Transcript Document
Making Posters for Conferences and
Events: Getting to the Point
Why doing poster presentation?
An advertisement of your hard work
Impress others
Sell your ideas
Persuade others
Land yourself a job
…
It’s just an illustrated abstract
Explain why your work is important.
Describe the objectives of your work.
Briefly explain the methods or approaches.
Succinctly state results and conclusions.
It’s just an illustrated abstract
How do I get months and years of
research onto my poster?
Your poster is a short story.
Describe a few major points.
Arouse the reader’s interest to read on.
Limit it to 250 words.
Who’s my audience?
Provide context for your
work. Explain the big picture
and why the problem is
important.
Use plain language to
present your work.
Avoid jargon and acronyms
unless you're really positive that
yours will be a specialist-only
audience.
Interpret your findings
Less is the best
Your goal is to convey a clear message and support it
with a compelling combination of images and short
blocks of text.
What is the one thing you want your audience to
learn?
If it doesn't reinforce your message, leave it out!!
Make the strongest statements your data will support.
Keep it simple
Ask yourself which details are absolutely essential
Focus on one message.
Omit anything that is not essential.
Edit text carefully - simplify verbiage, reduce sentence complexity.
Layout
I could actually read this
Visual gravity
Easy for the eye to follow
Supply cues to help
viewers follow your
presentation.
Visual attractiveness.
Easy for the eye to follow
Your poster title: "Think Big! Really BIG!
Your biggest
impact!
Push your idea to its extreme
No one will remember your work and idea when you
try to stay in the middle.
This is another poster doing X.
Push your idea to the limit.
Leave a deep and lasting impression.
Heading
Note how headings convey the message - viewers in a hurry
need not read further.
Conclusions first!
Put the most important
part first!
Short and to the point!
Upper left hand corner.
Can anyone read “ your body text?
Text sizes:
Title: 85 point
Authors: 56pt
Sub-headings: 36pt
Body text: 24pt
Captions: 18pt
Images and graphs say much
more than words
Keep posters visual!
Creative data visualization
Creative data visualization
Surprise people.
Give unique insights.
Make complex data simple
to understand (not the
other way).
Don’t confuse people.
Using color to engage your readers
2-3 colors, no
more!
Dark type on
light color
background.
Whoa! Where’s my sunglasses?
Be aware of busy backgrounds
Your contact info!!!
Without it you’ll become “ya know, those guys with
the awesome poster”
Include all contact info:
Mail address
Phone
E-mail
Edit, Edit, Edit and "Evaluate!
Edit all text to simplify verbiage, to reduce sentence complexity,
and to delete details.
If it's not relevant to your message, remove it!
You’re not done yet… "
Prepare a short 60s introduction.
Prepare a 3-5 minute verbal explanation.
Enthusiasm
You should be excited about your
research.
If not, talk with your advisor.
Show your enthusiasm.
Others can tell you are proud
of what you have accomplished.
Your eye should sparkle.
Acknowledgement