Banners are a great way to efficiently communicate your message to your target audience. But, to be able to proudly raise your event banner for all to see, you need to invest time and effort into the design process.

Purpose

Before you start working with any design tools, you need to know what you want to accomplish. Every element of your event banner will depend on the message you want to send—everything from the fonts you use to the layout.

Do you want to use the banner to spread brand awareness? Or do you want to promote a particular product or service?

Put together a list of the major details you want to include on your banner. Typically, it should include a call to action, marketing claim, and basic info about your brand.

Messaging

Keep the copy to a minimum. Less is more. Banners usually aren’t intended for a captive audience, so you don’t want to go with a jumbled banner.

One strong line is all you need to get your point across. What detail do you want the event attendees to remember after looking at your headline?

Your banners should also include a CTA (call to action). Here are a few examples:

• Sign up now!
• Visit our website!
• Call us now!

Location

The design of your banner will also depend on the place where you plan to put it. For instance, if your event is taking place at your organization, there’s no need to include a business address. You can use the extra space for something more useful.

When it comes to outdoor events, it is generally best to use PVC banners. You won’t have to worry about the color fading under direct sunlight. If you plan on touring trade shows often, PVC banners are a great solution because they are highly durable.

Flag banners can be a great choice for breezy summer events. But, for places that are particularly windy, mesh banners may be the best solution.

Size and Format

Once you figure out the location, you can start exploring size and format options:

• Setup: If you plan to use flag or hanging banners that are designed to be raised well above ground, you will need to ensure strong visibility. You can achieve this by using large, highly visible fonts.

Display stands and pull-up banners are usually at eye level, so they offer you more options in terms of typography. People often stop to read such banners, so they allow you to use more text.

• Size: Sizes typically range from 2’x3’ to 10’x16’. The size you need depends on how far your audience will be from the banner.

The greater the distance, the larger the banner you need. Keep in mind that very delicate borders and other intricate decorative design elements will be lost at a greater distance.

• Orientation: The most natural option is to arrange the copy horizontally. It is easier on the eyes this way since most people prefer to read left to right.

If you want to arrange the text vertically, it is best to leave more space between each line of text and use fewer words. You will add more clarity this way.

Fonts

This step requires careful consideration. Your message can easily get lost if you choose the wrong fonts. To make sure the text will be more readable from afar, use a font that has bold, heavy lines.

When it comes to outdoor banners, it is best to use sans serif fonts. Add light spacing between letters if you plan to use all-caps. You can be more flexible about using stylized fonts and scripts if your wordmark or organization name isn’t the headline.

Use The Right Image Files

Most commercial printers, such as Printroom, allow you to supply your own artwork. However, you need to use high-resolution graphics.

This will help you avoid odd discoloration and pixelation when resizing the graphics. You can also work with vector files if you want to avoid the most common image quality issues.

Colors and Images

When it comes to banner design, color psychology plays a vital role. Generally, it is best to use colors that contrast and complement each other. It is a good idea to use a neutral or white background if you want to use detailed color graphics.

If you want to keep the focus on the text, use semi-transparent images on a colored background. But, if your only goal is to boost brand recognition and visibility, keep the focus on the colors.