Posters are widely used in the academic community, and most conferences include poster presentations in their program. Research posters summarize information or research concisely and attractively to help publicize it and generate discussion.
The poster is usually a mixture of a brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants can come and view the presentation and interact with the author.
Before compiling images, writing text, or doing anything, imagine your poster completed. What is it that you are trying to say? Some things to think about before starting to work on your poster:
DEFINING YOUR AUDIENCE. Is this a general audience, or a group of professionals? Knowing your audience will affect the kind of language you use, and how detailed about concepts you will need to be.
QUICK TIP: The amount and type of detail you include in your poster should be influenced by your audience's knowledge level in mind. A presentation on steroid biosynthesis to biologists from a a range of different specialties will require far less detail than a presentation on the same topic to biochemists attending a conference on lipid metabolism. Ask yourself: How familiar is my audience with the topic of my presentation? Is my audience likely to understand the terms I'm using, or should I explain new terms? Remember: it's as bad to talk over your audience's head as it is to talk down to your audience.
KNOWING YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH: If the viewer takes away one thing from your presentation, what do you want it to be? You may only have 30-90 seconds with a viewer.
QUICK TIP: Select a statement, photograph or diagram that is sure to attract your audience's attention. This is your 3 second hit. Your focus item should be enlarged so that it will occupy at least 30% of the area of the finished poster. Remember that your audience will not approach you if it is not clear what your topic or theme is from a "safe distance" of 10 feet
Creating charts, graphs and diagrams is a simple process if you have the right tool. Below is a list of products that will allow you to put your data into an easily digestible form.
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This video from The American Chemical Society has good information on poster design basics.
This site created by Steve Hess at The University of North Carolina contains practical advice on designing and presenting your poster.
Poster Presentations - Designing Effective Posters
Created by Fred Stoss, a librarian at SUNY Buffalo. This site links to an inventory of helpful readings and resources for creating posters.
A thorough list of best tips and practices written by Princeton University professor, Steven M. Block.
A list of resources which provide templates for effective poster designs.
A regularly updated blog covering design and messaging tips and tricks.
How to Write, Publish, and Present in the Health Sciences by