How to Make a Poster Stephen Gilbert

Gilbert, 2015 1

Basics

July 15: Poster Draft to Desmond & AnnaJuly 27: Final Poster to Desmond & Anna

24” x 36” 30 – 60 pt font, 16pt minimum

Supported by NSF Grant CNS-1461160

Gilbert, 2015 2

Content

What will you present? (Not everything)

Think “Advertisement for Your Work”

What’s your message?

Gilbert, 2015 3

Content 2

1. What is the problem you are tackling?

2. What is the current state-of-the-art?

3. What is your key make-a-difference concept or technology?

4. What have you already accomplished?

5. What is your plan for success?

Gilbert, 2015 4

Layout

Left -> Right Top -> Bottom

(In the West)

Gilbert, 2015 5

Color

Text in a dark colorSpecial text in another color

Gilbert, 2015 6

Names

Dr. Stephen GilbertStephen Gilbert, Ph.D.

Gilbert, 2015 7

Presenting the Poster

Relate it to your audience Big pictureWhat do they have in common with you?What problem are you solving?

30 – sec pitch (elevator pitch)Elaborate afterwards if asked. Silence is ok.

Gilbert, 2015 8

Let the audience enter your story

You show: “Imagine you were in this situation…”They respond and engage. Eyes sparkle.

Eye contact (avoid looking down)

Gilbert, 2015 9

Look at your listeners

Glazing over? Question on lips?

To do this well, you need to practice your pitch so much that you don’t have to think.

Gilbert, 2015 10

Logistics

Stand to the side of your posterDon’t talk to the posterIf demoing: Have a driver and a speakerPractice

Practice

Practice

Gilbert, 2015 11

More Resources

A Verbose Guide to Presenting an Academic Poster

Kristy M. Ainslie, UNC Chapel Hill

http://colinpurrington.com/tips/academic/posterdesign

Deb Satterfield Video (pwd buildbetterposters)

Deb Satterfield Slides for that Video(use VRAC login)

Gilbert, 2015 12