poster presentations: what, why, where, when and how

Poster Poster Presentations: Presentations:

What, Why, Where, What, Why, Where, When and HowWhen and How

Poster Poster Presentations: Presentations:

What, Why, Where, What, Why, Where, When and HowWhen and How

Jeanne Le Ber, Education Services801-585-6744 or jeannele@lib.med.utah.edu

Sally Patrick, Director, Utahealthnet801-581-6979 or spatrick@lib.med.utah.edu

Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library

Session Goals• What is a poster presentation?• Why do a poster?• Where do you do a poster?• When do you do a poster?• How do you create and present

a poster?– Content and design principles

What is a poster?• A visual presentation of a topic that

creates an opportunity for conversation• Done on a large piece of paper or board

or in an electronic format• Display options• Portability• Size considerations

Why do a poster?• Communicate with colleagues in a

relaxed setting• Report on projects• Share research results and ideas• Educate and inform peers• Review history• Tell a story• It’s fun!

Where do you do a poster?

• At professional meetings• In a designated place• In exhibit hall• Other conference space

When do you do a poster?

• Generally at an annual meeting• Call for posters advertised by

conference planners ahead of time• Submit abstract • Abstract accepted• Or by invitation

How do you do a poster?

• Select meaningful topic; gather content• Organize information• Distill your message• Determine size • Use computer software

– PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop or QuarkXPress

• Create a design layout

How does an ideal poster session work?

• Poster is displayed for a designated and limited time

• Presenter stands near the poster to answer any questions about content

• Lots of other posters • No conflict time• Handouts are optional

How does a poster session work?

• Attendees wander through the poster aisles

• They have limited time• They pick and choose• Will they stop at your poster?

– 3 seconds– 30 seconds– 3 minutes

Will they stop?• Factors that help determine if

attendees will stop, look and talk – Presenter’s enthusiasm– Content– Design

Content • Most important aspect• This is the story you want to tell• Content without good design may

dissuade people from exploring further

Content • Distill the essential message• Present the data• Can a picture tell the story• Use table and charts• Less is more – edit ruthlessly

Design Layout• Text• Design principles• Design elements• Color

• Rule: 20% (text) 40% (graphics) 40% (white space)

Text• Text flows left to right• Font size readable from a distance

– Title > 80 pts– Subtitles > 72 pts– Subheadings > 48 pts– Body > 24 pts

• Avoid all CAPS• Avoid excessive use of font styles &

colors

DesignPrinciples

• Repetition• Emphasis• Balance• Consistency

Design Elements

• Line• Shape and form• Texture• Space• Size and scale• Value

Use line to

separate or organize

SPACEUse space to add emphasis, to separate

TEXTURE

use SCALE to add emphasis

use value to visually separate

Color is used to• Highlight• Attract• Tell the viewer where to look first• Create a mood• Group elements

use color to highlight

Color can be

• Complimentary• Analogous • Warm• Cool

DemonstrationDemonstration• Use PowerPoint features to

– establish poster size– place text boxes– effect font style and size– insert images– use draw tools– create tables and charts

Based on an article by: Jeanne Le Ber and Susan RobertsCreating Powerful Poster Presentations Journal of Hospital Librarianship v. 6(3) 2006

(accepted for publication)