Workshop on Scientific Posters

By Dr Lewis D Griffin, UCL CS

Topics Covered

• What happens at poster sessions

• Getting your poster printed

• Designing your poster

Conference Poster Sessions

• A typical poster session:– Posters 5:30 to 7:00 pm

– Posters will be placed on display after 10:00 am in Exhibit Hall 1. A poster session, with authors present at their posters, will be held Tuesday evening, 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

• Variants– Posters up for longer than just the session.– Even/odd sessions– Poster teaser talks

An attendee shuffles along, half turned away, nervous of getting ensnared.

Would you like me to talk through my poster?Yeah, sure, I guess.

Common Variant 1: the big poster session

Common Variant 2: the cramped poster session

Poster Production• Find out how long printers take and so calculate deadline.

• Find out poster size and if landscape or portrait

• Use MS PowerPoint.

• Download template

• Add text and pictures.

• Fiddle until fixed.

• Send or take to the printers a pdf printed from the powerpoint file or the powerpoint itself.

•Get a tube for transport.

• Don’t leave in the airport.

Where to print posters

• UCL Media Services

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/isd/common/creative_services/design/illustration_poster

• The Printing Centre • 37 Store St, Camden, London WC1E 7BS• 020 7636 8723 • Can be same day. Slightly cheaper.

Poster Design Principles

• The ideal poster will:

• 1) attract passers-by to stop and take an interest

• 2) make a good impression

• 3) enable the viewer to remember key details of your research (what, why, how, who?)

• 4) encourage viewers to contact you for more information about your research.– Include email– A4 handouts in envelope with drawing pin.

Detailed Design Principles• Irrelevant detail

Try to avoid inappropriate side issues which may detract from the main subject

• Too much detailDon't be tempted to include all you know on the subject - remember that the viewer has a limited time to look at your poster.

• ClutterConversely, avoid having so much information that the sections presented are unable to stand apart.

• SparsenessMake sure that enough information is included on the poster. Don't make up for lack of information by using exceptionally large fonts and figures.

• Window pane effectStraight rows and columns of information are not visually stimulating especially if the size and content of each appears similar, giving a window pane effect. Use a pattern of sections - this need not be regular.

• Title.The top of the poster should indicate the title, the author(s) and the address of the author(s) as well as having the UCL logo (see the Media Services document).

• Illustrations.Figures should be designed to be viewed from a distance and should use clear, visible graphics and large type (where appropriate). Colour can be effective if used sparingly; use saturated dark colours on white or pale backgrounds and light colours on dark backgrounds. Try to avoid red-green combinations that might be a problem for people who are colour-blind. Each figure should illustrate no more than one or two major points. These main points should be clear without extended viewing.

• Text

• Each figure or table should have just a few lines of text giving the "take-home" message and any additional, essential information.

• Minimize narrative. Posters are visual and their message should be conveyed with a minimal of text.

• Use large type in short, separated paragraphs. Do not set entire paragraphs in uppercase (all capitals) or boldface type.

• An introduction should be placed at the upper left and a conclusion at the lower right.

• References may be placed at the end of a poster but should be used sparingly.

• An acknowledgement of your funding bodies (the EPSRC and BHF) should be provided in the lower right-hand corner.

Some specifics

Error 1

Pieces of paper + glue approach.

No excuse for this nowadays.

Error 2

Enthusiasm-crushing.

But not all research is ‘sexy’.

Don’t rely on colour to disambiguate (8% males colour blind)

Also window pane effect is dull

Error 3: Unclear reading order

Clear & simple

Large fonts

BUT:

Does the blue wash add anything?

Inaccessible to the non-expert.

A pretty good poster

A good poster.

Clear and simple use of colour.

Could do with a bit more white space.