▪ Poster Design
TEDx Deccan
A single poster asked to carry "ideas worth spreading", and to root them, unmistakably, in the Deccan.
- Date
- Aug 2011
- Client
- Wizcraft & TED (Hyderabad, India)
- Discipline
- Event Poster, TEDx
- Sector
- Event
About the project, our role, our approach
The introduction
TEDx is an international program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. The x stands for an independently organized TED event. For TEDx Deccan in Hyderabad, Wizcraft and TED asked Mohammed Vaseeuddin for a single poster that signalled both halves at once: the recognisable TED energy and a distinct sense of place.
- Concept the poster around a local landmark.
- Hold the official TEDx identity and red.
- Compose for print at two display sizes.
- Deliver press-ready artwork.
- 01Concept: find the one image that says "Deccan" at a glance.
- 02Craft: render it so the structure scatters into ideas taking flight.
- 03Output: lock the TEDx lockup and prepare two print sizes.
Approach, colour, layout, sizes
Project details and handover
The 60-30-10 rule
Colour is split for hierarchy and calm: a dominant neutral, a supporting mid-tone, and the TED red reserved as the 10% accent, so the eye lands on the wordmark and the idea, not the decoration.
Local relevance
Hyderabad's Charminar grounds a global program in its host city. Recognition is instant for a local audience, and the monument's dispersion becomes the metaphor for ideas spreading.
Space and layout
A tall, single-subject composition: generous negative space for the dispersion to breathe, the monument anchored centrally, and the wordmark and event line locked to the base, a clear top-to-bottom read.
The TEDx lockup
The official red wordmark and the "x = independently organized TED event" line carry the program identity without competing with the artwork.
- 01Medium, 18 x 24 inch: storefronts, campus and event marketing.
- 02Large, 24 x 36 inch: retail displays, foyers and high-traffic placements.
- 03Handover: press-ready artwork, holding hierarchy at both scales.
Clear space, minimum size, misuse
Logo usage
The mark, and how to protect it. Give it room, hold its proportions, and keep it on-system across every surface.
In their words
The creative execution for our TEDx event captured the essence of our theme perfectly. It was visually striking, thought-provoking, and played a huge role in driving our attendee engagement.
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The struggle
Promoting a TEDx event requires standing out in a sea of academic and corporate conferences. We needed an event poster and visual theme that would immediately spark curiosity and drive ticket sales.
The evaluation
We needed a design that was intellectually stimulating, strictly adhered to global TEDx brand guidelines, and resonated deeply with our local demographic.
The execution
The creative process expertly blended the overarching TED brand requirements with a unique, striking visual metaphor tailored specifically to our event's theme.
The result
The resulting artwork was visually magnetic and highly thought-provoking. It became the cornerstone of our marketing campaign, directly contributing to sold-out attendance and massive social media engagement.