ED218: Media for Teachers

Designing Bulletin Boards

Know the Purpose and Objectives for the Display
a. primarily instructional
b. primarily motivational
c. primarily decorative

Determine and keep your intended audience in mind, placement of displayed aligned to viewer's eye level.

Assemble the Elements
a. seemingly large elements shrink when placed on a wall and when viewed from across a room
b. cut out large letters, at least 1.5 inches high for good visibility across an average room
c. use/choose illustrations and graphics large enough to be seen within the entire bulletin board format
d. mix text elements between large attention-getting titles and compelling captions
e. mix visual elements
f. consider ways to make the board interactive with viewers

Choose Proper Background and Underlying Pattern
a. use subdued color for large areas to avoid distraction
b. chose an underlying design pattern to attract the eye and allow for flow from one element to the next
c. use complementary colors in the display

Arrange the Elements
a. find a large floor space to test the layout of your bulletin board
b. make changes and revisions before attaching elements to the real board
c. titles are generally centered at the top of the display
d. place important items in the very center of the display
f. balance additional content and items throughout the rest of the display

Check and Revise
a. stand back from the display, unfocus your eyes and see if the underlying pattern is still apparent for unity
b. observe student reaction to help gauge instructional effectiveness

Dr. Michael O'Conner; Last modified Sept, 1999; Contact: moconner@mail.millikin.edu, or Click Here