research poster design
TRANSCRIPT
Ben Hockenberry
Systems Librarian | Lavery Library | St. John Fisher College
Slides available: libguides.sjfc.edu/tutorial/researchposterdesign
Portions of this presentation were adapted from hsp.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/ScientificPosters.pdfAnd www.makesigns.com/tutorials/poster-design-layout.aspx
Create your file in PowerPoint, Publisher, or InDesign(not Word)
On the View Menu, show “Guides”
Choose a template or layout that matches the size, orientation, and shape that you need printed(the printer can’t turn a square into a rectangle without distortion)
Your final version should be saved as PDF with embedded fonts
SummarizeCommunicateEngage
No one will read your whole paper on a poster.
It’s kind of like an illustrated abstract.Make your point clearKeep it to-the-point
The audience is there
for the free food.Make them care.
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/regan_photography/5236892398/
Use language that assumes intelligence but not expertiseMake your conclusions meaningful
Keep text sections short, and its size readable
Source: http://www.mindware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/optometrist1.jpg
Use lists instead of paragraphs when you can
Posters should communicate, not confuse.
A story follows a logical path.Lead viewers through yours.
Source: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2012/08/29/beyond-wireframing-real-life-ux-design-process/
Organize in clear sectionsUse short, meaningful titles for sections(standard ones, if discipline-appropriate)Order sections for logical flow
For scientific posters:Only deviate from “top-left to bottom-right”with purpose.
Consider visual flow:Where does the viewer look first?Where next?Are questions asked, and answered?
Images, white space, and contrast make it or break it.
Your poster should consist of roughly20-30% text30-40% figures40% space l e a v e
b r e a t h i n gr o o m
White space provides:Rhythm or FlowUnityReadabilityBalance
“Padding” keeps text from touching borders, backgrounds, and other images
Image source: http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_boxmodel.asp
More text =More time standing,
making sense of the workLess time engaging
with you and others
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GD09_Poster_Session.jpg
Posters are about sharingand engaging.
If a reader is interested, she can talk to you or
follow up.Include contact
information!Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GD09_Poster_Session.jpg
Keep text easy-to-read.(“Edwardian Script” is not easy to read.)
Sans-serif fonts are generally more legible from a distance.
Examples:
Calibri
Century Gothic Lucida Sans
TahomaVerdana
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sans-serif
Serif fonts can work if their size is big enough. Headings!
Examples:
CentaurGaramond
GeorgiaRockwell
Times New Roman
Choose 2 fonts(maybe 3)
Use consistenttypeface and size for all text of the same type
Change fonts with purpose Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/iampeas/2796154727/
Title: 85ptAuthors: 56ptSub-headings: 36ptBody text: 24ptCaptions: 18ptThese are only suggestions; every poster is different. From:http://www.makesigns.com/tutorials/poster-design-layout.aspx
Use charts instead of textwhen possibleConsider adding a brief caption to make a point
0
500
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January February March April May June July August September
Headcounts by Month and Time of Day
9:00am 11:00am 1:00pm 3:00pm 5:00pm 7:00pm
1:00 is our peak traffic timeslot, but close to Finals Week, people stay in the library later.
Use 150-300 dpi (dots per inch)images…or they’ll print like this.(72 dpi is standard
on the Web)Source: http://www.faithgraphix.com/basic-instructions.html
Paste your images into the document,then ZOOM to 100% to check resolution
Make sure text and images pop“The Squint Test:”is text readable when you squint? Avoid distracting backgrounds andtransparency Source: http://www.makesigns.com/tutorials/poster-design-layout.aspx
Keep colors consistent for content of the same typeUse a color picker tool or “theme” colorsSoft colors for most information, and brighter colors for highlightsKeep backgrounds light
Contrast aids readabilityColors differentiate
(Don’t forget colorblindness)
If data represents a scale, use colors in visible orderSmall data points (line charts, scatter plots) need brighter colors to be seen
The hardest text to read in this chart is the most important.http://www.perceptualedge.com/articles/visual_business_intelligence/rules_for_using_color.pdf
Source: http://www.makesigns.com/tutorials/poster-design-layout.aspx
If you didn’t write it, cite it (Hockenberry, 2015).
Tutorials
MakeSignsVideos and text walkthroughs http://www.makesigns.com/tutorials/
Color
Adobe Color CC (was Kuler) https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel/
Templates
Genigraphicshttp://www.genigraphics.com/templates/
MakeSignshttp://www.makesigns.com/SciPosters_Templates.aspx