Form: A poster is very useful means of making an announcement or appeal, issuing a notice, advertising a product or bringing about awareness on any issue of public interest.
Uses: A poster is always visually very attractive and easily readable from a certain distance. It is usually put up on notice or bulletin board and walls (although defacing walls with posters or graffiti is not a healthy practice). Posters are also extensively used by political parties, religious organization, artist, event organizers, film makers, advertisement agencies, and NGO’s government department like the Public relations Department, Health and Family Welfare Development, Education Department and Environment Protection and conversation agencies and groups etc.
Focus: Essentially a very brief communication with a compelling visual and a powerful message, a poster is always prepared with particular target audience in mind. It very clearly mentions the theme or topic, the schedule of an event (if it is about an event) and the occasion for it. It is usually an appeal for awareness or support, help or action, a warning or a caution. Often a poster takes the form of an invitation, like posters for carnivals, fetes, fashion shows, concerts, sales, exhibitions, cultural programs etc.
Value Points: A poster has no fixed format. However a poster incorporates the following points:
- Theme/ Topic/ Event
- Purpose and / or Occasion
- Date, Time and place (in case of an event)
- A message of appeal, awareness, caution, warning, invitation
- Catch slogans and captions
- Name of the individual/organization issuing it
Lettering and visuals: Although the visuals are not a part of the testing objectives, they are a great help in enhancing the overall impact of a poster. Therefore simple visuals and aesthetic layouts can be used for the designing of the posters.
Layout and space: ideally one full page should be used for writing a poster, but it can be prepared on a spread sheet, too. Remember to give the outline of the poster.