Are you someone who has had to make a poster, but wasn't sure where to start? Maybe you needed to make it for a school assignment, for a bake sale, for the science fair, for a baby shower or even for your favorite football team. There are many clubs, events and educational reasons for creating your own poster. Most people are unaware that a great poster can be designed in 60 minutes or less! There are a few basic design concepts which you should consider when planning your project.

Assess Your Needs - 5 Minutes

First things first! Take 5 minutes and assess your needs. Know the basic requirements of your particular project. Is there a size requirement? Who is your audience? How many images do you have available to use? What is the purpose of your sign? Inform? Motivate? Celebrate? Each of these questions will help guide your design.

Equip your Design Workspace - 5 Minutes

Working quickly often results in extra mess. You will want to take 5 minutes to prepare your workspace. Protect tables, countertops, and floors with layers of newspapers or even an old sheet. Gather up your supplies and have them within easy reach and to help organize your workspace. A few things you may find useful in making your project are poster board, paints, markers, erasers, glue, and scissors - as well as any images or photos you will be using.

Write an Effective Title - 10 Minutes

Now that you have your workspace ready it's time to get to work! One of the first things you need for a great poster is an effective title. Your title should attract your audience, inform your readers, summarize your ideas AND show creative flair! Sum up your message in bold or clever words. Big letters are easier to read and can eat up empty space. Draw or use 2 inch or 4 inch pre-cut letters to make your title stand out. Remember, bigger letters help to make it readable from a distance. Your poster title is very important; you should set aside 10 minutes or so for this step.

Choosing a Layout - 10 Minutes

There are many ways to arrange your layout but our example is one of the simplest, easiest, fastest poster layouts to use and should only take you 10 minutes. Without attaching anything, orient your surface horizontally with the title running across the top. Evenly space images across the center of the board. If you have a sub-title, this should run along the bottom edge and it can be a slightly smaller sized text if you like.

Choose a Border - 10 Minutes

You do not have to sacrifice style to make a super-fast poster. Even taking just 10 minutes to add a border, will give your sign a truly finished look and show that you put some extra effort into it. For a simple border, try cutting the outside edges of your board with edging scissors.

For a more decorative border, you can use buttons or small objects or images. Be creative and think of something that is relevant to your topic. For another look, you can cut your entire board in a shape that reinforces your topic (boot, stop sign, pyramid, etc).

Decorate Your Sign - 10 Minutes

Add visual interest with eye catching or 3-dimensional items that fit your message. You can raid your backyard, your cabinets or even junk drawers for household items that make creative add-ons. Some common items to use are glitter, string, buttons, beans, leaves or pebbles. Take 10 minutes to do this and you'll really jazz up your project!

Putting your Poster Project Together - 10 Minutes

The last and final step! Take your time and use extra care to ensure a good looking final product. Lay out your border, title, text, images and add-ons where you want them. Starting at the top, neatly glue each item in place. In about 10 minutes you will have completed your best poster ever!

About ArtSkills: ArtSkills was founded in 1987 in Easton, PA. Originally, they designed and developed instructional programs and lessons plans that taught drawing and painting. Today, ArtSkills makes a wide range of quality arts and crafts supplies and has become the leading voice in the poster making and supply industry.
For more ideas on how to make great posters visit the http://www.artskills.com