1. How to Create an Attractive Scientific Poster?
Anas I Abutaha
Materials Science and Engineering
Functional Nanomaterials and Devices Group

2. Outline Posters vs oral presentations
Tips for poster layout and format
Tips for poster contents
Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

3. Posters vs oral presentations
A poster can be more efficient than giving an oral presentation:
View your research work briefly
Can be viewed while you are away 
Can be hanged in your department for years!
Can reach researchers who are not in your field
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

4. Outline Tips for poster layout and format
Posters vs oral presentations
Tips for poster layout and format
Tips for poster contents
Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

5. 1- Logical order of poster layout
Sketch your proposed sections on a paper
Write down the key ideas in each section
Select the figures/data that best convey your message (Do not put everything!)
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

6. 2- Know your poster size accurately!
Poster size is usually provided by the event organizers
Use the same suggested size, otherwise your poster will look odd among others!
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

7. 3- Pick up a software PowerPoint Adobe illustrator or InDesign
Easy to use
Limited flexibility
Colors may be deceptive
Excellent
Difficult to learn
Colors identical
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

8. 4- Make separate sections
Separate sections with a decent flow
Use the poster size effectively
Perfect
× Not Good
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

9. 5- Concise Title Keep your title short, snappy, and on target
Select the words carefully
The title should be readable from at least 2-3 meters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

10. 6- Text size and font Select a clean and visible font
The body text should be readable from at least 1 meter
Suggested fonts:
Times New Roman, Calibri, Calibri light, Arial, Candara,…
Don’t use:
Bernard MT Condensed
Blackadder
Goudy stout
Can anyone read the body text of your poster?
The body text should be readable from at least 1 meter
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

11. 7- Consistent colors Infinite number of colors Bad combination!
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

12. 8- Contrast!
× Not Good
Perfect
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

13. Outline Tips for poster contents Posters vs oral presentations
Tips for poster layout and format
Tips for poster contents
Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

14. 1- Sections like a scientific article
Sections with titles:
Abstract
Methods, Experimental,….
Results and Discussions
Conclusions
Future Outlooks
References
Acknowledgement
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

15. 2- Heart of the matter Keep it Simple Stupid! “KISS” principle
The poster should answer the following questions:
What is the problem?
Why should we care?
What is the strategy?
How did you perform it?
What did you actually find?
What did you conclude?
Where do you go from here?
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

16. 3- Convey the Big Picture!
Remember: your poster is NOT your paper!
Write plainly simply and briefly
× Not Good
Perfect
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

17. Checklist before printing out
Make sure that everything is aligned
Revise every single word, and evaluate every single picture
Get your supervisor’s opinion(s)! 
Get your friends’ opinions!
Print a trial copy of your poster on a normal paper
Make sure that you print using the right file format (PDF, PPT)
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

18. Outline Examples of attractive posters Posters vs oral presentations
Tips for poster layout and format
Tips for poster content
Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

19. Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

20. Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

21. Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

22. Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

23. Examples of attractive posters
Anas I Abutaha | Spring 2015

24. Thank You!