A Poster Uses Visual Grammar A poster is not just a standard research paper stuck to a board. An effective poster uses a different, visual grammar http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

It expresses your points in graphical terms It shows, not tells It expresses your points in graphical terms All elements, even the figure legends, are visible from 4 feet away http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

It avoids visual chaos, with many jagged edges or various-sized boards that distract the viewer Instead, it guides the viewer by using a visual logic, with an hierarchical structure that emphasizes the main points http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

It displays the essential content - the messages - in the title, main headings and graphics It indicates the relative importance of elements graphically: each main point is stated in large type-face headings; details are subordinated visually, using smaller type-face http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

The main headings explain the points, rather than merely stating "results" and letting the viewer hunt for - or even worse, invent - the message. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Are Your Posters Effective? Are your posters effective, attracting large and enthusiastic audiences? Or, are your posters examined only by your most avid competitors or admirers? Do other presumptive colleagues - and poster judges - merely glance at your poster, then cross their eyes and hurry past? http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Is the space in front of your poster perennially devoid of people Is the space in front of your poster perennially devoid of people? Do those that do come look at your poster in obvious puzzlement? Does your poster fail to evoke thoughtful questions or interest? If you are not attracting the wide and enthusiastic audience you deserve, this site can help you. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

An effective abstract is your first opportunity to hone your message. An abstract is a succint description of your work. It should ... Explain why your work is important - set the context and pre-empt the question "So what?" Describe the objective(s) of your work. What are you adding to current knowledge? http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Briefly explain the methods Unless the research is about methods, this should not be a major focus of your abstract (or your poster) Succintly state results, conclusions, and recommendations This is what most people want to know. Do not say "We present the results of our study and recommendations for action" - tell them what you found and recommend! http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

We do not recommend including an abstract on your poster. It is redundant, because a poster is already a succinct description of your work. Writing a good abstract, however, is an important part of having your work accepted for presentation at a conference. An abstract can also serve as an outline for your poster, which can be thought of as an illustrated abstract. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Focus: Stay focused on your message and keep it simple Creating an effective posters requires planning, art, science, and attention to detail. Planning: Before starting work on your poster, consider message, space, budget, format (single sheet or multi-panel), and deadlines. Focus: Stay focused on your message and keep it simple Create a mock-up and dispense with unneeded details. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

.Headings: Use headings to orientate readers and convey major points. Layout: Use a clearly defined visual grammar to move readers through your poster .Headings: Use headings to orientate readers and convey major points. Graphics: Clear graphics should dominate your poster. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Software: There are many packages you can use to create your poster Text: Text should be minimized in favor of graphics, and large where used Colors: Colors can make a poster attractive and improve readability, but be cautious Editing: Edit ruthlessly to reduce the amount of text and focus on a results-oriented message Software: There are many packages you can use to create your poster http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Stay focused on your message. And keep it simple!! Simple messages are more memorable Details distract from the main point, and can be supplied in person as needed. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Create a mock-up poster focused on your main message. Ask yourself which details are absolutely essential for conveying your message. The most common problem is too much focus on methods. [ An exception is if your poster is about a new method. ] Omit anything that is not essential. Edit text carefully - simplify verbiage, reduce sentence complexity. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

A clear visual grammar guides readers through your poster. Your poster should ... use a visual grammar to guide readers to the important parts of your poster use a column format to make your poster easier to read in a crowd. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

use organization cues to guide readers through your poster. use "reader gravity" which pulls the eye from top to bottom and left to right (Wheildon 1995). use headings intelligently to help readers find your main points and key information. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

balance the placement of text and graphics to create visual appeal. use white space creatively to help define the flow of information Visual grammar is a graphic hierarchy that helps readers identify the most important parts of your poster. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Columnar Format Organize your poster in columns so that it's easy to read when there's a crowd in front of it. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Use Organisational Cues. Another way to make sure readers know how to navigate your poster is to use cues - numbers, letters, arrows - to guide them. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Reader Gravity There are language-specific ways in which most people read. In English, it is top-to-bottom and left-to-right. Wheildon (1995) called "reader gravity." You should not use organizational constructs that defy reader gravity - it will confuse viewers, which is not what you want to happen. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Balance White Space Your poster should have a good visual balance of figures and text, separated by white space. Balance occurs when images and text are reflected (at least approximately) across a central horizontal, vertical, or diagonal axis. This axis is known as the axis of symmetry. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Use headings to orient readers and convey major points. Headings - including the title, section titles, and figure captions - should ... Summarize: Use headings as opportunities to summarize your work in large letters. A hurried reader should be able to get the main points from the headings alone. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Be Hierarchical: The more important the point, the larger the type Organize: Good headings are part of the visual grammar that helps move readers through your poster. Be Hierarchical: The more important the point, the larger the type .Be Bold: Make the strongest statements your research allows http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Simple, clean graphics communicate relationships quickly Good graphics - graphs, illustrations, photos - are the centerpiece of your poster. Good graphs communicate relationships quickly. Graphs should be simple and clean. Write explanations directly on figures, instead of referencing from elsewhere. Use simple 2-dimensional line graphs, bar charts, pie charts. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Use photos that help deliver your message. Avoid 3-dimensional graphs unless you're displaying 3-dimensional data - and then proceed carefully, as many 3-D graphs are difficult to interpret. Text on graphs must follow same guidelines as all other text so that it will be visible. Use photos that help deliver your message. Use spot art - but not too much - to attract attention. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Text should be simple, direct, and large. Posters are a visual medium. Minimize text - use images and graphs instead. Keep text elements to 50 words or fewer. Use phrases rather than full sentences. Use an active voice. Avoid jardon (depends somehwat on audience). http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Left-justify text; avoid centering and right-justifying text. Pay attention to text size in figures - it must also be large. Title should be at least …cm tall. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Use color to attract attention, organize, and emphasize - but don't overdo it. Use a light color background and dark color letters for contrast. Avoid dark backgrounds with light letters - very tiring to read. Stick to a theme of 2 or 3 colors - much more will overload and confuse viewers. If you use multiple colors, use them in a consistent pattern - otherwise viewers will spend their time wondering what the pattern is rather than reading your poster. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Overly bright colors will attract attention - and then wear out readers' eyes. Consider people who have problems differentiating colors, especially when designing graphics - one of the most common is an inability to tell green from red. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Edit! Edit! Edit ruthlessly! to reduce text. If it doesn't provide critical support for your main message, ELIMINATE IT! Edit! Edit! Edit ruthlessly! to reduce text. Edit all text to simplify verbiage, to reduce sentence complexity, and to delete details. If it's not relevant to your message, remove it! Have colleagues comment on drafts. Print a small version and circulate for comment, or http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

hang a full-size draft with pens and invite them to critique. Evaluate your work - try the 60 second evaluation. Are your objective and main message obvious? Will readers be able to contact you? http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Focus on the evidence: your graphics Use the graphics on your poster to support conversations with colleagues. Focus on the evidence: your graphics Arrive early at the display site. Unless you're confident the organizers will have proper supplies, bring a poster hanging kit with you. Hang your poster square and neat. Make sure you're at your poster during your assigned presentation time. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

You want people to remember you and your work! Bring copies of a handout for your readers. It should include a miniature version of your poster and more detailed information about your work, in an illustrated narrative form. Consider doing this on an 10x21 cm sheet of paper, folded in half. This allows three pages of information, in addition to the miniature of your poster. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Restock supplies periodically, if poster is up for a long time. Put handouts, business cards, reprints nearby - on a table or in an envelope hung with the poster. Restock supplies periodically, if poster is up for a long time. Consider leaving a pen and pad inviting comments from viewers http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Best Practices in Planning and Design: No matter what the discipline or stage of the research process being presented, an effective poster is: attractive well-organized self-explanatory careful in linking text and imagery appropriate to the audience at hand http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Follow the 5 steps below when you design your poster, and you'll be more likely to achieve all of these characteristics of effective posters. Step 1: Determine the single most important message of your poster by asking yourself: If my viewer carries away one idea, what do I want it to be? Or, what is the big, take-home message that I want to convey? The answer will be the central theme that determines your entire poster design. It should be clearly expressed in the title (which should be the largest piece of text on the poster, readable from at least 5 feet away), and should be supported in every element that you decide to include in the poster design. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Step 2: Decide the major sections of information that you will include to support your main point, and organize these into a logical flow of information. Effective research posters include sections such as: • a statement of the problem or question investigated • a description of the method used (if relevant) • results or conclusions, • or, if this is a work in progress, next steps or future directions http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Effective public service posters include sections such as: social problem or community need addressed how you addressed it through your summer service work future directions for the work (for you or the organization) connections between your service and future academic and/or career plans http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

But you should adapt these section categories according to your project, method, and stage. The important point is that your information be divided into chunks and blocks, and then organized into a self-explanatory, logical progression that someone can understand even in your absence. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Think carefully about your audience as you compose your text Think carefully about your audience as you compose your text. Usually the audience will be multi-disciplinary and well-educated, but not necessarily specialists in your field. Finally, keep in mind that you can only make a limited number of points in the space of your poster, and, often, less is more. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Step 3: Select images and graphics that are closely tied to your major points There should be a clear reason for each image, and each image should be tied to the text. Avoid cluttering the poster with too many images-if the connection between an image and one of your main points is not immediately clear, don't include it just for the sake of visual appeal. At the same time, be sure that your poster is not too text-heavy and, thus, unappealing or overwhelming. Aim for balance between text and graphics. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Step 4: Experiment with layout and presentation. Move things around before gluing down. Decide on a layout that best fits the 5 characteristics above. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Some design basics to keep in mind: White space (the area not covered with text or graphics): not too much (or the viewer's eye will wander), not too little (or you'll confuse and overwhelm your viewer). Fonts: 18-24 minimum font size. Not more than 3 or 4 text fonts. Avoid all capital letters, except in titles. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Color: Background should be a solid color, not a pattern Color: Background should be a solid color, not a pattern. Avoid juxtaposing colors that clash or that fade each other out. Avoid too using too many colors. Use more intense colors only as borders or for emphasis, but be conservative--overuse of color is distracting. Cropping, Margins, and Spacing: All edges and margins should be straight and even. Use a ruler and razor knife. Don't overcrowd space, and be attentive to balance from top to bottom and side-margin to side-margin. Organize your elements into columns, rather than a book-style, left to right page-layout. http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

Step 5: Do a final edit of text, graphics, and the links between the two to assure that your poster meets the 5 characteristics above http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

1 week: Make changes suggested by peers Suggested schedule. Here are some ideas for establishing milestones. This schedule assumes that you're doing other things during the week. It also allows time for your poster to "sit on the shelf" while you think about it. Of course, you can turn weeks to days and skip drafts as time pressures require. 0 Present poster 1 week: Final print 1 week: Make changes suggested by peers 1 week: Distribute draft for peer review (round 2) 2 weeks: Make changes suggested by peers 2 weeks: Distribute draft for peer review (round 1) 3 weeks: Edit your draft ruthlessly 3 weeks: Create first draft of poster 4 weeks: Plan out poster on scratch paper 4 weeks :Define message and write an abstract (if you haven't already done so) http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS R Hess N C State University Kathryn W Tosney University of Miami Leon H Liesel Oregon State University Presentation compiled and edited by Rishi Hansrajh Teaching & Learning Commons (UKZN) http://talc.ukzn.ac.za

http://talc.ukzn.ac.za