my first billboard, any suggestions?

I am making a design to be used on a billboard. Any suggestions from any of you whom have done billboards before? size, orientation, formats, etc.

Thanks

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pu...sp?id_=1689937

I am making a design to be used on a billboard. Any suggestions from any of you whom have done billboards before? size, orientation, formats, etc.

Thanks

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pu...sp?id_=1689937

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http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pu...sp?id_=1689937

like the ones along the freeway?

Your image looks like one seen from a half mile away.

Maybe you could post a larger version (not too large--600 pixels wide) so we can see more detail.

In my advertising days, we always used the 6 seconds test. If you show someone the billboard for six seconds and they get the idea and who the company is, then the board is a success. If not their were degrees of being not so successful.

Text should be large, easy to read, and around 6-9 words. Again, how much can you read driving by a sign at 60-70 MPH?

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person


Click to make The Xara Xone #1

<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>

make it legible - use a type face everybody can read

let the rocket stick out on top - a nice side effect to attract more attention

add a phone number - how else will the audience know how to contact you?

emphasize the MOTION

sample below.

jens g.r. benthien
designer
http://www.sacalobra.de

----------//--
If you don't know how to dream you'll never be a designer.
----------//--

I have been in the sign business for several years. We have built a few billboards during that time, I must agree with the 6 second rule mentioned earlier. No matter the size, remember to
allow enough negative space for the letters you use to be read from a distance. Do not over crowd the lettering, this is even more important on billboards.

Thanks for the input, however, the billboard is not for me, I was just testing my signature.

The billboard is for a museum- The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. It will have some visualization of discovery/ exploration, and a Lewis & Clark theme. They told me the size was 12' x 48' - odd size I thought, but thats what they said.

What I have so far is a transparent rock like textured background, their logo, a map of the highway and river which take you to the museum from where you are, and some replica artifacts that they carry in their gift shop. I'm playing with starting at the left and saying- 'you'll soon be part of history', then moving to the right following the graphic of the river, 'better directions that lewis & clark had', then 'exploration & discovery', then the exit # and the museum info. I'll post what I have so far, it is very rough though, idea stages.

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pu...sp?id_=1690997

What would you come away from this design using the 6 second test?

A good design has a focus. For example, this is the Discovery Center. What is one visual thing that symolizes this center? That is the first place I would start.

This is not the right visual, but imagine a large magnifying glass that takes up the left 1/3 of the billboard. Then the word Discover! in big type. Then under that in smaller by readable type, Discover Center - Exit 84.

Simple. And direct.

Always remind yourself that people are not interested in what is on your billboard, or advertisement, unless you grab their attention and make it interesting.

People driving down the highway with their families at highway speeds have a dozen things going on and your billboard is only going to grab their attention if you make it as easy as possible for them to understand what you want them to know or do.

Hope this helps.

Gary

Gary Priester

Moderator Person


Click to make The Xara Xone #1

<a href="http://www.gwpriester.com">
www.gwpriester.com </a>

I now see what your saying. After looking at your
design I would recommend that you consider changing and enlarging the directions info in red
so that it stands out better. Your fonts could be larger all around because the background seems to draw the most attention and not the letters.
That's just my opinion.

Tom

Standart Sizes:
4x3m, 5x3m, 8x5m

Orientation:
Landscape

Print technique:
-Vutek (file must be in real size at 100dpi, CMYK)
-NURwideboard (file must be in real size on 30-72dpi, CMYK) and etc.

Media:
self-adhesive PVC foil

Heres where I am at with this project now. I had met with the billboard company. Thanks for your recommendations here.
The billboard company encourages a very block type font, bold, easy to read, but when I tried using that font, it really wasn't working for the feel of what the 'Discovery center' is. We needed to add some 19th century elements. I am not totally happy with the layout on this yet, the pictures of the man & woman are pictures I took, and will be improving on them with studio time, also will be adding a child around 8 years old.

I like the compass, & other elements, but I'm not sure if they fit in.

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pu...sp?id_=1690997

I couldn't get the file under 300 kb, so heres a link to a png, and a link to the xar file.
http://www.y102country.com/new_folder/bb.png

http://www.y102country.com/new_folder/bb.png
http://www.y102country.com/new_folder/bb.xar

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pu...sp?id_=1690997

Hello, any suggestions for the billboard layout? <previous post>

Thanks

when I get some time perhaps I'll go for a drive and see what it looks like in real life.

John

Hello, I have a client who I have been designing a billboard for. So far what I have put together hasn't really grabbed them yet, so if someone has any ideas, if they like your idea/ concept it would be paid for, yes I did say paid for.

Heres my concept so far. The photo is preliminary, I was going to be reshooting with a 7 year old boy looking through a telescope, but I have been put on hold. I was not totally happy with the layout yet, but I liked the elements involved. The blue is the Columbia River, the background is a stretched petroglyph.

Size is 12' x 42'

Theme should be exploration, nature, Lewis & Clark, obviously it should make you want to go therehttp://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/pu...sp?id_=1690997

I copied and pasted my previous message from another design forum, the billboard is the one that is a couple posts up.