Printed materials may take many forms: posters for display or public places; pamphlets; resource materials for development training programs; standard treatment guidelines or bulletins for mass distribution; t-shirts for public education or materials for use in one-to-one educational encounters.

However, many such materials are not designed in a way that increases their chances of being read and understood, and acted on.

They need to be based on research and experiences along with detailed consideration for the key principles of designing effective printed educational materials so that they can deliver the intended message and enable the audience to be engaged in the context.