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Follow these tips and best practices to create a poster that’s clear, professional and on-brand.

Keep it simple

Use a clean, uncluttered layout with only the essential details. Too much text can overwhelm the reader—a poster should spark interest, not answer every question. Use whitespace strategically; leaving about 30% of the design empty helps key content stand out.

Create a hierarchy of information

Make sure the most important details stand out. The event title should be the first thing people notice, followed by the date, time, and location. Use font size, weight, and color to signal importance. For example, bold or enlarge the date if it’s a main draw, and use contrasting colors for headings and body text.

Make it readable from a distance

Design for someone glancing from a few feet away. Use high-contrast text and background combinations (light text on dark background or vice versa). Avoid low-contrast colors like light yellow on white, and be cautious with clashing colors like red on blue. Legibility should always come before creativity.

Limit fonts and colors

Stick to one heading font and one body font, plus a coordinated color palette—preferably Whitman’s brand colors. Too many fonts or colors can make the design look messy and distract from your message.

Use high-quality images

Choose images that are sharp and clear at print size. For print, aim for 300 DPI or higher. In Canva and Adobe Express, use large, high-resolution images and replace any that trigger quality warnings. Avoid stretching or distorting images—resize from the corners to keep proportions.

Check alignment and balance

Use alignment tools to keep text and images neat and consistent. Ensure margins are even and that no important content is too close to the edge. Keep at least a quarter-inch margin for letter size and tabloid size to prevent trimming.

Test print when possible

Do a quick trial print to check text size, readability and color accuracy. On screen, view your design at 100% zoom to see how it will look at actual size.

Get feedback

Ask a colleague or student to review your draft. They can spot typos, unclear details or design issues you may have missed.

Iterate, but don’t overthink

Try a couple of layouts or color schemes if you like, but once you have a clear, accurate, and on-brand design, call it done. Meeting your deadline matters more than chasing perfection.

Save your work

Keep a copy of your final design for future use. If your event repeats, you can simply update the details next time.

By following these guidelines, you’ll create a poster that draws attention, communicates your message and aligns with ³Ô¹ÏÍø’s branding.