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Creating Posters

Poster Design

Overall checklist

  • Use Capstone template
    • Poster template available here - Templates_and_Forms
    • Correct size (36" x 48")
    • Correct header and footer
  • Design Lab logo and client logo
  • Plain white background
  • Proof read: equations correct, figures labeled, spelling correct.
  • Readable: rule of thumb - poster printed on standard paper (8.5 x 11") held at arms length - every character should be readable
  • Microsoft embedded objects - use Excel chart objects, not pictures or images of Excel/Word content
  • No excess significant figures - nothing screams amateur and unbelievable more than excess sig figs.

Strategy

  • The poster should tell a story! Use your elevator speech to outline the story.
  • The poster will be used as a prop for your presentation. It is your "note card".
  • The poster should be able to communicate what your project is about even if you are not there to actually explain it.
    • Posters stay up for visitors - you will not be there.
    • Posters are compiled for publicity - you will not be there.
  • Use your previous work - this is not an exercise in creative writing. Especially your Project Statement and Objectives (PSO)!
    • Purpose - long term objectives from the PSO: the big picture
    • Background - Condense your PSO.
    • Semester objectives - straight from the Project Statement and Objective (condensed as needed).
  • Accomplishments are real tangible things - something a client would pay for. Administrative and planning tasks are not accomplishments.
  • Engineering Tools and Methods are not project management or the engineering design process.
    • show your engineering skills by telling us what software, calculations, theories, approaches you will use.
    • ex: Will you do an FEA? How about PSPICE for circuit analysis?
    • Do not just list tools, tell what you will actually DO with them. ex: "Use MATLAB to simulate control system response to variable x".

Style

  • As few words as possible - do not use complete sentences.
  • Use bullets or tables instead of paragraphs. Bullet point text should not exceed one line.
  • Use images, tables, charts, graphs images.
    • show YOUR accomplishments (preferred) or those of others (such as the previous team)
    • condense or eliminate text
    • avoid anecdotal data (cherry pick) - ex: parametric evaluation of result rather than a single point example
  • Use color only with purpose! Do not create a splashy poster just for the art of it. Use the color to code things or to separate material.
  • The poster MUST be readable! Full size on your laptop screen held at arm's length must be readable.
    • Diagrams must be readable! Use blank space in graphs for legends, figures, annotations
    • Pictures must be annotated - point to the features that cause the picture to be added in the first place.
    • Pictures should not have cluttered backgrounds - take time to take good pictures or use image editing to enhance
  • Use section headings per the template if possible. We publish these in an annual book and we want them to all look similar.
  • Avoid so-called "weasel words" - nebulous unquantifiable fluff that adds little or no value:
    • actions: familiarized, learned, understand, research...
    • adjectives: robust, optimal, ideally, theoretically, perfectly...
    • goals: efficient, expensive, cheap, strong... Quantify these as measurable requirements instead.

This table may help explain the relationship / purpose of the three key sections of your poster:

Objectives Engineering Tools and Methods Next Steps
WHAT things you need to deliver HOW you will deliver those things The ACTIONS needed to deliver those things

Poster Mechanics

Follow these for printing and producing your poster.

  • Select Arch E or a 3ft wide by 4ft long paper size option to print your poster.
  • Although the plotter paper is 36 inches wide, the actual printable area is 34 inches or less. Make sure to allow 1" margins.
  • Main bullets should be 66 point font or larger for legibility.
    • It is acceptable for legends/graphs/diagrams to have smaller font due to space constraints. You can verbally describe during presentations. Audience can move closer to inspect/understand afterwards.
  • Review your poster before sending it to a plotter. Print a poster on a letter size paper (8.5" x 11") using a color printer. Keep your arms straight and hold the sheet. This simulates the condition of a reviewer reading your 3’ by 4’ poster when you are standing in front of your poster. Make sure that it is easy to read and that the color scheme is working. Avoid complex backgrounds because they can distract from your message. Using a simple white background is almost always the best choice.
  • When printing, DO NOT use glossy paper! This is more expensive, takes longer to dry, and is often more challenging to read due to glare from lighting in the room.
  • It often takes two or more hours to print and dry a poster. It is a good idea to send your print job to a plotter at least one day before your presentation. The online resources are as follows. For more information, please get in touch with the Help Desk in VCC.
  • Be sure to post both the source file and a pdf file on the EDN. The source file is needed to create a final poster at the end of a semester, and for anyone else to edit.
  • Only PowerPoint should be used to create the poster. Tools such as Microsoft Publisher, Visio, Draw.io, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and similar tools are not to be used as not everyone has these tools. Web based tools are not to be used because the project's IP would then be stored in a non-RPI cloud system.
  • Cost of plotting poster will NOT be reimbursed through team budget.
  • Most Project Engineer's (Anderson, DeBoer, Paster, Natarajan) department affiliation is 'CORE'.

Poster Template

Template is located here - Templates_and_Forms