Guidelines for Poster Presentations
For information on how to construct a great poster, please take a moment to consult Carline (2007. Guidelines to designing posters. Fisheries 32: 306-307).
The maximum allowable size for a poster will be 44” by 44” (112 cm x 112 cm). Be prepared to hang your poster from different surfaces (thumb tacks, Velcro tabs etc.). Please be considerate of adjoining presenters as you design and display your poster.
The purpose of the poster should be to convey highlights of a study or project in an attractive format that can be easily read and comprehended in a short period (i.e., 3 to 5 minutes). The body of the poster will have 300 to 400 words. In contrast, delivery of a 15-minute oral presentation may include 1,500 to 2,000 words, and it would include many more images than could be displayed on a poster. Thus, it is likely that a poster will convey less total information than an oral presentation. Efficient use of this limited number of words and images is necessary to convey the highlights of the study.
A key feature of the poster is that is can be easily read at a distance of 6 feet. Authors will need to minimize the amount of text in the poster, and to do so, use of bulleted phrases rather than complete sentences is best. Graphs need to be carefully designed so that they are readily comprehended. Details should be kept to a minimum. Photographs and color should be used to enhance the attractiveness of the poster and to entice the audience to stop and read it.
Elements of the Poster
Title:
The title should be short and fit across top of poster on one line.
Authors’ names and affiliations appear below the title.
Abstract:
This section is optional. See below for additional information.
Introduction:
Keep this section short.
Limit it to a few statements.
Clearly state the objectives.
Methods or Experimental Design:
Keep text to a minimum.
Use graphics where possible.
Results:
This section should take up most of the space.
Graphs (figures) are preferred over tables.
Keep graphs simple.
Include captions with graphics.
Include credits on photographs taken by non-authors.
Tables should not exceed four columns.
Keep statements brief.
Conclusions or Implications:
Limit this section to a few bulleted statements.
References:
This section is rarely included.
Acknowledgments:
Include this section when appropriate.
Abstract Option
A 200-word abstract in 28-point font will require 10% of the available space. Authors may decide that this space could be more effectively used for other material. Rather than require authors to include an abstract on the poster, this section is optional. If authors decide not to include an abstract on the poster, they should be sure to clearly state key items such as objectives and conclusions.
Design Specifications
The typical size of a poster is 32" x 44" (81 cm x 112 cm) in a landscape or portrait format. Each poster presenter will be assigned a 44” x 44” display area.
A 3-column format best fits this size poster in landscape format. The flow of material should be from top to bottom of each column and left to right among columns. Deviations from this pattern require careful planning. Leave 3.8 cm (1.5”) between columns
One can use thin-lined borders around sections or blocks of subsections to emphasize how items are grouped. Light-colored background fill can also be used to highlight different sections.
Use of photographs as backgrounds is not recommended, because legibility is usually compromised. Text boxes with a background fill can be superimposed on photographs. Text printed directly on photographs should be avoided, as it is generally difficult to read.
Light pastel backgrounds are attractive and allow use of contrasting font colors, such as black, dark blue, and red. White backgrounds are acceptable, though they are less attractive than colored ones.
Sans serif typeface such as Arial is best for good visibility at a distance; use the same font type throughout. Title – 72 point or larger; keep it short, not more than 80 characters including spaces.
Authors’ names and affiliations – 48 point.
Section headings – 36 point, bold.
Text – 28 point.
Graphs and tables – all numbers and labels 28 point or larger.
Graph bars and symbols – use colors; avoid cross hatching.
Acknowledgments – 20 to 24 point
Portraits of Authors:
Authors are encouraged to insert their pictures in the upper right corner of the title line. These portraits will assist poster viewers to find you, should they want to discuss your work.
Authors should consider producing a black and white (or color) reproduction of the poster on letter-size paper for distribution to interested readers.
The Guidelines above were taken from the American Fisheries Society, modified and used with permission.
Welcome to St. Louis
