BACKGROUND
The client, Ultiworld Disc Golf, is the leading sports media company following Professional Disc Golf, delivering news and analysis through their website, podcasts, and social media. Ultiworld was looking to upgrade the visual quality of their image posts to improve social media engagement. The staff who manage Ultiworld’s social media pages are familiar with Photoshop, and requested eye-catching custom Photoshop graphics templates that they could use to quickly update with images and text while on the road, reporting from events across the country.
DESIGN SOLUTION
I created six Social Media Image templates to provide a variety of content formats for Ultiworld’s Instagram and Facebook pages. I worked closely with Ultiworld staff to provide a tour of each template so they would be comfortable inserting their own photos, logos, and text with minimal time investment. I used existing logos from Ultiworld and the PDGA World Championships, and placeholder photography was sourced from Alyssa Van Lanen Images.
Each template was delivered to the client as a .psd Photoshop file, with detailed instructions on how to customize each with photos and text. Folders and layers inside each file were labeled in detail.
Image Template #1 features four color options for the text area. I designed this template for posts that had strong photo content with minimal text entry.
A sample of Image Template #1 in use.
Image Template #2 features multiple color scheme options. I designed this template for posts that highlighted statstics and numbers, with a minimal emphasis on photography
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Image Template #3 allows for a longer text entry than #2, and features 3 color scheme options for the statistics boxes at the bottom (which can also be hidden for even longer text entries).
Image Template #4 was designed to feature text and quotes. I included multiple stock-photo options for the background image, but encouraged the client to substitute landscape photos from each tournament.
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Image Template #5 provides an option for information and statistics when photos are not available, or when written content is the only priority. This template features a wide variety of color scheme options.
Image Template #6 is an alternative to template #1 for variety. Each maintains a focus on photography with minimal text entry. The text background can slide to match the length of the text entry.
The YouTube Thumbnail Template is an easy to use .PSD file for Ultiworld’s video team. I created the template to feature a vertical text bar that can be located on the right or left side of the image, adapting to photo content.
Background images are inserted below a gradient map filter layer, where the client user can choose between multiple color options to differentiate each video link visually when viewed at the smallest thumbnail size.
Typefaces: I chose Teko for eye-catching headlines. Its condensed width improves character-count across narrow screen space in social media graphics. For body text, I chose Raleway for its high legibility in smaller sizes and in longer text entries. Raleway and Teko have complementary x-heights and both typefaces are free, which ensures accessibility for all Ultiworld staff, some of whom are contractors and volunteers.
