MEMO

To: Dr. Willerton

From: Sarah Rosin
Subject: Creating a Poster Assignment
Date: April 6, 2015
While I was creating the poster for the technical communication department, at
Boise State University, the anticipated audience was carefully considered.
Theoretically, the poster would be hung in the liberal arts building, as well as
additional buildings on campus. The primary audience for the poster includes all
Boise State University students. Because the poster would have to compete for
the attention of the students amidst many other posters, flyers, and informative
documents, the contrast of the poster was heightened by using a single bold
font against a white background. The images used are unique and contrasting
as well. Many of the posters featured in buildings on the Boise State University
campus follow a similar color scheme and template to each other. To catch the
attention of the audience, it is important to utilize a different template and
employ unexpected changes.
To attract the attention of potential students, the information included on the
flyer was kept to the most important elements. The contact information was
bolded and made larger than the paragraph text to stand out. Rather than using
stock photography of office-scapes and people in business attire, I chose to use
a less traditional graphic. The image of the vintage Underwood typewriter is eyecatching, unique, and most importantly, unexpected. I chose to use the typeface
Helvetica Neue Bold for two reasons: one being the style is clean, crisp, and
easy to read, and the second being I appreciated the contrast the typeface
made juxtaposed against the style of the graphic chosen. The graphics have a
certain screen-printed look that appeals to a vintage aesthetic. Using a sans
serif with this kind of imagery creates not only a visual contrast, but a
conceptual contrast as well.
The proximity of the elements included in the poster is balanced and
appropriate for the audience and content. There are no trapped areas of white
space, and the entirety of the poster space is well managed. The images of the
typewriter as well as the typeface creates repitition throughout the document

and the alignment of all elements is also balanced. A hard line on the right-side
of the document is created through the vertical alignment of the images.
Additionally, a hard line is created through the alignment of the text area
between the images. I chose to use CMYK values for the backgrounds of the
images as a nod towards the printing process utilized in many print documents.
I feel that this color choice not only created contrast but ethos as well.
In the rough draft stages of the poster, I considered changing the color of the
background of the poster. However, as I decided to utilize the color scheme that
I did, I feel that the white background works better. The paper would be
standard poster size (11 inches by 7 inches). I also included the BSU logo to
enhance the credibility of the poster.
I designed this poster, ultimately, with a new tech world meets old tech
world ethos. I felt that the inclusion of the images as well as the grid design and
the typography used created tension and contrast that would attract viewers.
The repetition of the vintage typewriting image, with CMYK backgrounds,
creates a Warhol-esque screen-printed feel.
Ultimately, I am pleased with the design of the poster and feel that it improved
greatly through several drafts. I feel, as a BSU student and member of the
English department, that this poster would catch my attention. Oftentimes I find
that the focus of the technical communication department lies heavily in creating
professional ethos through office imagery. While this is an important element of
the technical communication field, I feel it is important to also emphasize to
potential students the exciting, creative, and design-oriented aspects of
technical communication. Personally, it is one of my favorite elements of the
program and I feel that many students entering the technical communication
department would be pleasantly surprised to find that they are able to combine
the best of both technical and creative worlds through print and on-screen
production.