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Introduction
The role of the publicity designer is to put make all of the graphics related for the show as required (teaser posters, show posters, postcard designs, newspaper ads, etc.) in a way that's appealing, related to the show, and attention grabbing.
- Salvador Esparza (April 2013)
Rough Timeline
Deadlines go vaguely in the following order:
1. Semifinal Teaser
2. Final Teaser, Semifinal Poster
3. Final Poster, Postcards
4. T-shirts
5. Ads, program
Designing Software
Recommended programs for the publicity designer are:
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
Although you are perfectly entitled to use whatever software you're comfortable with, I've found that these three programs work in conjunction really well. InDesign is the perfect place to put together all of the elements on your poster and lay them out while being able to pay very subtle attention to the spacing. Photoshop is good for any image enhancements if you're including some kind of graphic. Illustrator is also very good for creating vector graphics if you're trying to get fancy. The most useful aspects of these programs take no more than an hour to pick up and with practice become second nature.
Ensemble Brand
The Ensemble has an official font. It is called “The Real Font.” This should ONLY be used for the words “The MIT Shakespeare Ensemble Presents”. Avoid using it for any other text in your designs. This is the signature brand of our show. You should own this font file, and you should use it when using our group name on any and all publicity.
The font can be downloaded here:
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http://www.1001freefonts.com/TheRealFont.php
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(COMING
...
SOON
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-
...
EXAMPLE)
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Show Logo
I've
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found
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that
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it's
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a
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lot
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easier
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when
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having
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to
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make
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multiple
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designs
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of
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the
...
same
...
theme
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to
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have
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a
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logo
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designed
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for
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the
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production
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ahead
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of
...
time
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as
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a
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vector
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image
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on
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a
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transparent
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background.
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Having
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designed
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this
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first
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(optimally
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at
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a
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high
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resolution),
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you
...
can
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easily
...
place
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the
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logo
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into
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your
...
designs
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so
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that
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all
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publicity
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materials
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look
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obviously
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related
...
and
...
your
...
life
...
is
...
that
...
much
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easier
...
for
...
it.
...
(COMING
...
SOON
...
-
...
EXAMPLE)
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Publicity
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Materials
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All
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posters
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should
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include
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a
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UA
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logo.
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They
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give
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us
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money.
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Shrink
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it
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and
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put
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it
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in
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a
...
corner.
Audition Posters
Dimension - 8.5"
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x
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11".
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Play with
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vertical
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or
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horizontal
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layout.
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DEADLINE
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FOR
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DESIGN:
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Design
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should
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be
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final
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no
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less
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than
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two
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weeks
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before
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auditions
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for
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the
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show
...
begin.
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Notes
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-
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I
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recommend
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having
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a
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logo
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in
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place
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for
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this
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design
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as
...
well.
...
It
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doesn't
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have
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to
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be
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final,
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but
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something
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that
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you
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won't
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change
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too
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much
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as
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it
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makes
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it's
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way
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on
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to
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the
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final
...
designs.
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Be
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conscious
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that
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your
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design
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at
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this
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point
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may
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have
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nothing
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to
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do
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with
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how
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the
...
show
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might
...
actually
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turn
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out
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because
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there
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is
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no
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cast
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or
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rehearsals
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yet.
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Play
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with
...
it.
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Do
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something
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general.
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Use
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cheap
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provocative
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design
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tricks.
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Make
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it
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flashy.
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Confirm
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with
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Pub
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Manager
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if
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the
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designs
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will
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be
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in
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Black
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and
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White
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or
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Color
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(more
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often
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than
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not
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these
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posters
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will
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be
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in
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B&W
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because
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all
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color
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printing
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should
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be
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reserved
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for
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actual
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performance
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publicity)
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and
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make
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sure
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to
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be
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aware
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of
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this
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in
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your
...
design.
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Don't
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forget
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the
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following:
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- Ensemble
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- Brand
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- Show
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- Name
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- Director
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- Name
...
- Audition
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- Dates
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- Audition
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- Times
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- Link
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- to
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- Audition
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- Sign-Ups
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- "Questions?
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...
- er@mit.edu"
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- UA
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- Logo
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Teasers
Dimension - 8.5"
...
x
...
11".
...
Play
...
with
...
vertical
...
or
...
horizontal
...
layout.
...
Design should
...
be
...
finalized
...
no
...
less
...
than
...
2
...
weeks
...
before
...
the
...
actual
...
show
...
performances
...
begin.
...
Notes
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-
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At
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this
...
point
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the
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logo
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should
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be
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in
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its
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final
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stage.
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The
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posters
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should
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contain
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the
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following
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necessary
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information:
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- Ensemble
...
- Brand
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- Show
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- Name
...
- Director
...
- Name
...
- Show
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- Dates
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- Show
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- Location
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- Link
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- to
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- Ensemble
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- Page
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- UA
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- Logo
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The
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design
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should
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be
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a
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little
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more
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specific
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than
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the
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audition
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poster,
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but
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should
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still
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have
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a
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provocative
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angle
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to
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it
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where
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the
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theme
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of
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the
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show
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doesn't
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become
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obvious
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until
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the
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final
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show
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poster
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comes
...
out.
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Images
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are
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cool
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at
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this
...
point.
...
Also
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be
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aware
...
again
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by
...
confirming
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with
...
the
...
publicity
...
manager
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whether
...
or
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not
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these
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are
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going
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to
...
be
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in
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B&W
...
or
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Color.
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Show
...
Posters
...
Dimension
...
-
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11"x17".
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Play
...
with
...
vertical
...
or
...
horizontal
...
layout.
...
These
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should
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most
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definitely
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be
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in
...
color.
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Include:
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- Ensemble
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- Brand
...
- Show
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- Name
...
- Director
...
- Name
...
- Show
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- Dates
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- Show
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- Location
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- Prices
- Reservation Link
- UA Logo
T-shirt
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Design
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should
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be
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finalized
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two
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weeks
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prior
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to
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Put
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In
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so
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that
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they
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can
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get
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ordered
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and
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received
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within
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an
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appropriate
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time
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interval.
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This
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one
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is
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more
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flexible.
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I
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personally
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think
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making
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the
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logo
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the
...
front
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of
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the
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shirt
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and
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then
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the
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actors'
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favorite
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quote
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on
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the
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back
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is
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a
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pretty
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nice
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standard.
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Check
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any
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requirements
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on
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NEDesign,
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which
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is
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the
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reliable
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shirt
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ordering
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site
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of
...
preference.
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Postcards
Design should be finalized two weeks before put in so that they get printed and shipped on time without costing the Ensemble mucho dinero.
Vistaprint, the website we've used in the past that has successfully produced some pretty sexy looking postcards, prints postcards at the awkward dimensions of 5.47"x4.21".
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If
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your
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pub
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manager
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says
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you're
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using
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Vistaprint,
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use
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those
...
dimensions.
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Otherwise,
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work
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with
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the
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pub
...
manager
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to
...
determine
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that
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company
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you're
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using
...
and
...
getting
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an
...
exact
...
dimension
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for
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the
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postcards
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before
...
you
...
start
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the
...
design.
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I
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think
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it's
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a
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good
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idea
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to
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either
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emphasize
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any
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graphics
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you
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have
...
in
...
your
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poster
...
design
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and
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use
...
the
...
logo.
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You
...
should
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put
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all
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the
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show
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information
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on
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the
...
back
...
side:
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- Ensemble
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- Brand
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- Show
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- Name
...
- Director
...
- Name
...
- Show
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- Dates
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- Show
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- Location
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- Prices
- Reservation Link
- UA Logo
Drop Poster
Dimension - (4 feet x max 12 feet OR 3 feet x max 12 feet). Have it done before Put-In!
The Drop Poster can go one of two ways.
1) You get a long sheet of butcher paper (max dimensions are 4 feet x 12 feet) and just write the show information on it in HUGE letters.
2) You can make a smaller digital design and have the Pub Manager contact Rinaldi (MIT Theater Arts) about possibly using their Plotter to print your drop poster (at $1 per square foot). Be aware that the max height the Plotter prints is 3 feet. The 12 feet wide rule still applies.
Tech Ads
Student groups get 80 free column-inches of Ad space in The Tech each year. After you or the publicity manager confirms with the Tech what dimensions are appropriate and keep in mind this ratio: 1 column inch = 2 inches in the width. The dimensions for your ads will be dependent on whether or not you're putting in two ads and how the pub manager wants to distribute the free ad inches. I think it's best to just remake the final show poster in the Tech Ad dimensions because it should be familiar and at this point the show will be very near so the ad should just emphasize that people should reserve their tickets. Again, you can make more designs if you're so inclined.
Program
Design should be finalized by Tuesday of Tech Week at the latest so that printing can happen on Wednesday or Thursday.
Important Things to Include in the Program:
Program Cover
All the ads you’ve arranged for ad swaps: Copytech and upcoming theatre @ MIT
List of Cast and their Roles
BE SURE TO CREDIT THE FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER IF THERE WAS FIGHT CHOREO
Cast & Crew bio’s
Director’s note (Optional)
Dramaturg's note (Optional)
Synopsis (Optional)
List of Scenes (Optional)
About the Shakespeare Ensemble (Optional)
Special thanks / acknowledgments
It's important that the program takes up an full number of printer pages, which means that they should be in multiples of 4. This can make formatting quite difficult. Play around, and stick in some pictures if you need some filler. These can either be printed through copytech, or discreetly using Athena Printing.