If you are looking for sticker design ideas to maximize applications and impressions it is important to understand different types of stickers. There are three underlying reasons people display outdoor vinyl stickers on their cars, water bottles, laptops, or other visible locations. Stickers & Decals are generally displayed for promotional, artistic and/or personal reasons. Let’s take a closer look…
Promotional Sticker Design Ideas – A purely promotional sticker promotes a company, a place, a product, a person or an idea. A bagel shop, a band, a non-profit promoting water conservation, etc. These stickers are placed to promote what the displayer is interested in supporting & promoting. That could also mean sticker ideas like a peace sign… or a candidate for Sheriff.
Artistic Sticker Design – An artistic sticker design idea may add artistic flare – like a racing stripe, flames, a flower, a tribal symbol, or other fun art or highlights that the displayer feels are aesthetically pleasing or cool.
Personal Sticker Design Ideas – Though all custom stickers are applied and displayed for “personal” reasons, some custom sticker designs function more like badges or tattoos – they boldly project your identity and interests but may not necessarily be “promotional” in a traditional sense. Sticker design examples would be a silhouette of a hockey player, or a bumper sticker that says “I love My Beagle”, or family stick figures.
There is obviously often a good deal of overlap between these sticker design types for displaying stickers, and that is the point I’m trying to make. A political bumper sticker is promoting a person or platform, but it is also a personal choice supporting someone or something that an individual is proud to identify with. The ultimate sticker design ideas most likely to be applied and displayed for an extended period of time, tap into all three core reasons people display sticker designs. The promotional sticker should connect in a personal way and be artistically appealing for effective, optimal promotion.
Best Sticker Designs = clarity in the message + artistic appeal + striking a personal chord
Have the right balance of all three sticker styles and you could have a powerful product or marketing tool on your hands. Fall short on any of these three design ideas and your stickers may end up in the trash or left on the shelf. Strong sticker design ideas are not as easy as just throwing your logo or name on a bumper sticker. The art, the shape, the size, the attitude, the personal connection… all need to resonate with the sticker recipient and displayer.
This all leads back to really knowing your target market; Where will they put the stickers? What colors do they like? How big is too big? What slogan or image are they willing to tattoo with pride on one of their personal possessions? Answering these sticker design questions and designing a sticker (or stickers) that personally and artistically connects to your market is the best way to give your sticker design and your promotion the strongest impressions and most value.
More:
Why You Should Involve Customers In Sticker Design
Effective Sticker Design Targets Two Different Goals
Jeff Nicholson is the founder and Creative Director at 
One Response
Great post! It’s so important to consider the target market when designing your sticker. So many times I have received a sticker with a cool design, but I can’t use it because it’s either too large to put on anything, or it’s not outdoor durable, etc.