Short of renting a billboard on the side of the highway (and kudos to your school if you've actually done that), there's no more obvious statement of school spirit than a banner. Whether it's a gym banner only visible to a few or a championship banner visible to many, a custom banner's dazzling presence and massive scale are sure to catch the eye and inspire.

That is, of course, if your conference banners look great. Gaudy color schemes or illegible fonts aren’t impressive and often distract from your school’s past accomplishments.

That's why our team at SportsGraphics is here to help! Read on for a few tips on designing custom school banners that you, your players, fans, and the whole student body are proud to see hanging on the gym walls.

The Ideal Conference Banner: Simple & Impactful

Banners are used to grab attention, but they are something people only stare at for a short time. Your banner must be loud enough to demand focus yet simple enough to deliver a quick message and a fast jolt of school spirit.

It doesn't have a lot of time to do its job, so make sure your gym banner hits the following marks.

Short 'n Sweet

As we said, banners aren't for reading. Logos, designs, and images will catch people's attention, but at the end of the day, your biggest priority is making sure that your message is highlighted and is the center focus of the banner. A few words are okay, such as the names of conferences won, but don't write a dictionary!

Consider a testament in your school's trophy case if you want to discuss your team's accomplishments and hard-fought battles in more detail.

Vibrant

Though a banner's impressive size lends it some limelight, it still can get lost in the vast space of the gym if it doesn't use bright colors.

They don't need to be neons (unless, of course, you want them to be), but just be sure to use a vivid hue. You want the tones to contrast without blending, so make sure that the colors are not too close to the background in a shade or tone.

While choosing colors, take a few moments to consider your branding; what message do you want to convey, and can it be incorporated into a banner for some extra school spirit?

Well-Designed

Cluttered backgrounds have little place on a banner, as they distract the viewer from your school's accomplishments. Sizing matters, so the general recommendation is to make the letters at least one inch tall for every 10 feet away the banner is from the audience.

And remember, you don't need just to use capital letters in big letters; you can use a mix of upper and lower case as long as they have a good color combination and a high contrast between the background and the text.

Small fonts that require squinting are hard to read and water down your message. Keep the design as simple and streamlined as possible.

Well-Made

Even if the banner has eye-catching qualities, the perfect fonts, and the colors are amazing, if it's not exceptionally made, you risk the material getting damaged more easily, and that will cost you in replacements.

A custom banner is something you want to last. Invest in premium, high-quality products upfront, and they'll shine in the gym for years to come!

Contact SportsGraphics Today for Your Perfect School Banner

While creating the perfect banner might seem like a big task, there's no reason you have to compromise on quality and design. For over 32 years SportsGraphics has been a leader in creativity and quality that sets the standards for superior banners and wall padding. Our Clarion team has extensive design experience – we are school branding pros, after all!

If you need a hand in designing or printing the perfect banner, send us a message online or give us a call today at 800-257-6405.