Tips
for Creating a Successful Poster
- Think
prompt, not product.
Posters are summaries, meant to encourage discussion. Use handouts for large
amounts of text material.
- What's
the story?
You know the purpose of your poster. What do you want the poster to be about?
What message do you want viewers to take home?
- Make
a map.
Start with the topic, then sub-topics/key points, followed by supporting topics
for each sub-topic. Decide which you really need in order to convey the take
home message.
- Show
what you did or plan to do. Use visuals whenever possible (illustrations,
tables, graphs, charts, diagrams, pictures, photos, etc.) to present ideas.
Text should supplement the graphic materials.
- Sketch
a design. Make it simple in terms of placement and size of elements.
Use diagrams, arrows, and other strategies to direct the attention of the
viewer.
- Use
title and visuals to hook people. They'll read the rest if interested.
Make the title brief, easy to read/find. This will often be the first thing
people see.
- Balance
the elements. Avoid centering everything. Keep in mind the overall
picture and the way you want viewers' eyes to move - the visual flow.
- Text,
lettering, and graphics large enough to read.
Element size (heading, graph, text) should relate to its importance. Use clean
fonts readable from six feet. Sixteen point font is a minimum for good legibility.
- Capitals
and lowercase lettering are most legible.
Chose one font and use it throughout. Add emphasis using boldface, underlining,
and color.
- Use
color selectively and consistently.
Let color communicate meaning (ex. green for student data, blue for faculty).
No distracting backgrounds.
- Be
creative. Your
audience is not the same as it would be at a disciplinary conference and you
don't have to use disciplinary formats.
- Use
one piece of poster board. Don't overwhelm your audience with material.
- Power
point belongs on a screen. Enough said.
- Proofread
early and often. Never enough said.
- Think
prompt, not product. In case you didn't get it the first time.
Posters are summaries, meant to encourage discussion. Use handouts for large
amounts of text material.