[Art] Collection of Poster Design Ideas for the Sports Festival

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

If you’re in the art club or the manga research club, or if you regularly draw and are interested in design, you might find yourself being asked to make the sports festival poster.

Since it’s something the entire student body—and the whole school—will see, you want to put your best effort into it.

But when you actually take on the job, you might find yourself thinking, “I can’t picture what I should make.”

So in this article, we’ve compiled ideas for sports festival poster designs.

We’ll cover a wide range, from those using traditional art techniques to easy designs you can make with free smartphone apps.

Use the approach that suits you and the design ideas you like as a reference, and give it a try!

[Art] Collection of Sports Day Poster Design Ideas (21–30)

Enbu-style

A performance-style poster that incorporates elements of Japanese culture—such as traditional attire, taiko drums, and kendo—can express both beauty and intensity.

Use a powerful pose, as if capturing a moment from a staged performance, to form the overall composition and evoke a sense of presence that makes you almost hear the drumbeats.

Employ backgrounds like a sunset or a flurry of cherry blossoms to create an impression where tradition merges with fervor.

For the tagline, using kanji or brush-style fonts is effective for emphasizing strength and focus.

By viewing the sports festival as a single stage and conveying the spirit of expressing oneself with full force, this design enables direction that values not only the competitions but also cheering and unity.

The result is a piece that comes together like a performance with hearts beating as one.

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mutō

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balloon

This poster design depicts students sprinting with all their might as colorful balloons soar high into the sky.

It captures a sense of freedom, release, and a fleeting moment of youth.

The balloons symbolize hope and dreams, giving the impression that each competitor’s aspirations are being carried into the sky.

Incorporating a blue sky and the sun in the background brightens the overall look, enveloping the entire venue in an uplifting atmosphere.

Adding lines that suggest wind around the runners brings a dynamic sense of motion to the poster.

Writing supportive messages or class names on the balloons visually conveys the purpose of participating and each team’s unity, creating a memorable piece.

It’s a vibrant idea that heightens anticipation for the sports festival.

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mutō

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[Art] Sports Festival Poster Design Ideas (31–40)

Pokémon card-style

If you want to create a pop and catchy poster, I recommend this “Pokémon card-style” poster.

It’s especially great for elementary school posters, since many kids like Pokémon.

If you search online, you’ll find images of the Pokémon you want to draw from various angles, so feel free to use them as references if you’re not confident in your drawing skills.

Since Pokémon often have bold color schemes, try keeping the background subtle.

That will help maintain balance.

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Ryo

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manta

Mantas are rays with huge pectoral fins that make a striking impression.

Officially called the reef manta ray in Japanese (Oni-itomaki-ei), this animal’s vivid blue appearance makes it a perfect motif for a sports festival panel.

And because it’s a bit less well-known than classics like tigers or eagles, it’s also a great choice when you don’t want your idea to overlap with others.

By the way, mantas can live on a diet of plankton alone, so they can be seen as a symbol of strength.

For that reason, choosing a manta when you’re striving for victory might just bring good luck!

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Yuuki

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A student holding a championship flag

Class posters can boost each class’s competitive spirit and sense of unity.

Many of us probably remember, as kids, looking at posters and talking with friends, saying things like, “That class looks strong.” This “Student Holding a Championship Flag” is a powerful poster that symbolizes a class’s strength.

You can depict it simply, like in the linked example, or go for a scene where the student raises the championship flag and lets out a triumphant roar.

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Ryo

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Raised fist

When you think of a sports day, a lively, energetic image probably comes to mind.

This poster featuring a raised fist is a perfect design for that kind of event.

A poster with a fist drawn from the front is impressive enough, but if you want even more impact, I recommend drawing the character’s whole body to create a sense of depth.

It might seem difficult, but if you draw the hand, head, torso, and legs and then connect the other parts, you can make it look convincing without using perspective techniques.

Give it a try!

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Ryo

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Kabuki

It could also be a good idea to use kabuki, a traditional performing art beloved since ancient times, as a motif.

When you think of kabuki, you picture the white-painted makeup, right? Designing around that will create a striking visual impact.

The tricky part is deciding which kabuki scene to depict.

You could draw the mie—the dramatic pose where the actor freezes with an intense expression—or imagine and illustrate kabuki performers taking part in a sports day.

Either way, that powerful atmosphere is sure to give your team a boost.

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yamamoto

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