Design Ideas for Independence Day

With so many businesses running promotions around Independence Day, graphic designers are usually in high demand. Brochures, postcards, catalogs, door hangers and flyers are all great ways to get the word out about your clients' Fourth of July promotions. The trick to continually creating stunning designs during this busy time of year is to mix things up a little bit to help your clients stand out from a sea of competitors. Here are a few Independence Day graphic design ideas and concepts you can use to spark your imagination and creativity:

Tone

Set the tone for your clients' Independence Day promotions right away. Are they offering a great limited-time sale, or are they seeking to increase company recognition through thematic association? Grocers and hardware stores, for instance, will likely advertise sales for relevant products such as hot dogs and lawn chairs, while an investment firm might draw a historical connection between the integrity and leadership of the company and George Washington.

Colors

More than any other holiday, Independence Day lets you go wild with a color explosion. Fireworks, stars and stripes, the green of summer - your palette is nearly unlimited and the colors extraordinarily vivid and vibrant. Many designers use a lot of color on their Fourth of July designs, covering nearly every square inch of their postcards and flyers; however, subtlety can go a long way to helping your clients gain recognition. A splash of fireworks in one corner can be more effective than 20 firework explosions all over the page. Red, white and blue should be used to convey patriotism, but that doesn't mean other colors can't be used or that you shouldn't try a two-toned color scheme such as a blue background with white stars. You could also try a firework splash in the company's colors, or dress the Statue of Liberty as one of the company's employees, if they have a highly-recognizable uniform.

Shapes and icons

Try using shapes and icons for thematic association in your design or through a die-cut flyer. Try flags, fireworks, Uncle Sam and the Statue of Liberty. The Liberty Bell could be used for bullet points, and fireworks make a great background. It is important that you don't include shapes and icons simply for the sake of thematic association - you must work them in with the flow of the layout and text so that their use aligns with your clients' messages. An image of revolutionists, for instance, doesn't mean much unless it's paired with copy such as "Free yourself from high debt with Debt Counseling Company."

History and tradition

You can draw on history and tradition when designing promotional Independence Day materials. No other holiday inspires Americans as much as this day does, so drawing correlations to historical events such as the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's midnight ride, and the crossing of the Potomac, are excellent resources for instilling emotions, including pride, perseverance, strength and patriotism. Traditions and spirit such as fireworks and the American work ethic have the same effect. It's easy to pick out tones, colors and themes that remind prospects of a holiday's meaning or spirit; what's more difficult is coming up with new ways to say the same things. Take the extra effort to do so anyway, and you'll end up with dazzling designs that will spark the imagination and boost your return on investment.