Standardization is not a four-letter word

Because of my graphic design relationship with the Kirksville Arts Association, I have a hand in helping craft their message. Several years ago, I started their Facebook presence during New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music, a traveling Smithsonian exhibit. (Yes, that Smithsonian.) And I think I’ll be taking care of the e-blasts and newsletters through Constant Connect at the end of June. (I really should double check that.)

While KAA creates their own exhibits, the option is there for an artist to rent the Kirksville Arts Center for their own show. It is up to the artist to handle their promotion, with assistance, but Kirksville Arts is not going to do it alone. This has made for some interesting posters. While the graphics were amazing, some posters were information poor. I saw where a poster design checklist for artists could be handy.

I’m not going to show the “what not to do examples” because they did not know. I cannot fault them because we did not offer any guidelines. What may be common sense for some, may not be for someone who does it sporadically, if at all.

I started by, what else, designing a poster. Usually, when I do something for KAA, I need to include the Missouri Arts Council logo, as they provide funding for operations. Since this is a private artist renting the space for their show, there is no need. Nor do I need the KAA logo, as they are not putting on the show. However, we do need the Kirksville Arts Center logo as it is the location.

After arranging everything, I took note of what’s actually there, and doing so was a little weird. You know how you give directions on how to get someplace by the landmarks, but when then you have to stop and think about the street names? (You know you’ve done it …) The result is, I think, an easy to follow handout.

Standardization invokes a boring sameness, which is fine when you’re putting together a piece of furniture that comes in a box. In this instance, it’s merely a checklist of information. You can play with the fonts, use whatever image or images you want. But in order to build, we must have that simple foundation; the basic info.

Next week: the final design for the Grant Wood Art Festival poster and exhibit signage. And looking at what I’ve posted recently, I really need to take some pictures. I went on a little photo walkabout this past weekend; roughly 50/50 regarding keepers and throwaways. Better make time for another …