Poster PSAs: Creating an Impactful Message Through Design

Poster Competition
Written By Constanza Berber
 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Elements of a Poster PSA

Designing an Effective Poster

Examples of Powerful Poster PSAs

Conclusions

 

Introduction

What is a Public Service Announcement?

A Public Service Announcement (PSA) is a visual story created to share important information, spark emotions, and encourage people to take action.

PSAs are used to raise awareness and inspire change around social issues.

A PSA poster is a powerful way to spread these messages and make an impact.

 

Why are PSA posters effective?

  • Posters can quickly grab attention with images, colors, and text, delivering a clear message.

  • They can be displayed anywhere, like walls, bulletin boards, streets, or social media, making it an accessible resource.

  • They focus on one main message, which makes them easily memorable.

  • They can be designed to connect with anyone.

“Walk it out”
Daniela Medina Aquino
Compton Early College

 

Elements of a Poster PSA

Every successful poster PSA usually includes the following key elements:

“One drink changes everything”
By Ludi Lee
Cypress High School

1. Tagline:

The tagline is the heart of the poster. It’s a phrase or sentence that tells the viewer what action to take or what message to remember. A good tagline is clear and powerful.


Examples of good taglines:

  • Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)

  • Who are you sharing your second-hand smoke with? (Second Hand Smoke Kills)

  • There’s No Next if You Text. (System1)

  • What goes in the ocean goes in you. (Surfrider Foundation)

  • Assume that I can, so maybe I will. (World Down Syndrome Day 2024)

  • Click It. Don’t Risk It. (NHTSA)

 

2. Visuals:

Visuals are the images, illustrations, and symbols used to communicate the message. They are what will grab your audience's attention. Humans process images faster than text; a strong visual can make your message memorable.

Good visuals will be relevant to your message, emotionally impactful, and eye-catching.

Some types of visuals:

  • Photography: real-life images can be powerful.

  • Illustration: drawings or cartoons can make your message approachable.

  • Symbolism: using creative symbols or images to represent your idea in creative ways can make them memorable.

“Because You Can't Bubblewrap Everyone”
By Linda De La Rosa Paiz.
University High School Charter

 

“Heads Up, Phones Down”
By Gina Gao_Portrait
Cypress High School_

 

3. Graphic Design

Graphic design is how all your elements (tagline, visuals, additional text) are arranged on your poster. It ensures that your message is clear, easy to read, and eye-catching to your audience.

Things to consider:

“Don’t Drive Drowsy”
By Charlize Ingram_Portrait
Cypress High School

  • Hierarchy: decide which part of your poster is the most important and make it the largest.

  • Color: colors should match the mood of your message.

  • Bright colors (red and yellow) are commonly connected to urgency and danger

  • Cool tones (blue and green) can be connected to calm and trust.

  • Typography: this is your font.

  • Use a readable font, avoid using something overly complicated for important information, and consider that the poster might need to be read from a distance

  • Use one or two fonts to keep your design balanced

    Balance:

  • Make sure your elements don’t overlap with each other, and your poster is easy to understand

 

Designing an Effective Poster

Designing a poster PSA might seem complicated, but here’s an easy

step-by-step process that can guide you through it:

1. Research, research, research:

Start by learning about the issue. Understand the problem you're trying to fix. When you have a full and clear understanding of what your poster will be about, it's easier to communicate your message to your audience. In this stage, start thinking about the emotions or actions you want to inspire. Do you want people to feel concerned, determined, or hopeful?

2. Thumbnails:

Thumbnails are small, rough sketches of possible ideas. They are quick and can help you experiment with different ideas before fully committing to a design. On a piece of paper, sketch 5, 7, 10, or as many quick small drawings of different ideas. Don't worry about details; focus on the big picture. Choose a couple of ideas that stand out to you; these should feel strong and connected to your message.

3. Tagline:

Remember, your tagline will be the heart of your poster.

Tips for writing a tagline:

  • Brainstorm multiple options and test them out

  • Focus on the emotion you want people to feel

  • Make it catchy and easy to remember

  • Play around with your words

4. Add a Call to Action (CTA):

A call to action tells your audience what to do next. Without it, your message may grab attention but not inspire action. A good CTA is short, specific, and urgent.

Tips for writing a CTA:

  • Use action verbs (stop, choose, join, wear, share, etc.)

  • Keep it clear and direct

  • Match the tone of your tagline and visuals

  • Make it feel doable for your audience

 
 
 

5. Plan out your Poster:

Before starting to create your poster, test out where your elements will go. This will save you time, and it can help you make sure your poster looks balanced. Test out the sizes of your elements and think about what you want your audience to notice first. In this stage, you make sure your poster will be readable and easy to understand.

6. Create rough sketches:

Take your planned layout and start adding details. Choose what medium you will use, like photography, illustration, or abstract design. Pick fonts that are easy to read and colors that match your message. Be creative and trust the steps you’ve followed so far. This is also a good time to ask for feedback. Share your work with a teacher, friend, or mentor and ask if the message is clear and the design looks good. Their advice can help you improve your poster

7. Produce your final idea:

Choose your tools, whether it’s a digital design program like Illustrator, Photoshop, GIMP or Inkspace, or traditional methods like markers, colored pencils, or paint. Clean up your design, ensuring everything is readable and your visuals are clear and impactful. Don’t forget to add your logos and any supporting details. Finally, test your design to make sure you’re happy with how it looks.

 

Examples of Powerful Poster PSAs

Here are some great examples made by AAA’s Auto Club:

By Brittany Coleman

 

By Miguel Gaballero

By Bob Newton

By Miguel

By Winnie Tang

By Edward Aranda

Here you can find some other great examples that vary in topics like public health, the environment, etc:

Here you can see a brief history of how PSAs have changed over the years:

 

In Conclusion

“Connect LA, One Ride at a Time”
By Andre Kyle Santos
Cypress High School

In conclusion, Poster PSAs are a powerful tool that can spread an important message and raise awareness about a specific topic. Creating a Poster PSA allows you to be creative while making a meaningful impact. Using a thought-out design, effective visuals, and a strong tagline, you can capture your audience's attention and inspire change.

For students, this is a chance to get creative and make a real impact! The Streets, Art, SAFE Poster Competition is all about using your unique ideas and artistic skills to raise awareness about important issues. Whether you love drawing, photography, or graphic design, this is an opportunity to express yourself while tackling a cause that matters. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box—your creativity is what will make your poster stand out. Remember, your design could inspire others to take action and make a difference, so let your imagination run wild and create something that speaks to both the heart and the mind. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

 
 
Constanza Berber