Have you noticed the Jack-o-Lanterns sitting on porches and the smell of pumpkin spice lattes drifting from coffee shops? Fall is here, and with it, lots of holiday parties, cards, displays, newsletters, and sales! Don't have the budget to hire a graphic designer for every project? Here are some practical tips to put your audience under your thrall.
Choose a Style to Fit Your Audience and Purpose
Often, holiday projects can come out looking cute and kitschy. There's nothing wrong with this! Friendly, innocent nostalgia is entirely appropriate for a school event, but might not set the right tone for a spooky sale at a high-end cosmetics store. For more refined holiday designs, choose a theme (spells, autumn, vampires, etc.) rather than indiscriminately adding many holiday graphics that appeal to you. Sometimes less is more!
Elegant typography can still be seasonal. Old-fashioned fonts like Caudex or calligraphic ones like Lugrasimo, Princess Sofia, or Eagle Lake can look seasonal when combined with contextual colors and graphics.
Emphasize Your Message
A frequent design fail is to overdo it: too much clip art, hard-to-read "fun" fonts, or clashing colors. This can look messy and confuse your audience about your main message.
I often use free Google fonts because they work with most browsers and devices. You can even use Google's filters to browse seasonal Halloween fonts. While Creepster or Nosifer may add pizazz to your project, they are more impactful if you use them sparingly—just for some headings. Pair them with easy-to-read fonts like Monserrat, Lora, or Poppins for important details.
In the same way, be selective about your color choices. A monochromatic, black-and-white design can be eye-catching, especially at Halloween. Try adding one bright color, like orange, to highlight the most important part of your message.
Come Back Next Month!
In November and December we'll be sharing more tips for seasonal—but polished—design projects.
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