Banner Design Tips
Written by Colleen Cabili ● Published on June 16, 2022
We are often exposed to thousands of advertisements, whether we’re just mindlessly scrolling through our phones indoors or spending time outdoors. You are bound to see promotional material wherever you look. Over the years, brands have gone to great lengths to ensure their advertisements don’t get lost in the visual noise. It’s true that every entrepreneur’s goal is to make sure that their business stands out from the rest, but how exactly did the successful ones manage to do so?
Although not everyone has the budget for LED displays or digital billboards, outdoor banners can be just as effective in catching people’s attention. What your business needs is the right design strategy. Here are some tips to keep in mind when designing a banner:
Identify the purpose of the banner.
Before you brainstorm design ideas, list down the reasons you’re putting up a banner in the first place. Are you launching a new product, or do you have an upcoming promo? Who is the audience? What goals do you want to achieve? These questions would help you determine if an outdoor banner can help you achieve your goals or if a different form of advertisement would be better.
Pick an appropriate size and location.
The right location can make or break a well-designed banner. If you plan to hang it somewhere other than within the vicinity of your business, ensure that it’s an area frequented by your target audience.
Once you have decided on a location, remember to measure the dimensions of your space; otherwise, your banner might end up too small or too overpowering. If the banner design has text, consider legibility as well. For instance, your banner’s text should be at least 1” tall to be visible 50 feet away. 6’ x 2’ and 3’ x 10’ are popular sizes for horizontal banners, while 4’ x 4’ is a good starting point for square banners.
Related Reading: Guide to Banner Sizes
Take time creating your design.
Text is not the only design element with emotional appeal. Choosing the right lines, shapes, and colors can also make a lot of difference. Several studies suggest how design elements can evoke emotions. For example:
- Colors – Red, orange, and yellow evoke warmth and passion, while blue, green, and purple are more soothing.
- Lines – Horizontal lines convey stability and rest, while vertical lines feel strong and energetic. Diagonal lines represent movement.
- Shapes – Organic shapes suggest comfort and familiarity, while geometric shapes communicate structure and order.
- Font Types – Serif fonts such as Times New Roman and Georgia lend a timeless and traditional look, while sans serif fonts like Arial and Calibri feel modern.
Keep the text short but impactful.
When we think of memorable taglines, witty and humorous ones immediately come to mind. They are unforgettable for a reason—with just a handful of words, they manage to get the message across in a way that resonates with people.
You don’t always have to aim to be funny with your copy. What’s more important is to keep it simple. With everyone in a rush, you can’t expect people to pause and take time to digest a riddle.
If you are advertising a business or service, include all the necessary details, such as your contact information and operating hours. If you are promoting an event, indicate the venue, date, and how people can register or get tickets, if applicable. And don’t forget your call to action.
Assign a focal point.
Identifying a focal point for your outdoor banner is just as important as keeping your copy concise. Not everyone has the time to digest your advertisement in its entirety, so it would greatly help if people knew where to look immediately.
There are different ways to highlight an image, word, or logo. Play with size, use a bold color to make an element pop, or slightly blur the surrounding areas. If the text is the focal point, emphasize words by setting to bold, italics, or underline.
Pick a trusted printing services provider.
Now you have determined the size, location, and banner design. The final step would be to find a printing company that you can rely on to bring your outdoor banner design to life.
At 48HourPrint, we have a wide array of high-quality materials for you to choose from for your outdoor banner. You can download print-ready blank templates that are compatible with most design software so you can create designs that will fit your banner perfectly. We can prepare a proof that you can check to make sure that your output will be exactly as you envision it. We also have a beginner-friendly online tool where you can create a design from scratch.
What are you waiting for? Design an effective outdoor banner with 48HourPrint today.
Check out these quality outdoor banners:
Related Articles: