MTB ELZEBIKERS poster

Layout & Design: Adobe InDesign Image editing: Adobe Photoshop

Introduction

This poster was created for the 6th edition of the annual MTB Elzebikers tour, a well-known local mountain bike event near Mechelen. The goal was to design a clear, energetic, and engaging poster that would appeal to a broad audience of amateur cyclists.

This was the project:

The project was a collaboration with the organizing team, where I had a personal connection — a family member is part of the board, and my father actively participates in the event. This gave me a unique perspective on the community-driven spirit of the tour and helped me shape a visual language that was both dynamic and practical.

Challenge

To create a poster that conveys all necessary information at a glance, while maintaining a strong visual hierarchy, appealing imagery, and a sporty, outdoorsy feel. The event attracts a mix of casual and experienced cyclists, so the design had to feel accessible and informative, yet still energizing.

My approach

I started with a modular layout to accommodate large amounts of information. Once the basic structure was set, I worked on visual flow, contrast, and alignment to keep it clean yet dynamic. I also selected and edited the action photos to match the color palette and strengthen the narrative of motion and terrain.

Challenge

My approach

RESULT

The final design features bold diagonal lines, sporty blue tones, and action photography that immediately conveys the adrenaline and outdoor nature of the event. The poster structure is built on clean typography and clear boxes, helping viewers easily find the date, location, distances, and practical info. Event highlights like the technical passages, off-road percentage, and facilities, are visually separated using labeled sections to improve readability. The use of angled shapes and directional layout reinforces the sense of motion. The graphic blue elements throughout the layout are directly inspired by the tread pattern of a mountain bike tire. Their angular forms do not only reference MTB culture, but also function as visual arrows, guiding the eye through the composition in a dynamic way. The color scheme reinforces the association with energy, clarity, and outdoor activity, while the event logos and sponsor branding are integrated in a way that keeps the focus on the event itself.

Project showcase

This is THE highlight section.

This was the 6th edition of the tour and I did 3 variations of it.

Sarah Schmit