Inspiring Design Ideas for Your Cinco de Mayo Posters

Cinco de Mayo Posters - 4

It’s not enough to create Cinco de Mayo posters for the sake of promoting your business on or before May 5. As a business owner, you need to be responsible for coming up with compelling posters that turn unsuspecting onlookers walking down the street into your valued customers, if not brand advocates.

For those wondering whether or not they should launch some kind of marketing campaign prior to Cinco de Mayo, read about previous post about hispanic marketing to provide you with a clearer view of the bigger picture.

Below are must-see examples of killer Cinco de Mayo posters and reasons that make each an effective marketing tool.

Disclaimer: We at PrintRunner have posted images on this post mainly for design inspiration purposes. We may not be able to produce the exact options and material used on the featured product. Call 1-888-774-6889 to learn what design choices you can select for your print order.

 Cinco de Mayo Posters

Cinco de Mayo Posters - 4

Morelia’s, a restaurant in Tallahassee, Florida serving authentic Mexican restaurant, found itself in need of revamping their branding efforts to be released on Cinco de Mayo on 2011. The result is a rustic and warm design as seen on the poster above designed by Eric Thomas, who drew his inspiration for the concept from Mexican bullfighting posters and Morelian architecture.

What makes the design work: Its picturesque and untamed appearance help make the poster rise above overproduced and highly edited designs. The ad copy, although subtle, speak volumes about the business being promoted – translating “celebration” in Mexican helps get the message across about Morelia’s. Also, as mentioned on our previous post, the company website and social media profiles were written in small font below the poster so people would be forced to give it a closer look.

Cinco de Mayo Posters - 6

The M.E.C.H.A. Club at Mt. Whitney High School commemorated Cinco de Mayo in 2011 by holding a small celebration during lunchtime celebrating the Mexican culture. The event was promoted using the poster above designed by Juan Verduzco.

What makes the design work: The designer incorporated culturally significant symbols into its contemporary poster design. The skull, which draws the attention of people to the poster, is used as part of a Mexican ritual practiced prior to the Spanish inquisition of the land. The ritual, called the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), is observed during October 31 of every year. People are called to don wooden masks called calacas to represent the living and the dead as they dance on the graves of their families and relatives. The practice shares the belief principles espoused by the Aztecs and is still relevant to the Mexican way of life.

The roses are used on the design because they share the same name as the event. The “Cinco de Mayo,” a seedling of the Julia Child,  has “smoky lavender” (rusty red) color and gives off a fragrant scent.

Cinco de Mayo Posters - 3

Cultural celebrations aside, Yoram Benz shows the flip side of Cinco de Mayo with this poster created in 2012 for Decon, a record label and production company of hip-hop and contemporary R&B artists.

What makes the design work: Playfulness, when executed correctly, can produce a striking effect to any print product. The subject, a kid in a “Charro” suit, serves as an ironic image used to promote an activity normally partaken by adults. The lime slice, used as a chaser after shooting down liquor, inside the thought bubble adds to the humorous effect. In terms of the design, the use of tones from the Mexican flag to illuminate the subject creates contrast with the poster’s black background.

Cinco de Mayo Posters - 2

A vibrant poster was released in 2004 promoting the Cinco de Mayo event to be held in Guadalupe Center, Inc. The festivities focused on family-oriented activities in a building stronger ties within the community.

What makes the design work: What’s curious about the poster design is its lower half, which is primarily composed of yellow circles forming a tiled pattern. The use of bright colors may have been used to attract the attention of people and lead them to the top of the page where the information about the event is listed.

Key Takeaways

  • Design a poster by pretending to be the passerby on a busy street. If you’re running late for a meeting, what kind of poster would stop you in your tracks? What colors on a poster catches your eyes and redirects your to its certain parts?
  • Be exceptional with your posters. Make sure that your design concept is a cut above the rest and not just a retread of someone else’s work.
  • If celebrating a holiday, use images and symbols related to the holiday.
  • Show your real personality. Don’t attempt to be funny with your posters if you’re not naturally funny. Be natural in your design and everything will come naturally.
  • In case you’re wondering, PrintRunner accommodates your poster printing needs. Click here for more information.

What other Cinco de Mayo posters do you wish to share on this post? How about concrete and actionable advice on how to design their posters not just for Cinco de Mayo, but for any other event? Comment below and share your ideas!