On behalf of Auburn University, Tatum Design was tasked with developing a targeted series of posters to promote safety protocols on campus during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the Auburn Hand Sanitizer Poster Series was to encourage widespread use of hand sanitizer stations throughout the campus as well as to encourage everyone to use their own personal bottles of sanitizer that were distributed by the university. The posters were also intended to remind our audience that hand washing and sanitizing is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from COVID-19, according to the CDC.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, most of the public COVID-19 communications have been generic and icon-driven, so our team embraced a different approach to capture the attention of audiences who were quickly becoming desensitized to safety messaging. We developed strong, headline-driven posters with simple, graphic visuals to create a compelling impression on students, staff and faculty of Auburn University. Because hand sanitizing does not require much explanation, we were able to focus on the benefits of this behavior. The posters were designed to disrupt, surprise and engage audiences with fresh messaging and visuals.

The Auburn Hand Sanitizer Poster Series immediately stood out from all other existing COVID-19 messaging on the college campus. The full series was implemented in physical and digital mediums for maximum impact. With strategic placement around campus, the series made thousands of impressions and generated positive feedback from each of the audiences it was designed to reach. The posters serve as a continuous reminder to practice safe behaviors at Auburn University.