1. Effective Poster Design for Academic Conferences
Mojtaba Soltani (Ph.D.)
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

2. Why a scientific poster?
One of the most common methods of disseminating scientific information at conferences!
1- Allows one to convey more
details than in a talk
2-Provides an opportunity for more Q&A exchange between author and reader than a talk or paper
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

3. 1- Know Your Audience
2- In 3 seconds, a viewer decides whether to approach your poster or leave.
3- Subject must be clearly understandable from at least 10 feet (3 m) away.
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

4. A poster is an abstract Organize Your Information
Should contain all elements of a good research paper:
Motivation/Background
Procedures/Experimental
Results/Analysis
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Title, Author(s) and affiliation(s)
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Problem
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgments
• Contact Information
A poster is an abstract
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

5. Posters should have more description than a talk
slide, less description than a paper
Too little description:
too much description:
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

6. How to get started: Choose a poster layout
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

7. Authors & Affiliations
How to get started:
Title
Authors & Affiliations
Intro/Motivation
Background
Results
main point #1
main point #2
main point #3
Analysis
Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

8. flow How to get started:
Make sure there’s a coherent “flow” in your sections
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

9. 1- Make a heading for each section
2- Make a statement for the information in each section
3- Find a focus, eliminate noise (edit, edit, edit!)
4- Put it together
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

10. Lay out Landscape-oriented layout 2 or more columns left to right.
Lay out - Title
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

11. Lay out Portrait oriented layout Read top to bottom
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

12. Lay out
Alignment
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

13. Color
contrasting colours located directly opposite each other on the colour wheel, complementary colour
A combination of 3 colours side by side on the colour wheel,
using one as a dominant colour and the others to enrich
the scheme.
1- Use colour for a logo or a picture
2- Avoid coloured background
3- In the body of the poster, only use a support colour
Recommended colour
Recommended colour
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

14. Color
bad
good
good
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

15. Color The number of different colors should be limited
If you have colorful photographs, use them as an inspiration for your color scheme.
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

16. Figures – At least 300 dpi at final size Photographs:
– Avoid web captures—they are usually of low
resolution
– Put a thin outline around photos to help them stand out from the background
– Consider removing background from photo where possible.
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

17. – Consider removing background from photo where possible.
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

18. Figures
1- Make sure to label all figures with legible fonts and font sizes
2- Use darker background for lighter figures/pictures, and a lighter background for darker figures/pictures
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

19. jpg
png
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

20. Background Background may be : – A photograph
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

21. Background Background may be : – A solid color – A gradient
– A texture
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

22. Fonts: Can anyone read your body text?
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

23. Easy for the eye to follow
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

24. Fonts: Poster A2 – (w420 x h594mm) Poster A0 – (w841 x h1189mm)
Keep it simple and choose 1 or 2 clear (easily read fonts)
Poster A2 – (w420 x h594mm)
Heading – 55pt
Sub heading – 16pt
Introduction – 16pt
Method – 12pt
Type of paragraph – 12pt
Poster A0 – (w841 x h1189mm)
Heading – 72pt
Sub heading – 24pt
Introduction – 28pt
Method – 24pt
Type of paragraph – 28pt
Poster A1 – (w594 x h841mm)
Heading – 65pt
Sub heading – 24pt
Introduction – 28pt
Method – 16pt
Type of paragraph – 24pt
USING ALL CAPITAL LETTERS MAKES POSTERS HARDER TO READ, NOT EASIER
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

25. Top tips • Arial • Helvetica • Times New Roman • Times • Courier New
• Verdana
• Georgia
• Palatino
Keep up to date
Graphs and diagrams: Save in PNG format
Labels for graphs and diagrams
Mind your margins
Watch your resolution (less than 300 dpi)
Be careful with colour
Pay attention to your text
Use system fonts
Top tips
Less than 300dpi
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

26. Critique these posters
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

27. Critique these posters
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

28. Critique these posters
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

29. Critique these posters
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

30. Critique these posters
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

31. Critique these posters
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

32. This attracts attention but tires out the eye
Be aware of busy backgrounds
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

33. Where do I begin?
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

34. OK, but which way do I go?
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

35. Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

36. Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

37. A bit text heavy but not too bad
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

38. Conclusions first! Title: 85 point Authors: 56pt Sub-headings: 36pt
Body text: 24pt
Captions: 18pt
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

41. I appreciate your patience
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,

42. Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 Making Posters,
References
Advice on designing scientific posters,
Design of Scientific Posters,
PowerPoint 2007– Creating Posters, Web:
Poster Design Tips
Effective Poster Design,
Microsoft PowerPoint Making Posters,
Tips for Making Scientific Posters,
Develop great research posters using, Microsoft PowerPoint,
Mojtaba Soltani, Islamic Azad University of Chalous, Chalous, Iran,