Project Posters

Editing and Composition

• Posters can be composed using whatever software you prefer. We provide a Microsoft Power Point template. There is no need to follow the template.
• We will provide 32"x40" backer board for the poster.
• The poster serves 3 purposes
• Give people something to look at when you are talking to others.
• Help draw people in. Large figures and text are better.
• Help simplify complex explanations, e.g., with a system architecture diagram.
• Figures and images should either be vector graphics or high-resolution. Don't use lossy compression for images with sharp edges, such as diagrams containing text; that looks awful when enlarged. This is such a common mistake. Please beware.
• Some images, title, and major topics should be clear from 7' away.
• Avoid sentences and small fonts.

Poster Printing

• The department views posters as analogous to textbooks, and won't reimburse the purchase cost. However, most students will only pay around $6 for their share of the cost.
• The Duderstadt Groundworks center will print a 32 x 40 inch color print for about $44. Our poster board is only 32 x 40 so if you print bigger you will need to get a poster board. Groundworks takes 24 hours to print. Art and Architecture is a less expensive option, at around $20. Feel free to use other printing sources.
• Easels and backboards will be provided at the presentation.

Poster Examples

• Here is an example poster. It is fine to follow a different style. This example might have been even better with a labeled high-level system block diagram instead of a long list of bullet points in the solution.
• Mixing too many font sizes, styles, and colors is a typographical nightmare.
Use just enough variety to draw the eye to the most important points without distracting the reader.
• Here is another very different example, with a layout designed to guide the reader through a few different paths. This one focuses on explaining some fairly intricate technical solutions. This is just to give you ideas on style and organization. Don't use the landscape format.