🤌🛍Just Ordered my Banner for Artist Alley
As an artist who sells at conventions, it’s about time I design and order a vertical banner!
💡 The Concept 💡
This branded banner featuring pics of my cats is designed to catch people’s attention. Here’s where the idea came from: A couple years ago, I met an artist at a con whose banner featured a pic of him and his cat. It was so eye-catching and unique, and immediately signaled to me that the artist was someone down to earth. I had a lovely time chatting with him and made a purchase at his booth.
🤔 What’s so special about big cons?🤔
Thing is, the bigger the event, the more standoffish people tend to be. At a 50k+ person event, they’re expecting to be given sales pitches at every turn. In my experience, attendees at huge cons avoid eye contact and are mentally preparing to reject you (even when offering free handouts!), while attendees at smaller cons (3k or less) stop and chat a while, and are more willing to take a chance on you and your art.
🌟Using more branding/signage🌟
I have been selling my comics at conventions for years. Sometimes I display my horizontal banner, sometimes I don’t. Having a horizontal banner up seems to increase the amount of times people approach my booth, and I am hopeful that using a vertical banner too will increase the odds!
🖊Designing for Banners🖊
Here are some more things I kept in mind while designing my banner:
- In most cases, only the top half will be visible
- Light green doesn’t print well in CMYK, but it’s part of my brand, so I only used a little green
- Use big, clear fonts that are easy to read from far away
- Edited Turmeric’s photo so that he pops more and has a stronger silhouette (he’s all black and got lost on the black background)
Banner Design: by me, using Photoshop
Printing Company: 48HourPrint
I have printed with 48HourPrint before for my horizontal banner (see second pic). They have a great price, good quality print, and fast turnaround for last-minute orders.
I can’t wait to share pics when it arrives!!!
#lemon8diarychallenge #artistalley #webtoon #graphicdesign #comics #cats #lgbtq #witchy #arttips #print
Creating an effective banner for artist conventions can significantly impact your sales and engagement. One successful approach is to incorporate personalized imagery that resonates with your audience. For instance, my decision to feature photos of my cats aims to evoke a sense of relatability and friendliness. Attendees at large conventions often put up walls due to overwhelming pitches, making it vital to stand out with unique visuals that invite conversation. When designing your banner, it’s essential to keep a few key design principles in mind. Use bold, readable fonts that catch the eye from afar, and be mindful of color contrasts—the right color choices can draw attention to your brand while ensuring clarity. Additionally, positioning the most important visuals and text within the top half of the banner will ensure they are seen first, as many attendees will not look lower than eye level. Printing quality is another crucial element; I highly recommend using services like 48HourPrint for their reliable turnaround and high-quality prints, which can save you during last-minute preparations. As you gear up for the next convention, remember that the personalization and thought you put into your banner can create valuable connections with potential customers. This investment in your branding can lead to memorable interactions and, ultimately, increased sales for your artistry.
Ooh! Very nice~ how heavy duty is the material? I’m shopping around again for my new banner. Bleh.