Advertising posters workshop

One of the activities that Alianza por la Solidaridad (ApS) develops and that are related to business advertising to strengthen the livelihoods of the targeted communities, is the workshop of advertising posters design to be place at the entrance of their businesses, which often is developed at their own home. From my point of view it means something more important than simply advertising, because it is something they design themselves and make them feel the ownership of their business whatever they are like shop, fruit shop, or hairdresser.

Although that may sound simple, it’s not easy neither to carry out nor supervise. At the beginning of the workshop we speak with them about the meaning of advertising and the way it can improve their business. Then it is shown the type of posters and distribution of elements in it, and after that they received the materials to design (sheets, markers, paints, rulers, etc.). Then participants think individually or in group helping each other about the name of their business, colors, drawings and/or photos they want to include to represent their business, and the distribution of it in the poster. Depending on the community, people are pretty shy so they express sooner or later their ideas on paper. About one hour after, some beneficiaries already have a clear idea of ​​the design, but at the end of the workshop, we always leave the option to those who neither finish it or do not have it quite clear, to take the designs home and think about it better with their families.

Next day, depending on how many days we spend with the community, participants give us the final design with the measures. To complete the process, at the office, the members of livelihoods area prepare the designs in digital format to the extent possible, and send it to a professional designer who puts the finishing touch.

Carlos Espejo