Postertips How much work does a poster require?

A poster does not have to generate a lot of work. Imagine giving a five-minute report to a peer. What would you say? Write down what you would say, and organize the key points in the following way:

1. 1) Statement of problem (need for project)

2. 2) Purpose of the poster (can also be clearly stated in title)

3. 3) Who prepared the poster

4. 4) Description of the program and target outcomes (should not be more than three to five sentences—can be depicted in a logic model)

5. 5) At least one graphic (can be a photograph) illustrating the program’s progress, who is involved, or how the program works

6. 6) Lessons learned so far (if the program is currently underway)

7. 7) Implications for future action (where will this lead?)

8. 8) Source of funding for the project

What are elements of an effective poster?

A poster should have enough information to paint a relatively clear picture without overwhelming the viewer. Ideally, viewers should not have to spend more than five minutes reading through text on a poster. Select graphics carefully, choosing information that conveys the most important message from the poster. Graphics and font sizes should be easy to read from at a distance of at least five feet.

1. • Focused, limited topic

2. • Statement of problem addressed by project or research/evaluation question

3. • Clear title, author and funding source

4. • Selected graphic depictions of data, participants, or before/after program effects

5. • Clear source of information

6. • Logical flow of information

7. • Explicit implications or lessons

8. • Handouts summarizing poster and contact information

“Tips on preparing a conference poster” by Mary Michaud, University of Wisconsin

Possible poster layouts are presented below:

Poster heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold)

The first section of the poster should define the topic and show its importance. A good test is whether the poster can orient the audience to these two aspects in 20 seconds. Shown in Figure 1 is a possible layout for a poster. This section was set in Arial, 36 points.

Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold)

The second section of the poster might serve a number of purposes: background information, methods, or system design. An important point with posters is to rely on visuals rather than long blocks of text to communicate. Figure 2 shows a possible layout for poster. This section was set in Arial, 36 points.

Heading (Arial: 44 Points, Bold)

One section of a poster should present the results. Often the results can be depicted with graphs, such as for an experiment, or with drawings such as with a design. Shown in Figure 3 is another possible layout for a poster. This section was set in Arial, 36 points.

Final section (Arial 44 Points)

generally provides conclusions and recommendations. This section was set in Arial, 36 points. Boldfacing the section type is an option.

Acknowledgments (Arial, 36 points, bold)

are set in Arial, 32 points. Try to keep the acknowledgments to one or two lines.

References (Arial, 36 points, bold)

First reference in Arial, 32 points, with a reverse indent: alphabetical or numerical order.

GRAMMAR REVISION