Designing Your First Event Poster

Great posters start before PixelLab

Professional designers rarely start at the computer. They sketch. For your first poster you will do the same - plan the message, the layout and the colours on paper first, then build the design in PixelLab.

Plan on paper first

1. Decide the ONE message - e.g. "Church Harvest Festival"
2. Write down the key details: date, time, venue
3. Sketch a rough layout with boxes for title, details and image
4. Pick two or three colours that suit the theme

Build the layers

In PixelLab, create a project at 1080 x 1920 px (portrait poster). Then build your layers from back to front: background colour first, then any shapes or images, then the title text, then the details text.

Design hierarchy

• Title - largest text, most important, catches the eye first
• Details - smaller text with date, time and venue
• Decorative elements - smallest, supporting the design without shouting

Keep it readable

Posters are read from a distance or from a small phone screen. Use big bold titles, high contrast between text and background, and generous space around each element. If in doubt, make the title bigger and remove clutter.

Tip: Use the golden layout trick: title at the top third, key details in the middle, and a clean bottom section. The eye naturally scans a poster top to bottom.