Designing a large print banner for a business can be a challenge, even for those who have experience with other forms of graphic design. Unlike other print advertisements, banners need to be easily readable from a reasonable distance and they must be easy to interpret without the benefit of fine print. Read on to find some tips for designing banner signs that will help to ensure an effective finished product.
Consider Placement
The first thing designers should think about, before even choosing text, fonts, or color schemes, is banner placement. Placement impacts everything from text size to color scheme. Banners designed for storefronts with plenty of pedestrian traffic passing by can have smaller text and more detailed images than those designed to be read and interpreted from the road, and all banners should ideally be designed so that their colors contrast to those around them.
Use Large Text
Even banners designed for storefront applications should feature large, easy-to-read text. Remember that the purpose of a banner isn’t to offer tons of information about a store or its products, but to attract positive attention from passers-by. Assume that consumers will be reading the text from at least a few meters away.
Choose a Simple Message
Make sure the message conveyed by the banner is easy to understand on the go. Successful banners often feature no more than a few words and one carefully chosen image. Even if they can get close to the banner, most viewers don’t have time to read paragraphs of text, so remove any text that isn’t strictly necessary and find ways to redirect curious consumers to additional company information online or in-person instead.
Include Necessary Information
While it’s important to keep the message clear and avoid clutter, business owners still need to get their point across. The best way to determine what information to include is to think about what the banner’s intended purpose will be. Those just looking to increase brand awareness may be able to include nothing more than a logo and company name, while business owners advertising sales will have to include sale dates and some minimal information about available products, as well.
Use High-Quality Graphics
It’s important to use high-quality graphics and photographs that act as a focal point for the banner and attract plenty of attention. For large banners, low-resolution graphics can look pixelated or distorted, making the business look unprofessional and driving potential customers away.
Keep Branding in Mind
Make sure the entire banner is on-brand. That means not just choosing the right color scheme and incorporating the company logo, but also avoiding images or font styles that could be seen as detracting from the company’s values.
The Bottom Line
Designing an effective banner requires a lot of forethought. Do plenty of brainstorming before coming up with a final design and consider hiring a professional graphic designer with experience working with large-format images and text. Many banner printing companies offer design consultation services, so take advantage of them to help ensure that the finished product will look its best and accomplish its goals.
