How to present research on posters

Your challenge is to attract the reader’s attention long enough to

communicate your message.

Purpose of posters

• Show your work• Inform• Start a conversation• Advertise your work

Posters

• Focus on a single message

• Order points logically and obviously

• Let images and graphics tell the story

• Use text sparingly

How? Posters use “visual grammar”

• Visualize points – show points.• Guide by using visual logic.• Avoid distractions.• Display the messages consistently from

the title to the conclusions clearly stated each time.

What is your message?

• Keep is simple• Keep it clear• Be bold and explicit• Support it with absorbing images and

text• State interpretation in the conclusion• Repeat the message as often as needed

Know your audience

• Explain the big picture.• Why is your problem important.• Use plain language.• Avoid acronyms.• Interpret your findings. Lead your

audience by the hand.

The all important abstract

• Grabs the attention of the reader in less than one minute

• Why is the work important? So what?• What are you adding to current science?• Very brief description of methods• Results, conclusions, and

recommendations

Where to place the abstract

• DO NOT INCLUDE THE ABSTRACT IN THE POSTER!!!! The poster is the illustrated abstract.

• Use it to get you into the conference

Poster design = elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is an overview of your work and is designed to just get a conversation started.An elevator pitch in 250 words tells what is, who needs, why do they need your work, and whoRU to see the problem.By permission of Chris O’Leary, wwwElevatorPitchEssentials.com

An effective elevator pitch has nine things

• Concise• Compelling• Concrete• Customized• Conversational

• Clear• Credible• Consistent

Design of a poster

• Planning • Focus• Layout• Headings• Graphics• Text• Colors

Planning

• State main point(s) and conclusion(s )clearly and succinctly

• All visuals and text point to the main point and conclusion

• How much space?• How much money?• What milestones?

Focus

• Stay with the messageCreate a mock posterWhat detail is essential to the

message?Omit what is not essentialEdit text – reduce sentence

complexity

Layout

• Use visual grammar –

important: big, less important: smaller

• Use column format• Use organization cues

Layout

• Use “reader gravity” top/bottom, left/right

• Headings help readers find the main points

• Balance text and graphics• White space defines the flow of

information

Headings: Title, section titles, and figure captions

• Orient readers and convey major points• Summarize• Organize• Are hierarchical• Are boldViewers in a hurry need not to read

further.

The Centerpiece: Graphics

• Communicate relationships quickly• Use simple two dimensional charts• Minimize text• Use photos

need to be simple and cleanwrite explanations directly into the graphic

Text

• Simple, direct and large• Keep text elements to < 50 words• Use phrases in the active voice• Left justify

Text

• Use serif font for text – easier to read (24pt)

• Use sans-serif font for headings (32pt)• Title should be at least 5 cm tall

Colors

• Use color to attract attention, organize and emphasize

• Light color background, dark color lettering

• 2 to 3 colors maximum - follow a theme• Be careful with green and red

Conclusion

• Every statement, graphic, table and photo tell the story of the main Topic of your research.

• Keep text to a minimum.• Use graphics to tell the story.• Prepare a one minute elevator pitch

Purpose of posters

• Show your work• Inform• Start a conversation• Advertise your work

rescom.rmutl.ac.th

???Drrainer@rmutl.ac.th