Donna Reiss Tidewater Community College
Combining the visual impact of graphical representation with the personal dynamic of one-on-one conversation, poster presentations offer a lively way to demonstrate research projects, programs, and teaching or training methods and materials. The informal atmosphere of a room with multiple displays encourages short or long visits with each booth. Conference participants come and go, sampling each booth and staying or lingering at selected booths as they might at a bazaar.
Conference participants are attracted to a booth by the visual displays and by the topics, both of which generate interest and conversation. Participants pick up handouts, ask questions, and relate their own experiences; small groups sometimes gather to discuss the issues.
The term poster is broadly used at such exhibits to include videotapes, slide shows, World Wide Web sites, drawings, photographs, charts, diagrams, and enlarged text--a variety of graphical media. Accompanying sound and movement are usually welcome if they do not interfere with adjacent presentations, which may be as close as five feet. Typically, for each booth, a mounting panel, a table, and two chairs are provided. Participants supply their own posters, signs, projectors, televisions, VCRs, computers, projection panels, extension chords, push pins, tape, backdrops, marking pens, and other display materials. Always check with the conference committee for exact specifications.
Model for Submitting a Proposal for a Poster Presentation
Name of presenter-contact person
Title or affiliation
College (and campus)
Names, addresses, and affiliations of collaborators
Special needs such as proximity to an electrical outlet
Title of the presentation/poster
Abstract (200 words) of the presentation, including focus and purpose for presentation, titles of handouts, and description of the visuals
Planning a Poster Presentation
- Allow plenty of time for design, production, packing, and transportation of materials and equipment. Check with the conference coordinator about display space and equipment provided. Check with carriers about delivery schedules and allow a few extra days. Obtain packing materials.
- Work with an artist to develop the design for the whole display and for the individual elements. If your campus has an artist on staff, give plenty of advance notice about your needs. If your campus does not have an artist on staff, invite a student or colleague from the art department to collaborate with you.
- Arrange elements on individual posters and on the full display area, especially text, the way most people have been trained to read and view: left to right, top to bottom. Imagine a Z shapte for the eye movement and arrangement of elements.
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As much as possible, represent concepts graphically. For example, use large headlines, short lists, charts, graphs, drawings, and photographs to generate interest and to provide general information. Use color and proportion to highlight and contrast elements: large size and eye-catching color for headings and important elements, bullets or icons with lists.
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- All text should be typed in large letters such as 40-point. Headings and titles should be even larger, for example, 60-point or more. Remember that visitors may be three or more feet from the display area. Hand-lettered signs should also use large print. Titles should be informative, not just eye-catching. Include the title of the presentation and the names of the presenters and institution. Proofread all text carefully at least twice before and after it is printed.
- Emphasize key points and minimize details in the display; give broad and general information to generate interest. Provide handouts for additional details. Check with the conference coordinator to determine how many handouts to provide. Be sure to include your name, institution, address, phone, and email address on handouts and to have business cards available. Everybody should be able to take something away from the booth.
- Before mounting, arrange the individual elements as if on a backing--on a large table or on the floor--to get a sense of the overall appearance. Use foamcore or a similar medium as a strong but lightweight display surface. Use light cloth or large pieces of paper to create a backdrop. Collect and package all posters, handouts, and tools for constructing the display (pins, tape, labels, marking pens).
- Check that all equipment works; bring spare bulbs and extension chords.
for educational purposes only
developed by D. Reiss 1997 and modified
1 February 2004 by D. Reiss