Sometimes what you need is some Frankenstein version of a poster, flyer, press release, brochure. You need to communicate a general impression and some basic information with a little branding. You may need a one-pager.
What’s a one-pager?
You’ve seen them before, even if you don’t realize it. A lot of full-page magazine ads would qualify as one-pagers. It’s a broad overview, usually more that of an organization or product than an event.
A rule of one-pagers is that they are sized to fit on 8.5×11 paper and be printed on a regular printer. That means no bleeds (edge to edge color). That being the case, you also need to make sure that your photos or graphics look decent when printed in black and white — especially a logo or the name of your organization. Contrasting colors are good, as are light backgrounds (generally).
What to include and omit
INCLUDE:
- Clearly, the name of your organization
- A very strong, evocative graphic or photo
- 3-4 essential messages, probably in bullet form or otherwise delineated
- Empty space
- Sharply contrasting colors
- A call to action
OMIT:
- Long runs of text
- Complex graphics
- Dark backgrounds
- Mission statements
- Stock photos