1. 1 Poster Design I Presentation Critiques Practice

2. 2 Presentation Topics Posters and Your Professional Image Considering Your Audience Organizing Perception with “Space Logic” Guiding Viewers’ Understanding Giving Your Talk

3. 3 Posters and Your Professional Image Posters define projects AND people by displaying –Innovative quality of thinking and approach –Collegial relationships (who works together) –Value of work done

4. 4 Poster Session Audiences Have little time Want to choose posters Need a “gist” to make decision Have professional interests Are open to excitement Uncertain about personal interaction

5. 5 Considering Your Audience Why are they interested? What are their backgrounds? How will they benefit? What are their questions? LIST CONTENT QUESTIONS!

6. 6 Poster Criteria Link Audience and Design Accessible Usefulness Understandable Emotionally pleasing

7. 7 Designing written documents differs from designing posters: Must display the whole argument at once, not piece by piece Choose perceptual guides Select sufficient detail for understanding Establish feelings of rapport Design Process for Big Posters Music must be heard over time, not all at once. Posters are the opposite.

8. 8 Poster’s Answers to 7 Questions Enhance Your Image 1.Problem? 2.Context within the field? 3.Importance? 4.Method(s)? 5.Findings (to date or expected)? 6.Unique contribution? 7.Possible applications, value to society?

9. 9 What is YOUR News? Of the 7 questions, which is most important? –Your results or conclusions? –What sets your work apart? New theoretical approach / methods / interpretation of data –What was your focus? What opposition is involved?

10. 10 Visualize NEWS with “Space Logic - Step 1 Identify your main point or “news” Imagine the whole message Identify key parts –Claims –Evidence Organize space to “map” your news How do I create a map? Organizing Perception

11. 11 Visualize NEWS with “Space Logic” - Step 2 Is “The News” problem / solution? Is it an image? Is it a contrast? (old vs. new) Is it a demonstration? What is “Space Logic”? What kind of idea is your News?

12. 12 Visualize NEWS with “Space Logic” - Step 3 Is sequence crucial to the news? Is a design, piece of equipment, or image central to the news? Does the news divide into two parts? Horizontal layout 3-column layout with wide center column Two-part design, subdivided Consider.................... Try

13. 13 Visual Efficiency Make every glance count –How the whole goes together –Where to find specific content –Convey relative importance Think of Suitcase Packing –Everything “goes” with something else –Travel light –No more than 7 key points

14. 14 Using Only the Evidence Needed Over abundant info delays understanding What’s really critical to accepting the NEWS? Pick out the 2 to 5 critical pieces Find visual or pictorial equivalents –Don’t give a paragraph if a quick pix will do It is the claim of this investigation that the determining factor that had previously been relied on is in fact precipitously Underappreciated in the general situation that has prevailed for the past thirty years in American science. This is in part due to the lack of response from the international community that relies on a few journals over others and as a result has not be aware of the key elements prevailing in the investigation of elemental particles in this sector of the atomic table. The visualization testing that has been occurring in France in the past several years had yielded some results of note but the need for additional testing and confirmation has caused the community as a whole to overlook possible applications.

15. 15 Chunking Information Rank the info: MUST / Good / nice Include the MUST Add some Good Save “nice” details for discussion or handout

16. 16 “Space Logic” Guides Perception Left-to-right flow in vertical columns Left-to-right flow in horizontal rows Centered image with explanations Two fields in contrast Space Logic cues eye movement

17. 17 Guide Viewers’ Perception with Flow Organize the overall layout to reflect your visualization of the NEWS Put the “gist” upper left or at conventional entry point of design Flow to lower right hand corner

18. 18 Arrange Chunks into Path for Eyes Flows top to bottom, left to right Title & Authors (Paths Fit Various Layouts)

19. 19 Title & Authors Results Methods Intro Abstract Table 1 Conclusions Fig 2

20. 20 L-to-R Flow in Rows Title & Authors References Abstract

21. 21 Centered Image & Explanations Title & Authors Abstract

22. 22 Two Fields in Contrast Title & Authors

23. 23 Is Tolkien’s Middle Earth Relevant Today? Image of London in WWII Image of New York today Relevance in WWII Relevance Today “Pull-out quote: Central point of argument” Student Name E-mail Sample Humanities Poster

24. 24 Centered Image & Explanations Title & Authors Abstract Same as this design but without centered title, grid contrast

25. 25 Make News Understandable with Textual Guides Include introductory summary or abstract “Tailor” the summary into parts Use message headings Write “agent / action / result” sentences Reduce jargon

26. 26 Key Info in Left Column Title & Authors One Option...

27. 27 Use Design Principles CONTRAST items to show difference ALIGN items meaningfully (alignment) PAIR related items (proximity) REPEAT elements for coherence (such as color) SUBORDINATE to show relationships

28. 28 Guide Viewers’ Perception Scale expresses relative importance Color adds emphasis or coherence Indenting shows subordination –As in this example Blank space directs gaze Not enough blank space Blank space frames cart

29. 29 Principles of Explanation Introduce figure beforehand Discuss figure afterward Tag images with explanations

30. 30 Fat Text - - to - - Lean Text The ideal anesthetic should quickly make the patient unconscious but allow a quick return to consciousness, have few side effects, and be safe to handle. Ideal anesthetics –Quick sedation –Quick recovery –Few side effects –Safe to handle

31. 31 Font Style and Size Title (6 – 8 words) –Sans Serif –96 - 120 pt Headings (3 words) –Sans Serif –36 - 48 pt Text –Sans serif or Serif –30 - 36 pt. 10 to 1 rule: 10 ft. viewing distance requires 1 inch or 72 points font height 1 inch = 6 picas = 72 points or 6 pts/pica

32. 32 Details Matter! Check for consistent formatting Check grammar & spelling Use a correct bibliography Give credit to others (to establish your character and ethics) Include contact info

33. 33 Giving Your Talk Imagine your audience’s list of questions Know where each answer is on the poster Have a preferred starting point Be a tour guide Imagine the “trip” from viewer’s perspective Go from “known” to “new”

34. 34 Communicate with Confidence Talk to audience, not poster Stand straight, arms down, chin up Integrate gestures ELEC 301 poster session

35. 35 Invite Audience Participation Use voice to communicate enthusiasm Smile to create relationships Encourage discussion, questions

36. 36 P-Talks Are Not “Speeches” Audience changes, plan several versions –30-second to 3 minutes Use welcoming body language Bring newcomers into the discussion without really interrupting your talk Practice to test your poster design: Is it “talkable”?

37. 37 Enjoy Being on Stage World’s Best Project!

38. More resources are available for you under “Engineering Communication” at Connexions at http://cnx.orghttp://cnx.org at the Cain Project site at http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj http://www.owlnet.rice.edu/~cainproj in your course Communication Folder in OWLSPACE. Lead through Excellence in Engineering Communication