preparing a poster - ohsu.edu · how do i make a poster . that doesn’t suck? don’t think like...

PREPARING A POSTER

HOW TO MAKE A POSTER THAT DOESN’T SUCK

Hello there!

Jackie Wirz, PhD [email protected]

503.494.3443

1 | Research 101

2 | Posters

3 | Abridged!

1 | Research 101

Research Rocks

The Research Cycle

The Research Cycle

1. Brilliant Idea!

2. Build Idea

3. Fund Idea

4. Research

5. Compile

6. Share: Write, Present

7. Fame, Fortune

The Research Cycle: What people think

1. Brilliant Idea!

2. Build Idea 3. Fund Idea

4. Research

5. Compile


7. Fame, Fortune (cure cancer)

The Research Cycle: What Really Happens

1. Brilliant Idea!

2. Build Idea

3. Fund Idea

4. Research

5. Compile


7. Fame, Fortune

The Research Cycle: What Really Happens

1. Idea!

2. Build Idea

3. F

UND

IDEA

4.

Res

earc

h

5. #&@^!& Deadline!


1. Idea #2

2. Try #2

0. Failure!!

1. Idea #896

0. beer

2. Build #896

What People Think

What Really Happens

What does this not prepare you for?

We are Trained to think and produce DATA

Data does not speak for itself…

You speak for your data

COMMUNICATION

writing | VISUALIZATION | Speaking

COMMUNICATION

Posters combine all three!


Remember the context…

Progressive Effects of Alcohol

BAC (% by vol.) Behavior Impairment

0.010–0.029 •Average individual appears normal •Subtle effects

0.030–0.059

•Mild euphoria •Relaxation •Joyousness •Talkativeness •Decreased inhibition

•Concentration

0.06–0.09 •Blunted feelings •Disinhibition •Extroversion

•Reasoning •Depth perception •Peripheral vision •Glare recovery

2 | POSTERS

Hello there!

How do I make a poster That doesn’t suck?

Don’t think like this…

Think like this!


Posters that don’t suck

Be BRIEF!

Don’t be P&J!

keep your text to a minimum

The human eye can only read so much text in a given block before wanting to die a painful death.

Keep your text blocks to a minimum (size and content), lest dead bodies pile up near your poster.

Abstract

1 | Title

Title, formatted in sentence case, that hints at something interesting.

Not Title Case NOT ALL CAPS

sans serif

jargon is not interesting…

2 | Intro

You have two sentences to hook a reader. Use it wisely.

serif font from here on out

Figure 1. Wisely can mean using a graphic in the intro. I t’s a poster, not a paper.

Who looks awesome?

I f they really want details, they will contact you. Keep this brief. How

about some visual stimulus or interaction?

3 | Materials/Methods seriously.

enter graphics enter technology

Paragraph format is fine, but bullet lists work as well. Just keep it readable.

KISS: vs.

Layout is key here!

4 | Results

Don’t just recap your results: these are for the conclusions, the ah ha! M oments.

This section should be readable by itself.

Talking points!

Many people start reading here, so

recap a bit.

5 | Conclusions

Make sure to cover “What’s

next?”

Literature cited. Acknowledgements. Further Information. Contact

information.

I am a librarian. Don’t make me hunt you down.

Seriously.

6 | Acknowledgements/Info

Poster ≠

Paper

If this is your template…

This follows the advice. Sort of.

General Layout

Programs

Page Layout

InDesign LaTeX QuarkXPress

Graphics Packages

Illustrator Omnigraffle Inkscape

If you must

Photoshop Powerpoint

leave plenty of white space

Color is Powerful

Photo: mmebouffant

Use it Responsibly…

Photo: Andrew Bain

RESOURCES

http://www.vischeck.com/

http://www.etre.com/tools/colourblindsimulator/

http://www.color-blindness.com

Use CONTRAST

Dark Background

Light Background

High Contrast

low Contrast

Don’t do this!

My future car: DB8 Totally badass Because I love it

Bad Color Choices

Avoid loud, garish colors…

Avoid text colors that fade into background,

i.e. blue and black

Avoid color-blind combinations:

– Red and green

– Blue and yellow

• Did you know blue/red appears fuzzy?

Check contrast & Color in grayscale

Bad Color Placement

Image Is

Everything

Resolution Matters

72 dpi…

300 dpi…

What’s your Publication DPI?

Your Badass Image is Meaningless without Scale bar, Magnification or Description

Graphs & Charts

Give Short, Descriptive Titles

Want to know more? Call me!

aim here!

pretty ugly

useful

crap

Here’s a Tip!

Presenting

Body 101

Relax Eyes up! NO CBF!

What to Say…

Specific Concise Genuine

Flair! Extra AV Mini Posters Contact Info

Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice Practice

- Your mother

Don’t practice until you get it right...

Practice until you can’t get it wrong.



3 | Abridged

Hello there!

How do I make a poster That doesn’t suck? (abridged)

!&@#!, I have 12 hours to throw this thing together…

5 | Min to read

2 | Sent. Summary

1 | Big Moment


- Your mother

Don’t practice until you get it right...

Practice until you can’t get it wrong.



Thank You

RESOURCES

Betterposters.blogspot.com

F1000 Posters

Colin Purrington

RESOURCES

http://www.cns.cornell.edu/documents/ScientificPosters.pdf

http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/research/research-week/upload/presentation_creating_a_great_scientific_poster.pdf

https://kuler.adobe.com/create/color-wheel/

Contact me!

[email protected]

503.494.3443

503.201.3543

questions?

preparing a poster - ohsu.edu · how do i make a poster . that doesn’t suck? don’t think like...

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