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2. The layout.
Be strategic in how you use poster space to display information. The basic principles of graphic design are key because, as Faulkes puts it, not all poster “real estate” is created equal. In a nutshell, your most valuable information should occupy the upper part of your layout.1
Top left: A compelling question that your research asks.
Top center: Your key results.
Top right: The take home message.
The bottom part of the poster will usually escape viewers’ attention. Use it for information that might be of interest to experts or information that you can decide to reference in your presentation, depending on your audience.
Bottom left: Detailed methods.
Bottom center: Supporting results.
Bottom right: Acknowledgments to funding agencies and references.
Popular magazine design, not surprisingly, can offer clues to how to grab attention and effectively convey your message.2
1. Faulkes, Zen. “Poster Real Estate.” Better Posters, April 29, 2010. http://betterposters.blogspot.com/2010/04/poster-real-estate.html.
2. Faulkes, Zen. “Learning from Cosmo.” Better Posters, June 24, 2010. http://betterposters.blogspot.com/2010/06/learning-from-cosmo.html.
Well, OK, this content is not exactly scientific or intellectually challengung...but you get the point!
Top part of the layout has the most important information (and the model's face, which inevitably draws you in).
Color images work great on posters. The HOT PINK background maybe not so much!
Popular magazine design, not surprisingly, can offer clues to how to grab attention and effectively convey your message.2