1. The Birth of a Poster
This PowerPoint shows the phases a communication undergoes before it is ready for print and distribution throughout a community i.e. what to look for, what audience is targeted, and where to make amendments. This particular communication is a poster for one of The Children’s Society’s project sites.

2. First Draft What to look for: -Following Brand Guidelines
-Aimed towards an audience of young people
- Effectively portrays services
- Is the image appropriate?
- Is it legible (color of fonts/background)
- Enough information?
Communication vital between designers and project managers to ensure messages are being delivered effectively and are portrayed visually.

3. Second Draft: Evolution, Phase 1
What didn’t work?
The audience shifted from young people to parents and carers. After looking at who was struggling in the area of the project, it was realized parents and carers of missing young people were often left to figure out how to resolve the situation on their own.
The color palette changed to attract attention
- The image changed to more direct, impactful one. Also, subject isn’t about rough sleeping – missing could mean in a gang or different home
- Icon added to match icons within the brand scheme
- Signoff bar changed to purple and white to match brand guidelines
- More contact information added

4. Third Draft: Evolution, Phase 2
What didn’t work?
Purple on orange changed to white on orange to increase legibility
Charity registration number added
Project number added for future archiving reference within The Children’s Society
Removal of address reduced amount of copy and made more pertinent information stand out – headline and bulleted points could be enlarged

5. Fourth Draft: Evolution, Phase 3
What changed?
Colors changed; orange and purple were found to be the capstone colors of a different youth charity disliked and distrusted by most youth in the project community
Sponsorship logo added – Big Lottery Fund
Image altered to make targeted audience of poster less specific – for example, doesn’t only apply to parents and carers with young boys.
More specificity in bulleted points about what project workers can do for parents and carers – specifically mentions how they can ‘offer support’

6. What comes next?
There is another, and final, draft of this communication being completed.
What were the final amendments?
Copy changed from yellow to white to avoid legibility problems
Big Lottery sponsorship logo replaced with its most current logo
Image changed to a group of young people to put a face to the problem, increase how much parents and carers can relate to this communication
Changed heading to a more engaging (and grammatically correct) question – more powerful than a simple statement
Amended wording of how to contact project workers to add more trust and confidentiality – emphasized free services
Brand Guidelines assuredly being followed, and message effectively being conveyed, this communication has been amended and prepared to enact action in the community it was being created for.
A poster is born!