These slides were prepared for Massey University students to give suggestions for poster presentations.

1. National Centre for Teaching & Learning
Poster Presentations
SLIDES FROM THIS PRESENTATION CAN BE VIEWED AT:
tinyurl.com/158750posters

2. Resources

3. VIDEOS tinyurl.com/nctlvideos

4. BASIC SKILLS WORKSHOPS
(Study Up)

5. SEE tinyurl.com/nctlworkshops
ADVANCED SKILLS WORKSHOPS
(POSTGRAD STUDY UP)

6. ACADEMIC Q & A
(see under Academic Support on Stream)
Also, drop-in maths & stats support in the
CTL (library level 3) Mon – Fri 1 – 2 pm and
drop-in writing support at library desk Mon
– Friday various times

7. Attend a library workshop: tinyurl.com/masseylibraryworkshops
Contact a subject librarian: tinyurl.com/masseylibrarian
APA referencing guide: tinyurl.com/masseyapainteractive
Book a library room for your group project: tinyurl.com/masseylibraryroom
Health & Counselling: tinyurl.com/masseywellness
Counselling self-help resources: tinyurl.com/masseycounsellingselfhelp
Designing effective posters: tinyurl.com/designposters
Preparing oral presentations: tinyurl.com/preparepresentation
OTHER USEFUL LINKS

8. Overview
What is a Poster?
Part 1 : Poster Content and Structure
Part 2 : Poster Layout and Design

9. Part 1 :
Poster Content & Structure
• The setting
• Beginning your poster
• Planning the sections

10. Example 1

11. Beginning your Poster
Ask yourself:
• What is my main objective?
• What is the one main idea I want to communicate?
• Who will the audience be?
• How can I best sell my ideas?
• What do I want the audience to remember about my poster?

12. Planning the Sections
Each section must convey one aspect of the main idea
• A Title
• Introduction and/or Objectives
• Theory or Methodology
• Results
• Discussion and/or Conclusions
• References
• Additional Information

13. Title
• Necessary
• Grabs attention and ‘hooks’ people
• Related to overall concept of study
• Informative, naming people and affiliation

14. Title
Treatment of myocardial infarction through
virtual surgery
Josephine A. White and Joseph B. Black
Department of Molecular Science, Massey University
Avoid the use of colons in titles: it breaks the flow

15. Introduction/Objectives
• Introduces what you are trying to solve / discover /
prove
• May set context via mini literature review
• Leads into aims and objectives of project
• ½ paragraph long

16. Theory/Methodology
• Outlines theoretical basis / method used to conduct
research
• Details assumptions you have made and
limitations of your work
• Brief, ½ paragraph long
• Can use illustrations / figures / etc.

17. Results
• Include statements that describe your results
• Relate results back to hypothesis
• Largest section: use figures rather than tables to
illustrate results

18. Discussion/Conclusion
• Can be two different sections
• Discussion may explain significant results
• You may wish to only have a Conclusions section:
o List main findings, reminds reader of hypothesis,
and whether they were supported
• ½ paragraph long

19. References (if required)
• Cite all works referred to
• Use recommended format (APA)
• Keep references limited to relevant sources only
• Need not be exhaustive – the fewer the better

20. Example 2

21. Word Count
• No limits
• Use graphics
• Pictures say more than words

22. Part 2 :
Poster Layout & Design
• Planning the layout
• Computer / manual design
• Designing the poster
• Space
• Color
• Graphics
• Other details

23. Planning the Layout
• Numerous ways to plan
o Computer / manual planning
o Manually cut and paste on actual size board
o Transfer information to PC (make pdf file)
• What size board? (A1, A2, A3?)
• Posters in English: left to right, top to bottom

24. Planning the Layout
Layout can be: Portrait or Landscape
o Central
o Columnar
o Linear

25. Central Layout
Results
Conclusions
References
Title
Methods
Results
Introduction

26. Columnar Layout
(landscape)
Abstract
Introduction
Results
Conclusions
References
Title
Methods
Results
Results
Conclusions
References
Title
Introduction
Methods Results

27. Columnar Layout
(portrait)
Results
Conclusions
References
Title
Methods
Results
Introduction

28. Linear Layout
Title
Results
Conclusions
References
Introduction
Methods

29. Elements of Design
• Space
o Less is more – do not cram too much information
o Allow a lot of “white space” behind the text
o Too little white space = cluttered (tiring for reader)

30. Example 3

31. Elements of Design
• Font type
o Title – Verdana, Arial, Calibri tend to stand out
o Text –Times New Roman tends to be more readable
• Number of Fonts – no more than two

32. Elements of Design
• Font size
o Poster should be readable from 2 to 3 metres away
o Main title – 90 points high
o Sub-titles – 72 points
o Section headings – 36 points
o Text – 24 points

33. Elements of Design
• Paragraphs
o Use single spacing as space is at a minimum
• Spelling
o Proofread closely
o Spelling mistakes give an impression of sloppiness 
loss of funding or lower grade

34. Elements of Design
• Justifying text? – your choice
AVOID
Justified text can be visually
“tiresome” because it spreads the
text out so that it is both fully to
the left and fully to the right of the boundary
on each page.

35. Elements of Design
• Color Schemes
o Avoid bright colors
o Use tints and hues rather than contrasting colors
o Keep cost in mind
o Use color for a purpose
o Beware of red/green for color-blind viewers

36. Elements of Design
• Graphs
o Labelled correctly and consistently
o Legible from a distance
o Relevant to your study
o Legends must also be readable
• Avoid using tables
o Difficult to read and tedious
o Use graphs to display information

37. Elements of Design
• Do not use Clip Art!
• Photographs
o Matte finish, glossies are difficult to view
o Can spray with artist’s matte spray
o Labelled and legible from a distance

38. Elements of Design
• Equations
o Keep to a minimum
o Visible from 2-3 metres
o Have a legend describing each element

39. Elements of Design
• Finishing
o Do not laminate – glare makes it difficult to read
o Print on good quality paper
o Get critical feedback before sending for printing

40. Example 4

41. Presentational skills
• Let the visuals do the talking
• Don’t mumble
• Use eye contact and simple gestures
• Speak in short phrases with pauses
• Break up your monologue with questions and tasks for
audience
• Provide a clear overview of session and review of what’s
been covered

42. THANKS FOR COMING ALONG!
SLIDES FROM THIS PRESENTATION CAN BE VIEWED AT:
tinyurl.com/158750posters