally like the way the the text lines as well as the placement of the image. If I was to change anything, I would have gone out and either took my own images, or found somebody who could potentially take them, instead of finding them via the Internet.
I do feel however my time management is still an issue. Although I feel my designs are of a good quality, if I had delegated my time better I could have enhanced the pieces further. And giving myself more time, I could have pursued my own photography for all.
Overall, I feel that the research side of the project went well overall, producing quality and in depth annotations. I feel that the development was fairly detailed but more minimal compared to the research. I would go back and go more in depth if I was to complete the brief again.
The overall presentation of my final pieces look a good quality standard but if I was to change anything it would be to produce all my own photography.
This is the image which i decided to choose for my poster. I decided that I didn't want an illustrated look and went for the slick, clean professional look. I also decided that my posters would be on a blank background so this piece would fit in perfectly. I think the image is clean and a good quality, so would look at home in a corporate type poster.
'The influential manager' topic, cropped up as another suitable title. I thought dominoes could potentially be the best outcome. Basically, explaining that once a manager has made a decision, the workers then follow suit. This is a great visual metaphor to suit the title. I just got a basic image off the Internet and will edit this later on. As you can see, the relationship consistency has been kept with all the images so far.
Jenga is a typical game which measures balance and skill. The end result obviously ends in the tower block falling over, causing obvious stress. So it is very suited to the title topic 'managing stress'.
I lined all the text up including the title to make it look professional. For each heading I still used the same text type, but added different types of hierarchy, as in making the sub headings bolder, and the times of the event in italic. I like the way the emptiness of the background works with the text.
I also decided to add a slight colour to the piece, so with each piece, I decided to put the number of the topic in the top corner. So with the red numbers and title, i decided to put a tint of colouring into the actual images.
As you can see, I have taken the same strategy with this poster as the previous ones. Just with the different title and information. I have taken a small piece of the connect four image as I thought it was too large to all fit in. I think after adding a slight effect to it, it fits the corporate standards. I have made each number the same size and font and have placed them in the same position on the page.
Conclusion
I think going into the project, I needed to start by gaining a better understanding of the current type of corporate poster. I think that my initial research was fairly in depth. I think that I found a variety of examples which represented modern design. I think that I gained a better understanding of how I should set my own posters out and therefore it was successful.
I think that I understood that what was required of me and that I covered all of the research aspects.
Personally, I think that I found out what my idea would be fairly on. You could argue that I didn't experiment on different ideas slightly more but as soon as I found my idea I wanted to start designing as soon as possible.
I feel overall that the imagery that I have chosen for my particular topics are relevant as well as creative. I feel that they represent the title well, and after asking fellow students on their opinions, this was confirmed.
I feel that the design of my posters were professional and clean. I personally like the way the the text lines as well as the placement of the image. If I was to change anything, I would have gone out and either took my own images, or found somebody who could potentially take them, instead of finding them via the Internet.
I do feel however my time management is still an issue. Although I feel my designs are of a good quality, if I had delegated my time better I could have enhanced the pieces further. And giving myself more time, I could have pursued my own photography for all.
Overall, I feel that the research side of the project went well overall, producing quality and in depth annotations. I feel that the development was fairly detailed but more minimal compared to the research. I would go back and go more in depth if I was to complete the brief again.
The overall presentation of my final pieces look a good quality standard but if I was to change anything it would be to produce all my own photography.
