Seminar Techniques and Technology (HS 601)

Handout - Poster Production (General)

1. Things that help (do's)
   1. Use complementary colors with good contrast
   2. Be consistent in style and format
   3. Plan for the number of pages that will fit (often 16 on a 4'x4')
   4. Choose legible font style
   5. Make font size as large as possible
   6. Use minimum amount of text; make it concise
   7. Should be self-explanatory (may be viewed in your absence)
   8. Use horizontal format whenever possible
   9. Use graphics (photos, diagrams, and charts)
   10. Highlight titles or important points
   11. Use one main point per page (title above, development of idea below)
   12. Make border spacing and positioning consistent across pages
   13. Use mat board or foam core backing
   14. De-emphasize methods section
   15. Have handouts if possible (methods, business cards)
   16. Add a photograph of the author(s), university logo
   17. Make it portable (carrying method should protect poster in transit)
   18. Plan poster mountings ahead of time (hook side of Velcro, or pins)
2. Things that hurt (don'ts)
   1. Use fuzz side of Velcro
   2. Use massive data tables
   3. Present trivial information or extraneous art (distracting)
   4. Be redundant
   5. Use journal-published tables or figures