Poster Design 101

...or How to Design an Awesome Poster that Will Bring Millions to Your Event! (results may vary)
Design Your Poster Around a Central Image



This famous poster designed by Saul Bass for the movie Vertigo relies on a strong central image to get it's message across. It pulls your eye in like a target!




This beautiful poster uses a centered design in a more subtle way. The eye is drawn to the glow of light in the center of the image.




Rules Are Made to be Broken (sort of). Although the main graphic element for this poster is off-center, the designer draws your eye to the center of the composition through careful placement of the graphic elements, color and white space.
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Research! Research! Research!
What is the theme of your poster? For an Evening in Paris you can research some of the most amazing French Poster Designs of ALL TIME! You could get very inspired by their work and let it inspire your design (but, please, don't copy)!




A.M. Cassandre designed amazing graphic posters in the art deco style. Research his work. It's inspiring!





Alphonse Mucha was a famous designer working in Paris during the Art Nouveau period. His illustration style echos the type used in the famous Paris Metro signage.



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Which brings us to the next subject. Research all things Parisian! You might want to incorporate Parisian Fashion, Art or Architecture into your poster.




Art Nouveau entrance to Paris Metro.




The world famous Eiffel Tower.

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Take what you've discovered in your research and start designing! Try to think of new and interesting ways to represent your subject in your poster.





This poster cleverly uses typography to illustrate the Eiffel Tower.




A creative illustration of the Paris skyline about to be attacked by Godzilla..

The Eiffel Tower "running" along the Seine. Combining images (such as the Eiffel Tower with human legs) is called a Fused Metaphor.

Some links.
http://psdcollector.blogspot.com/2011/01/poster-design-50-amazing-examples.html


http://speckyboy.com/2010/08/10/30-creative-and-inspiring-poster-designs/

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/conventions-poster-design-inspiration/