Hospital Posters
Prompt: Google Images “A&E waiting room poster”. Download 5 posters. Count words, emojis, and pictures vs text. Which looks friendliest for non‑native speakers?
Task Overview:
In this task, you will examine visual hospital posters used in Emergency Departments (A&E). You will compare layout, clarity, imagery, and word‑load to evaluate which posters communicate most effectively — especially for people who speak English as an additional language.
Your aim is to explore:
- Word count (short? dense?)
- Visual support (icons? photos? emojis?)
- Clarity (layout, colours, simplicity)
- Accessibility (easy for non‑native speakers?)
To get you started
1. Download some posters
Save each image so you can zoom in for counting words and examining clarity.
1. Salisbury NHS – A&E “Guide to Healthcare Services” Poster
2. NHS Lanarkshire – Emergency Department Signage Posters
3. NHS Urgent Care Posters – Campaign Resource Centre
5. NHS “Choose Better” A&E Campaign PosterLink opens in a new window
2. Count key features for each poster
Create a small table or list including:
- Total number of words
- Number of pictures/icons
- Emoji use (if any)
- Colour use (simple vs busy)
- Hierarchy (what stands out first? e.g., headings, icons)
Tip: Non‑native speakers often rely on icons, colour‑coding, and simple wording.
3. Analyse clarity & simplicity
For each poster, ask:
- Are the sentences short?
- Are there too many blocks of text?
- Do visuals carry meaning?
- Does the message appear immediately clear even before reading?
4. Compare friendliness for non‑native speakers
Look for:
- Posters with large icons
- Few words
- Clear colour‑coding
- Simple instructions
- Avoidance of jargon (e.g., “urgent treatment centre” vs “UTC”)
- Any translation
5. Write a short conclusion
Summarise:
- Which poster is the friendliest for non‑native speakers — and why
- Which features helped: icons, simplicity, bright colours, minimal text
- Which posters were harder to understand and why (dense text, unclear visuals)