Earlier in the week MMAPayout.com used the release of the UFC 105 poster as an opportunity to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the UFC’s poster design. The common themes among the posters were: 1.) brand focus, 2.) effective background use, 3.) organized presentation, 4.) critical information visible, and 5.) consistency.
To draw a bit of a comparison, I’ve attached some of the posters for Japanese MMA promotions (including Pride, Dream, and Sengoku):
Payout Perspective:
It’s important to realize that there exist a number of differences between the American/Western and Japanese consumers that impact how these posters are designed. What’s effective in one market may not be as effective in the other (e.g., Dream 11 might not be a template for North American promotions).
The Japanese posters have some great design concepts, and generally exhibit a higher level of creativity. However, they’re not as consistent at delivering a brand message as some of the UFC posters in the earlier piece.
Certainly, though, the Pride GP 2006 poster is probably right up there with UFC 94 as one of the coolest posters ever.
I generally prefer the Japanese MMA Event posters.
Dream 10 poster also is great. I though UFC 94 looked more like an Japanese MMA event poster than the regular UFC posters.
The dream 1 poster has pretty cool symbolism in it. Land of the rising sun, plus its a new beginning for MMA in Japan after the Pride brand was destroyed by the UFC. It doesn’t necessarily promote any particular fighter which some people may find to be a lost chance to promote, but i think its not necessarily a bad thing because its a tournament, not just a single bout–anyone can win, so why pick favourites.
Dream 11 is also very nice stylistically. It’s a fresh way to get a dozen guys on a page without it looking like a tournament bracket or a lineup.
Thanks for including the Japanese MMA posters. Overall, the PRIDE, Sengoku, and DREAM posters are on another level compared to the UFC’s, or any other North American promotion.
Superior in everyway.
A poster that causes you to stop, look , and read/enjoy. They are top quality, much like the production of the events. They don’t look cheap.