assassins of ideas. we make things that go.

Learning Outcomes : Posters This Year

1. Keep things fresh.
If you are spitting out posters quickly it might be tempting to repeat the same basic style or idea each time. Unless you are establishing a brand this is generally a bad idea. For the piece to serve its function it has to fit the needs of the project. Make sure that the visuals attract the correct audience, It might be the most interesting poster ever designed but if it doesn’t stand out to the person who would want to attend the event, it is not successful.

It is also important to keep the job fresh for your own mental health. Keep yourself on your toes and always challenge yourself to look at projects from a new angle. You will find yourself excited to come to work and even more excited for new assignments. Remember that each project is potential portfolio item. Try to make each one worthy of a spot in your portfolio.

2. Plan for the worst.
Printers are unpredictable. Chances are the printing will take longer than you expect. There have been many times that I was glad that I had finished a project quickly when I saw how long printing took. Never take chances when it comes to a deadline.

Computers are just as bad as printers. They work when they want to and crash when they feel like it. Save your work frequently and definitely consider picking up an external hard drive. I sleep much better at night knowing that I have all my important documents saved on my external in case my laptop goes down or gets lost (knock on wood).

3.Work when you are inspired.
We all work best at different times, some of us are morning people and some of us are night owls. I get most inspired late at night. Though I am not on the clock, I make sure to do a few quick sketches for when I come into the office next. If it is too painful to wait, I will pull out my laptop and start working on it right away. I find that these rough sketches are the best starting places for any project.

4. Ask for advice.
Even if your friends or family members are not designers, they still know what they like and their perspective is still important. We are often so close to our work and seeing it through a fresh set of eyes can be helpful. Your friends and family might also really enjoy giving their feedback and appreciate that you value their point of view. As in any critique, remember not to take it personally. It is important for a designer’s ego not to get in the way of their work… your goal is just to make the most effective design possible.

5. Keep your eyes open.
You are not the only one trying to come up with fresh new ideas. Our world is flooded with design, some of it good and some of it not so good. Try to be aware of what makes an idea work and what makes it fail. Collecting design materials is also a good way to have reference material always on hand. I collect stuff all the time. I might find a scrap of paper, which gives me a great idea for a composition or a font that would be great to use in a project. A guilty pleasure of mine is dumpster diving in recycling bins. You might look pretty strange doing it but you can often find some relics that make it worth it. Any time you are drawing a blank you can rummage through your findings and you are bound to be struck by something cool.

Looking at art and design is so important. There is no way to make something original before you know what else is out there. Thanks to copious design blogs there is never a shortage of inspiring work to ogle. Going to museums and galleries is also important. Design and fine art are linked in so many ways.

Tags: 2008-09, EMU Marketing, Graphic Design, Learning Outcomes, Poster Design, posters