Calendar Design Do's & Don'ts

1. For the most professional-looking calendar, use black ink on white, off-white, or cream colored paper. (Color can be added with graphics.)
2. Put a border around the outside of the calendar. The outside border should be heavier than the lines within the calendar.
3. Don't forget to put the name of your community and the address some place on your calendar.
4. Put the month and year in large, bold print on the calendar.
5. If your community has more than one area, be sure to indicate the setting—such as "Assisted Living Activities" or "Healthcare Activities."
6. It is traditional to start the weeks with Sunday, not Monday.
7. Put the dates in the upper right-hand corner of each cell. This makes it possible to line up your list of activities on the left within the cells.
8. Use consistent font style and size for routine activities. Do not change the font style or size from activity to activity within a cell. Use as large a font size as possible.
9. Do not routinely use ALL CAPITALS for regularly scheduled events. It takes up more space, and research has shown that it makes things more difficult to read.
10. Emphasize special activities with bold print or all capitals.
11. Make use of any blank cells. All months (except February) have four full weeks and one partial week. Use those "blank" cells for things like graphics, pictures, or a location key.
12. List activities in chronological order. State the beginning time in numerical terms (such as 2:00 Bingo, 4:00 Happy Hour, etc.). It is not necessary to include "AM" or "PM." Align your list of activities on the left of each cell.
13. Use sophisticated graphics and clipart. Keep these to a minimum and don't "clutter."