Communication

You are Your Child's First Teacher: an Early Literacy Informational Poster

Project Description:

Utilizing the visual design principles learned in class, I created an informational poster on early literacy. It was required that our design conveyed multiple types of information by using different techniques learned throughout the semester such as including statistical data and visual imagery. I wanted to create a singular poster that encompassed all the facts and statistical information from early literacy studies as well as practical ways in which caregivers can engage and support their child's development. It was designed to be visually appealing to both child and caregiver, and give off an authoritative feeling without being too stiff or formal. The main message of this poster is simple: sing, talk, read, and play with your child. The secondary messages are the how to and why it is important. This poster is meant to be motivational as well as informational; a balance between the hard facts of the issue and practical ways for caregivers to implement the key actions.

Methods:

I utilized Adobe InDesign for this project as it was the program I chose to learn over the course of the class. Each design choice was made to ensure that the sum parts reflected the poster's whole goal: reminding parents and caregivers it is important to sing, talk, and read with your baby. To convey a feeling of playfulness, without seemingly overly juvenile, I used a handwritten font for the titles but tempered it with a more rigid sans serif to balance the fun and function of the poster. The full, saturated colors pull the viewer into the poster and add another level of playfulness without being too bright and overwhelming. Using curved lines to divide the quadrants and circles behind the icons gives a feeling of visual softness. Choosing to use simple, thickly lined icons meant they would do the job of drawing the eye and providing a visual clue to the text, but would not distract from the text which carries the main messages.

My Role:

I am the sole creator of this work.

Rationale:

This poster shows my ability to creatively and clearly articulate a central argument. Each design choice supports my overall message and are appropriate for my chosen audience.