You Get About Three Seconds. Make Them Count.
Think about the last time you walked through a station at rush hour. Chances are you couldn’t tell anyone what was on the walls. People are moving, chatting, checking their phones and hunting for the right platform. Even the ones who are standing still aren’t actively looking for ads.
That’s the challenge when you design an LRT & MRT advertisement. A great location gets your design in front of people, but the design itself decides if anyone remembers it. Here’s how to make one that does.
Start With One Idea
The most common mistake is trying to say everything. Your services, your promo, your address, your social media handles, all in one panel. The result is a wall of text that nobody reads.
Before you open any design software, finish this sentence: “I want commuters to remember that ___.” Just one thing. A new outlet. A weekend sale. A brand name. Everything else on the design should support that one idea.
Write a Headline That Works in a Glance
Your headline does most of the work, so treat it like a street sign, not a brochure.
- Aim for a handful of words. If you can say it in six, don’t use twelve.
- Speak to a situation people know. “Tired of the Federal Highway jam?” connects faster than “Premium property solutions.”
- Use everyday language. A touch of Malaysian flavour, like Manglish or a bit of Malay, can feel friendly and real, as long as it suits your brand.
- Read it from a distance. Step back a few metres from your screen. If you can’t read it in a second, rewrite it.
Choose Visuals That Do the Talking
A strong image can explain what you do before anyone reads a word.
- Use one main visual. A single clear photo or illustration beats a collage.
- Show the product or result. A steaming bowl of laksa works better than a logo alone.
- Pick real over stock when you can. People can sense a generic photo. A real dish, a real team or a real outlet feels more honest.
- Leave breathing room. Empty space isn’t wasted. It’s what makes the important parts stand out.
Get Colour and Contrast Right
Station lighting isn’t kind. Some areas are bright, some are dim, and screens can look different depending on the angle.
- Go for strong contrast. Dark text on a light background, or the reverse. Avoid light grey on white.
- Stick to two or three colours. Your brand colours are a good start.
- Be careful with busy backgrounds. If you put text over a photo, make sure the words are still easy to read.
- Stand out from the neighbours. Look at the ads around your chosen spot. If everyone uses blue, a bold orange might catch more eyes.
Pick Fonts People Can Read Fast
Fancy script fonts look lovely on a laptop and terrible on a platform.
- Choose a clean, bold font with thick strokes.
- Use no more than two fonts: one for the headline, one for the details.
- Keep text size large, especially on walkway ads where people read on the move.
- Avoid all caps for long lines, as they’re harder to read. Short headlines in caps are fine.
Design for the Format You Chose
Not every spot works the same way, so a design that suits one may fail in another.
- Platform panels: People wait here, so you can add a little more, like a short second line or a QR code.
- Walkways and escalators: Keep it very short and bold. Think one line and one image.
- Digital screens: Movement helps, but keep the animation simple. Make sure your name and offer are visible for the whole loop, not just the last frame.
- Inside the train: Riders have more time, so a slightly longer message works, as long as it’s still easy to scan.
- Train wraps: Think big shapes and one strong message. Remember that the design stretches across the whole train, so it needs to look good from far away and from the side.
Make the Next Step Obvious
A pretty ad that doesn’t tell people what to do next is a missed chance. Pick one action:
- Scan a QR code. Make it large enough to scan, and test it on a few different phones.
- WhatsApp us. Short numbers or a short keyword work better than a long link.
- Say a code. “Mention MRT10 for a free drink” is simple and easy to track.
- Search for your name. If your brand name is easy to spell, this works too.
Also think about where people are. Someone walking quickly won’t stop to scan a QR code, so match the action to the situation.
Check Before You Print
A few quick tests can save you a lot of trouble:
- The three-second test. Show your design to a friend for three seconds, then take it away. Ask what they remember.
- The distance test. Print a small version and look at it from a few metres away.
- The phone test. Scan your QR code and open your link on a few different phones.
- The spelling test. Check names, numbers and dates twice. One wrong digit can ruin a campaign.
- The consistency test. Does it look and sound like your other ads? If someone sees you at a station and then on social media, they should recognise you right away.
Also double-check the file sizes and formats your media team needs, and share your design early so there’s time for fixes.
Common Design Slip-Ups
- Using tiny text for terms and conditions that nobody will read on a platform
- Putting the logo too small, or leaving it out entirely
- Adding too many colours or fonts
- Copying a digital ad and pasting it onto a panel without adjusting it
- Forgetting that people see it at an angle or from far away
Ready to Design Yours?
A good LRT & MRT advertisement doesn’t need to be fancy. It needs one clear idea, a short headline, a strong visual and an obvious next step. Get those four right, and your design will stand out in a very busy space.
If you’d like a second pair of eyes on your design, or help choosing stations and formats that suit it, the team at Avyan is happy to chat. Drop us a message anytime. No hard sell, just friendly feedback on your LRT & MRT advertisement.