Research and Writing

Poster Creation and Presentation

Posters are one way that researchers present their projects at conferences and other events. More concise than a traditional presentation, research posters combine text with visuals to share work. The goal of poster presentation is to summarize and communicate key findings.

Effective design and presentation skills are key to a successful poster event. Below are some tips for designing, printing, and presenting your poster.

Design and Printing

• Establish a project timeline: ensure that you allow enough time for proofs, revisions, and poster printing.
• Use the right size template: confirm the required poster size BEFORE designing. Check if your conference requires a specific template.
• Keep it simple: minimize text on your poster. Any text that appears should be vital to your message. Text serves as a cue, not a script.
• Choose readable fonts: your audience will read from a distance. For Summa templates, stick with the default font and size. If you have to shrink the text to make it fit, you have too much text!
• Use high-quality images: ensure that your images are an appropriate resolution for your poster. Avoid pixelated or stretched images.
• Use consistent alignment: try to keep headings, text, images, charts, etc. aligned when possible. Use white space strategically.
• Where will you print?: Summa offers poster printing services. If you need to use an external vendor, allow appropriate lead time.

Poster Resources

Additional Considerations

• Does your poster need to be mounted?
• How will your poster travel with you? Be sure to:
  • Acquire a poster tube or other protective case for your poster.
  • Confirm with your airline that a poster tube is a permissible carry on.

Presenting

You may be asked to present your poster in a variety of settings. Most common are informal presentations, where the audience is moving through a large room of presenters, and formal presentations, where the audience is listening to one presentation at a time. Here are some tips to help you prepare for and get through your presentation:

General Tips

• Know your audience - some may not be familiar with your topic. Be prepared to explain terminology and concepts to a diverse audience, and avoid field-specific jargon where possible.
• Answer the question "so what?" in your presentation.
• Practice, practice, practice! Don't just plan the presentation: practice it, preferably with someone that can give you feedback.
• Dress professionally, unless told otherwise. Keep temperature in mind - don't be too hot or too cold!

Informal Presentation

• Identify the main points of your research and the message you want your audience to take home.
• Prepare and practice a brief (only a couple minutes) talk, addressing your main points and take away message.
• Anticipate questions and prepare answers.
• Consider bringing business cards, a pen, and paper.

Formal Presentation

• Identify the main points of your research and the message you want your audience to take home.
• Prepare and practice a presentation that fits within the guidelines provided by the conference - do not go over the allotted time.
• Introduce and conclude your project: tell your audience what you will discuss, and remind them what you've discussed at the end.

Presentation Resources