Creating a Poster Presentation
Julie Mitchell
Julie.Mitchell@ubc.ca
Managing Librarian
Chapman Learning Commons
Overview
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Purpose & elements of effective posters
Common mistakes
Planning poster content and design
Delivering content
Creating it in PowerPoint
Poster Purpose
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Succinct summary of work
Visual representation of project
Starting point for discussion
Information source
Effective Posters
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Delivers a clear message
Highly visual
Easily read from 1-2 metres away
Stand alone
20% text, 40% graphics, 20% empty space
Common Mistakes
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Too much text
Small text
Poor graphics
Lack of organization
Objective/main point hard to find
Common Mistakes
• Incorrect use of colour
– Vischeck
• Arts & crafts posters
• Creating the poster in multiple platforms
Planning: Content
• Determine
– Essential concepts
– Logical sequence of topics
• Organize material into sections
• Consider audience
Planning: Content
• Typical sections:
– Introduction
– Title
– Methods/materials
– Results/data
– Implications/conclusions
– Literature cited
– Acknowledgements
Planning: Content
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Use active voice
Omit needless words & edit ruthlessly
Remove anything extraneous to focus point
Find ways to represent text visually
– Graphs
– Schematic drawings
– Arrows
Planning: Design
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Confirm poster guidelines with organizer
Size and format (36” x 48”)
Use columns: 3-4 typical
Use consistent fonts
Avoid ALL CAPS or underlining
Use high quality graphics
Planning: Design
• Font size guidelines*
– Title: 72-120 point
– Subtitles (author names, school): 48-80 point
– Section headings: 36-72 point
– Body text: 24-28 point
– Acknowledgements: 14-18 point
*Note: If you will be doubling your poster size when coverting from Powerpoint to .pdf, cut
these font sizes in half
Planning Design
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Covert feet to inches
3’ x 4’ = 36” x 48”
Powerpoint allows 56 inches max (4.6 feet)
May need to create it at half size
Convert pdf to correct size
Insure items are lined up (on left)
Delivering Content
• Show up early
• Make eye contact and acknowledge people
walking by
• Have a 3-5 minute presentation prepared
• Stay near your poster
• Give people space to read and be prepared to
answer questions
Creating in Powerpoint
Poster Template Sites
• Poster templates are a quick and easy method
for starting your presentation:
– PosterPresentations.com
– MakeSigns.com
Creating a Poster from Scratch
• If your computer is in metric, here are some
conversions:
– 48 inches = 121.92 centimeters
36 inches = 91.44 centimeters
– 48 inches = 1 219.2 millimeters
36 inches = 914.4 millimeters
PowerPoint Instructions
for Macs
Mac Instructions
PowerPoint Instructions
for PC
Closing thoughts
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Hang poster square and neat
Plan ahead and allow ample time
Have fun showing your work!
Final poster is due by March 19, 2012
Each poster will be judged by 3 graduate student
adjudicators
• Check out posters of last year’s winners for
inspiration