Western Conference Showdown on ESPN

 

I created a poster for an NBA game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors on March 3, 2021. 

The most surprising thing I learned during this poster-making process was how much thought and time go into creating a design. From a consumer/audience perspective, many may believe a poster or advertisement is relatively simple to create. Yes, a general poster is easy to create, but making an effective, good-looking poster takes much more time and strategic thinking. As I stepped into the shoes of a media content producer in the creation of this poster, I noticed that color, font, and proportions are the most important design principles. 

Reflecting on my poster, some of the stronger aspects include the focal point (both of the players with their respectable logo), as well as the simple red-to-yellow background gradient. The background is bright enough to attract attention to the poster, but does not overpower the entire design. One of the weaker aspects of my poster is the call to action. If COVID-19 did not exist, the more important call to action would be to buy tickets and promote something special about the game (in-arena giveaway, ticket deal, etc.), instead of strictly "Watch ESPN." While the "Watch ESPN" banner is still an important call to action, an actual in-person call to action would be more fitting for this event.   

Additionally, it was helpful to receive feedback on the first draft of the poster. Initially, my poster was too busy. I repeated phrases in multiple locations, like team name/logo and ESPN logo, so I edited the layout to create a clearer eye flow. Also initially, I had both the players' names and their autographs, but I decided just to stick with the autographs as this made the audience-player relationship stronger. In my first draft, I violated the "bulky borders" rule from the Golombisky/Hagen design principles reading, so I made sure to address that issue as well.

Overall, I learned a lot from the poster design project. After choosing an event that interested me, I was able to apply aspects of design and insert hidden messages using semiotics to create a strong layout for a poster. The poster would succeed in drawing the intended audience (NBA fans globally), while also catching the attention of Blazers and Warriors fans specifically. The Portland and Golden State fan bases can connect even further with this poster, as the symbols "ripcity" and "The Town" signify the local community, resonating well with local fans. While creating the design, I learned that simplicity is key to a good-looking poster. As long as all necessary information is on the poster, a simpler background and layout creates an easier decoding experience for the audience.