Poster Presentations
Judith A. Vessey, PhD, MBA,
FAAN
Objective
 To provide you with a basic understanding of:
 What a poster is
 How to determine the content for the poster
 How to design a PowerPoint poster
 How to construct components for a free-standing
poster
What is a Poster?
 A visual presentation of research or a project
that address one central question
 May be the whole or part of the project
 Communicates main concepts
 Leads participants to enter into a dialogue with
you
 A good poster marries content and design
 Try to show, not tell, what was done
 Should provide an explicit take-home message
When Do You Make A Poster?
 Research or Clinical Conference presentations
 Posters that are ‘refereed’: an abstract has been
submitted, reviewed by experts, and accepted
for presentation
 Other displays (e.g., career fairs)
Start with the abstract
Determine the timeline
Select key content
Design the basic layout
Assemble the pieces
Construct the poster
A Real World Example
CSI Example:
The Abstract
Abstract
Determine the Timeline
 Estimate the amount of time and then double it
(and add a few hours)
 Consult with the organization’s media specialist
 One week planning is the absolute minimum (if
constructing it yourself)
Determine Key Content
 One essential concept to be conveyed
Should follow what is on the abstract!
 Collect key information for each section
 Construct separate files
 Text files
 Photos and illustration files
 Make sure you have necessary releases
 Files of tables and figures
 Make sure the necessary data are analyzed
 Create tables, figures, graphs
 File format
 ppt files preferable
 With PDFs or other files, will need to use Snip-It or
similar editing tool to create picture files
CSI Example: Setting Up Files
 PowerPoint slides for each of the major
abstract sections
 Picture file
 All photographs you want to use—edit ahead of
time
 High resolution is important
 Other files not needed for this poster but could
include:
 Picture files of pdfs, ppt tables or figures
CSI Example: Files
•Create a ppt slides for each of the major abstract sections—keep in a separate
file
CSI Example: Files
 PowerPoint slides for each of the major
abstract sections
 Picture file
 All photographs you want to use—edit ahead of
time
 High resolution is important
 Other files not needed for this poster but could
include:
 Picture files of pdfs, ppt tables or figures
Editing a Picture
CSI Example: Files
 PowerPoint slides for each of the major
abstract sections
 Picture file
 All photographs you want to use—edit ahead of
time
 High resolution is important
 Other files not needed for this poster but could
include:
 Picture files of pdfs or ppts or tables or figures
Example: How to Change a ppt Table to a
Picture file
High, Low, and Median Cast Change Charges
by Year 2003-2009*
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
$20,000
$10,000
$0
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
*Includes Facility Fees and Professional Fees for ER, Anesthesia,
Radiology, and Orthopedics
2009
Sketch It Out!
 Can use 4” x 6” cards for key content areas
(or cut up PPT handouts/2 to a page)
 Arrange the elements of the poster into
position
 The title goes across the top
 Brief introductions appears in upper left
 Conclusions and Implications appear in lower
right
 Methods and Results/Evaluation fit in remaining
space
CSI Example: Start with the Template for this
Poster
Title Banner: Overview
 Should be readable from 15-20 feet away
 Includes:
 Title
 Institutional logos
 Authors
 Can include first names to facilitate conversation
 Institutional affiliations of authors
 Add city, state, and country names if appropriate
 Title may be centered or left-justified
Title Banner: Sizes
 Title: 1½ - 2” high, 96 points
• (or 48 points enlarged by 200% when printed)
 Author names: 1-1½” high, 72 points
 Affiliations: ½-3/4” high, 36-48 points
 Add city, state, and country names if appropriate
Title Banner: Fonts
 Use a simple, easy to read font
 San serif style works best
 Examples: Arial, Helvetica, Arial
 Fonts can also help tell the story: Comic Sans
 For Title banner:
 Use boldface and ALL-CAPS for the title itself
 Use boldface and mixed case for authors’ name
 Use plain text, and mixed case for affiliations
CSI Example: Add Title and Logos
Body of Poster: Overview
 Present information in a sequence which is easy
to follow
 Determine Section Headings—follow abstract
 Use photos, figures, and tables to tell the
study’s story
 Present enough content so that a verbal
explanation is not necessary to link together
the various components
Body of Poster: DetermineSequencing
Research Posters
Clinical Posters
Specific Aims
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Background
Hypotheses
Methods
Sample & settings
Instruments
Procedure
Results
Implications
Clinical question
Procedure
Evaluation
Clinical efficacy
Quality indicators
Cost-effectiveness
Implementation
Implications
CSI Example: Headings
Body of Poster: Text
 Readable from 6 feet away
 Double-space, left-justification
 Section headings: boldface, 36 point
 Supporting text: 24 point
 Narrative details: 18 point
Body of Poster: Inserting Text
 Go to your ppt slide file of text
 Make sure that it exactly what you want to say
 Use the font and font size you want
 Cut and paste into the poster template
 Use grid lines
 Can also add other subheadings, etc. to the
poster directly on the template
 Use either the textbox or WordArt function
 Can do this at any time
CSI Example: Inserting Text
copy text from ppt slides in separate file, paste in poster template
Illustrations
 Graphics should be self-explanatory
 Tables and figures should have explanatory
captions
 Photos should be self-explanatory
 Text needs to support graphic elements
 Layout:
 20% text, 40% graphics, 40% empty space
 Delete all redundant references & filler phrases
 Remove material extraneous to the poster’s core
theme
 Do not include the abstract
CSI Example: Pictures
HINTS
Format --Choose an edge
that doesn’t detract from
the picture (see examples)
Insert into template
Insert captions in text boxes
Watch alignment
To help with sizing
Enlarge template area
Overlay one picture on
the other and match
size
Editing
 Text needs to support graphic elements
 Layout:
• 20% test, 40% graphics, 40% empty space
• Delete all redundant references & filler phrases
• Remove material extraneous to the poster’s core
theme
 Use blank space between poster elements to
differentiate and accentuate them
 Do not include the abstract
Final Result
Use of Color
 Use color to unify your poster
 Muted colors or shades of gray are best or the
background
 Use more intense colors for borders, content to
be emphasized
 Choose two or three colors that complement
the background for headings, etc.
 Avoid overuse of color
Use of Color
 Use color to unify your poster
 Muted colors or shades of gray are best or the
background
 Use more intense colors for borders, content to
be emphasized
 Choose two or three colors that complement
the background for headings, etc.
 Avoid overuse of color
Constructing individual pieces
Importing presentation slides into a poster
Constructing posters for presentations abroad
Constructing Individual Poster Pieces
 May be done:
 Due to cost
 Transportation difficulties
 Last-minute preparation
 Develop each section of the poster
 Put each section on a separate piece of paper
 Use 11 x 14” paper if appropriate
 Print out the text on high-quality paper
 Mount text on board of contrasting color
Needed Construction Materials
 Materials
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Poster, Bristol, or mat board
High-quality printer paper
Glue, two-sided tape, or dry mount capabilities
Razor knife
Straight edge
Band aids
 Access to high quality printer
 Print ppt slides in landscape
 Cutting surface
Posters for Abroad
Most venues use a
vertical format
Miscellaneous Thoughts
 Proof-read everything—TWICE!
 Give credit where credit is due
 Have an acknowledgements' section
Transporting your poster
Setting up the poster
The poster session
Transporting/Setting Up the Poster
 Transporting your poster
 Remember that your poster now counts as one
carry-on when flying
 Take materials to mount the poster
 Double-sided Velcro
 Push pins
 Small hammer (or a sturdy shoe)
The Poster Session
 Be able to discuss the content of the poster
 Don’t wander away from the poster, be
available
 Don’t spend the time visiting with friends
 Remember, this is your professional “calling
card”
Living on the Edge
 If your poster gets delayed, lost, or destroyed:
 Remember, Kinkos is your friend
 Ask the concierge for local business centers
 Be able to access key content
 Take key content and/or poster PDF with you on a
flash drive &/or email it to yourself
 Leave key content on a server you can access
remotely
 Leave key content on a disk with someone at home
you can contact