Something every community outreach coordinator and program manager in the healthcare industry knows is that communication is key. So how do you get your message across clearly and concisely in your marketing and promotion? The right design can help transform your message into something memorable or something forgettable. We asked our marketing and design team at HealthMerch to give us some tips and tricks about how to create a winning design every time. 

Tips for creating designs that make an impact in healthcare outreach.

Keep designs simple.

Designs for promotional products (and everything in our opinion) should be kept clean and uncluttered. What does this mean? Start with your main message, logo, or program name and work from there. Don’t clutter the important information with unnecessary adornments, lines, squiggles and crazy colors. In design, less is always more. 

Work with a professional designer or take advantage of HealthMerch complimentary design services

When it comes to creating quality designs and products, word art simple doesn’t cut it anymore. Even designs from easy-to-use design tools like Canva don’t produce high quality designs that can be printed onto physical products. For this reason, HealthMerch offers free design support. We can take your vision (or Word Art) and create a unique design the represents your organization and looks great on every product!

Always consider the products that you want to order before you begin your design.

If you know what products you want to use then be sure to check the technical specifications before your start designing. HealthMerch customer service representatives can share design templates and details on every single product to help you plan ahead. Why is this important? Some products can only take a single color design and others have very small or odd shaped imprint areas. The printing process varies based on material type which is why most drinkware like custom water bottles can only take a single color design whereas reusable fabric masks can print multiple colors. To learn more about printing processes and styles on HealthMerch products, click here. 

Consider your messaging in your design. Can you create a design that evokes a message stronger than words can?

HealthMerch designers are always looking to simplify artwork by removing text and making a message more visual. How does that work? Take the HealthMerch U=U design for example. U=U is a global marketing campaign that helps explain to families and communities that it’s possible to live a happy, healthy life after receiving a positive HIV diagnosis. In our design, we used various shades of purple to indicate a calm serenity. We then organized both U’s to look like eyes, and added a circle to look like a head and smile indicated that a worry-free life can be achieved through HIV medication. All of these elements pulled together evoke so much more than text could. Let HealthMerch designers take your ideas to create an emotional visual that evokes the right message for your community.

Mistakes to avoid in product design.

Please, don’t be offensive. 

While this might seem like common sense, there can be a fine line between being “edgy” and being offensive. From gender to politics and from sex positivity to cultural identity, the way we talk about health and individuality has changed drastically even in the last decade. We can’t stress enough the importance of fully understanding your community and target demographic before you print anything. Ask for the input of others in your community, office, and event volunteers to preview your designs to make sure your message is clear and appropriate. 

Don’t forget to triple check the proof!

So the design is done - but is it perfect? The products are selected and messaging has been approved internally and now you have a final print proof. Don’t forget to triple check the proof! The proof is the last opportunity to ensure that your vision has been perfected on the chosen product. Here’s a quick checklist to make sure you’re looking at everything. 

Print Proof Checklist

  • Does the design fit in the proof space?
  • Is the smallest text at a legible size?
  • Is the color of the product and design the one that you selected?
  • Does the design face the right way? If you’re planning to display anything, make sure that the design makes sense for its intended use

We’ll do all of this for you as well but it never hurts to be 100% sure that the proof is as expected. 

Don’t hesitate to ask for advice.

In addition to connecting with community partners, HealthMerch is also here to help with messaging, design, product support, shipping, and ideas! At HealthMerch, we specialize in community health outreach and each member of our team is trained and knowledgeable and ready to support every aspect of your outreach.

HealthMerch is here to support you!

For more tips and tricks and a special consultation, schedule a chat or planning meeting with one of our team members by clicking here. HealthMerch makes community outreach simple by pre-designing products for various causes and uses including PrEP, HIV, Breast Cancer, Dental, and more!