Analyzing Effective Posters
An activity designed for the classroom, requiring the projection of poster images from the
ArtsAlive.ca - Persuading Presence poster collection on to a screen. It is created for
discussion and reflection, and could be extended by any of the activities from “Search the
Collection.”
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Grades
7 - 10
Purpose
1. To spark a discussion focusing on the effective poster’s ability to:
• Catch the eye
• Deliver factual information
• Inspire connotative association
2. To allow a guided tour of the NAC Poster Collection
3. To encourage discussion and reflection about aesthetic choices from the point of view
of the designer and the viewer.
Method
Using Power Point (or a similar presentation software) run a slide show of selected
posters from the ArtsAlive.ca: Persuading Presence poster collection. Set timing so that
students have a chance to see and think about each image.
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1. Invite students to respond to each poster with a quick verbal response, stating what
component of the poster caught their attention: Colour? Mood? Text? Type? Shape?
Image? Contrast?
2. Invite students to rate each poster’s overall impact on a scale of 1-10 (low to high).
Talk about students’ personal reactions which determine the ratings.
3. Display a poster and then remove it from view. Ask students to recall specific
information delivered: discipline, location, time, artist/production title
4. Discuss five posters that are good examples of visual metaphor (connotative or
emotional association).
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Anna Thornton 5/5/08 4:35 PM
Comment: Link to 6100 Visual Metaphor
activity
Analyzing Effective Posters
5. What roles do colour, image, size and balance play in determining how we feel when
we look at a poster? Have students make their own choices (if feasible) or pre-select a
number for discussion.
Some examples (see posters on pages 3-5):
• Unity, mil neuf cent dix-huit (1918)
• Beyond Batoche
• The Killdeer
6. Ask students to reflect verbally or in a journal what they understand about their own
reactions to images. Are they more drawn to colour, typeface, imagery, or factual
information?
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Useful vocabulary:
Denotation – the literal meaning, the dictionary definition
Connotation – the associations or emotional responses triggered by a word or
image
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