Desing blog 3

 Behind the Design: Crafting Ads for the Kissimmee Festival of Lights

Lesson 1: The Power of Color

The first thing that stood out to me during this project was how much colors can influence a design. The festive palette of red, green, white, and gold wasn’t just pretty; it created a warm, inviting, and seasonal vibe. Each color served a purpose:

  • Red: Bold and eye-catching, it evoked excitement and holiday cheer.
  • Green: Added balance and a subtle connection to nature and tradition.
  • White: Provided clarity and contrast, making the text pop.
  • Gold (from the bokeh background): A touch of elegance and sparkle, giving the ads a magical glow.

By keeping the colors consistent across all three designs, I was able to maintain a cohesive look, ensuring the event branding felt unified and professional.

Lesson 2: The Importance of Text Placement

Text placement can make or break a design. I learned that titles need to be bold, centered, and highly legible, especially in the full-page ad where the goal is to grab attention immediately.

For the half-page ad, space was more limited, so I had to make sure the most important information was prioritized. I played around with font sizes and hierarchy to ensure readability without overwhelming the viewer.

On the Instagram/Facebook ad, I realized simplicity was key. Social media users scroll quickly, so the title had to be bold and the event details easy to find at a glance. Every word had to earn its place in the design.

Lesson 3: Backgrounds Can Set the Mood

The bokeh background was a game-changer. Its soft, golden glow made the ads feel festive without being overwhelming. However, I also learned the importance of contrast. If the text didn’t stand out enough against the busy background, it risked becoming unreadable. Adding shadows, outlines, or tweaking the text color helped the information stay visible without losing the beauty of the background.

Lesson 4: Organization Is Everything

One of the most important lessons I learned was to plan before jumping into the design. Laying out my ideas ahead of time saved me from wasting hours fixing mistakes or redoing layouts. Here's how I approached it:

  1. Sketch It Out: Before opening Photoshop, I sketched the basic layout for each ad. This helped me figure out where the title, text, and graphics would go.
  2. Prioritize Information: I listed the event details in order of importance (title, date, location, contact info) and made sure the most critical pieces were front and center.
  3. Stay Consistent: I decided on a unified theme—colors, fonts, and background—so the ads worked together as a set.
  4. Adapt for Each Format: I adjusted the layout and text placement for each format. The full-page ad allowed for more breathing room, while the half-page and Instagram designs required tighter spacing and more concise text.

Final Takeaway

This project taught me that great design isn’t just about making something look nice—it’s about communicating effectively. Colors, text, and backgrounds all play a role, but the real magic happens when you organize your ideas and stay consistent across formats.

From magazine pages to social media feeds, these ads work together to spread holiday cheer and invite everyone to the Kissimmee Festival of Lights. And for me? It was a festive crash course in the art of graphic design.

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