How to Use This Scorecard

Score your poster before it goes to print or publication. Each item is 0, 1, or 2. Add up all twelve points — the total is out of 24.

  • 20–24 — Ship it.
  • 12–19 — Fix the failing items first; they’re the cheapest ones to repair.
  • Below 12 — Revisit the fundamentals in our poster design tips guide.

A — Hierarchy & Message

  1. A stranger can state in one sentence what this poster is about, within 3 seconds.
  2. One element clearly leads; the eye has a second stop and a third (hook → context → details).
  3. No two elements compete for the same level of attention.

B — Text & Typography

  1. Total word count is under ~60 (excluding logo / sponsor marks).
  2. Two typefaces maximum; weights and sizes create the contrast, not the number of fonts.
  3. Smallest text stays legible at the poster’s real size on your chosen device / print.

C — Color & Contrast

  1. Body copy passes WCAG AA contrast against its background (≈ 4.5:1).
  2. Palette matches the event / product and its audience (not just your taste).
  3. No color-only meaning (nothing important is conveyed by hue alone).

D — Call to Action

  1. Exactly one next step, worded as a verb (“Register”, “Scan”, “Call”).
  2. The CTA’s visual weight matches its importance — the last thing the eye finds.
  3. QR code (if any) has a test-scan you ran from your phone, at the real distance.

Production Checklist (pass / fail)

  • 300 DPI at final size for print (screen-only: 72–150 DPI is fine)
  • Correct color profile (CMYK print / RGB digital)
  • Bleed and safe margins added for the printer
  • Fonts embedded or converted to outlines
  • Test-printed or hard-checked before the full run