Statistician John W. Tukey said, “Much of what we want to know about the world is naturally expressed as phenomena, as potentially interesting things that can be described in non-numerical words.”
When you have information that others can benefit from, it’s in your best interest to put it in a format people can understand. If you’ve got something important to share, we’ve got you covered.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of creating an effective informational poster and give you useful examples.
What Is an Informational Poster?
An informational poster is a visual display of data. The goal is to inform the viewer about a topic or idea in a way that’s clear and easy to understand.
A good informational poster provides both facts and images—such as graphs and charts—so that readers can find information quickly and easily.
Teachers may use posters to explain material or concepts. Alternatively, they might even appear in public spaces like train stations or bus stops. Informational posters are often large, so people can read them easily.
Elements of an Informational Poster
Need details about what to include in your poster and how to put it together? Here’s what you need to know before you jump in.
Information Gathering
You can’t have an informational poster without information. Don’t start the design process without understanding the purpose of your poster and what you may need to include.
Collect everything that you can at this stage. Then, you can cut things down in the next step.
No Clutter
At this stage, sift through all the information you have to find the most important pieces for your poster. You may find details that aren’t central to the core message. These things can be cut to help the layout of your poster.
Clear Language
Once you have the facts, assess the language. Is it difficult to understand? Will the audience be able to absorb the message you’re trying to get across?
If there’s any way to make the language less complex, do that before you move it into your design.
Visuals
Every poster is different, and you may need to try out different visuals to figure out what works best. Try charts, graphs, icons, maps, or whatever applies to your data best.
Putting information in this format will help people connect the dots faster.
Simple Colors
The final thing to consider is the colors you’ll use on your informational poster. This isn’t the time to dig too much into all shades of colors. Instead, stick with the basics. This way you won’t distract people from what you’re trying to share.
3 Poster Examples to Inspire You
Want to see how this process works in practice? Use these digital poster examples as a jumping-off point before you start creating on your own.
1. Research Poster
Research requires you to distill a large volume of information into an understandable format. Use lots of white space and contrasting colors to organize your data points and make the poster easy to read.
2. Scientific Poster
If there are a lot of elements or layers in the information you share, it can be hard to fit it all on one poster. Make use of graphics wisely to organize everything you need to communicate with others.
3. Medical Poster
Get the best of both worlds by combining text and eye-catching visuals. When people run into your poster, it will capture their attention right away, and then they can read further to get more details.
Steps to Create an Informational Poster Online
Before you can create your informational poster, you need to decide what tool you’re going to use. Look for software that gives you access to all the customization options you need to create a great design.
If you don’t have experience with the process, leveraging templates can also help you streamline creation. Follow this guide to take informative digital poster examples and bring them to life.
How to Make an Informational Poster in Shutterstock Create
Want to streamline the process of designing your own poster? Shutterstock Create makes it possible in a few clicks. You can also see information poster examples in our templates section.
Get Your Canvas Ready
In Create, select Custom Size and enter the dimensions for your poster.
Select a Starting Point
From here, search templates or continue on with a blank canvas. You’ll have access to thousands of fonts, graphics, textures, effects, and colors to pick from.
If you want to start with a template instead, simply click Templates and select one that meets your needs. No matter what you choose, you’ll have access to the same customization options.
Implement Design Changes
Click on any element to make your adjustments and see what options are available to you in the toolbar on the left side of the editor. At this stage, try different color combinations and typography for your design.
Choose Your Visuals
Update images or graphics to meet your needs by clicking Images or Graphics. From here, you upload, browse through the photo library, or select from your catalog.
Download Your Poster
When you’re ready to download, click the Download button in the top-right corner and select your preferred format. Then, you can easily share your poster on social media or print it out.
Now, you have the informative poster examples you need to make one yourself. Time to put your knowledge to the test by putting together your design.
Make this post about how to make a poster that grabs attention your next read for more tips and poster examples.
Learn more about poster and flyer design with these articles:
- The Most Common Poster Sizes and Dimensions for Print and Online
- The Guide to Flyer Sizes and Dimensions
- 9 Pinterest Worthy Poster Design Ideas
- Event Planning: Effective Tips for Designing a Flyer
- How to Make an Effective Flyer Design
- The Guide to Modern Poster Design
License this collaborative cover image via Paul Craft, eatcute, and zuperia.
