GUIDE TO:
Design
Your panels need to be professionally designed to make sure they are eye-catching and tell your story in the best way possible.
The Design Process
The earlier in the process you start talking to your designer the better. They will help you think through all the elements you need to provide and work out timescales.
If your organisation has design guides then tell us straight away to make sure we use the right colours and fonts. Otherwise we will use colours that complement or contrast with the photos and illustrations. Usually clear fonts rather than 'funky' ones work better as they are easier for the public to read.
We will send you a first draft for your consideration. Be honest and clear in your feedback and we will make the amendments. In general 3-4 drafts are enough to get it just right.
When you are happy you will need to sign off the design and we will then send it to the printers and supply you with a version to use on websites or in publicity.
Note: if you have a committee working on the project, get just one person to liaise between the designer and the committee – this helps prevent a lot of confusion!
Can I design my own panel? You are welcome to supply your own artwork as a print-ready PDF. However, using software such as Powerpoint or Word won't give you the finish you need. The quality of the photos and alignment of text is crucial to the look of your panel. Using a designer with the right software such as InDesign or Illustrator is a worthwhile investment to make sure you get a professional looking design. Note printers normally can't work with PNG, PPTX or similar files. Talk to a designer early on, the cost may be less than you think.
