CDAE 15  Design Strategies        Fall 06  Advocacy Poster Assignment

One of the ways to communicate to a larger audience is by creating a public poster.

A poster is meant to grab attention in a bold manner, and communicate quickly.

 

Design two 8 x 10 posters to engage a particular community in a selected topic.

Each poster will present a different point about your topic.

Remember to emphasize what will benefit the reader as well as motivate the reader to take action.

           

Go to this site to see public service announcement examples: http://www.adcouncil.org/

Go to this site to learn more about community action:

http://www.vtsprawl.org/Initiatives/projects/projectsmain.htm

 

Some sample topics to choose from:

To increase locally produced food and organic food consumption

To promote a co-housing community

To present a positive message about immigration populations

To educate the public about storm water runoff issues and solutions

To encourage volunteering for local non-profits

To encourage people to get vaccinations for themselves or their children

 

You may choose your own topic instead. Just make sure you let me know via email what you have chosen so I can approve the topic and remember to provide the research (websites) you are using.

 

Think carefully about the points you want to make with your pieces. What are you informing people about? Who is your audience? Read and select some of the written information to use in your pieces. Choose what you think will communicate the information easily and thoughtfully. Make the two designs appear as a series/campaign.

 

You can look at examples to understand more about good and bad strategies - but make your design original and remember to provide the source(s) of your imagery.  Copying someone elseÕs work is plagiarism and ineffective, since it is also confusing to the public.

 

Use the WORD program to assemble your pieces.

Use the web to locate imagery to use. This is a class project so copywrite is not an issue.

Realize web jpegs can be small files. Poor resolution is not acceptable in the final design. Select imagery with higher resolution.

 

Grading criteria:

thoughtful choice of an original slogan and researched written information,

clear, strong concept - connection to content/information,

cohesive, well crafted composition

effective choice of lettering style (readable and expressive),

effective use of color (to enhance the information, direct the eye or act as a cohesive element)

and strong choice of imagery.

 

Remember to save your work as a PDF file that you will be bringing to class for progress review.

Remember to save it as in the native format (Word) so you can revise the file, if needed.

 

Submit the following to me, in a labeled envelope:

One quality printout of your designs

A printed short write up of your strategy and a listing of sources for imagery (website, etcÉ)