Has anyone ever created a poster presentation?

[klone]

I just learned that my master's capstone project was accepted as a poster presentation for a regional EBP symposium next year. !!!!

I've never created a poster for a presentation before, and am not really sure what it's supposed to look like. I plan to enlist the advice of our facility's nurse educator, but I thought I would ask to see if anyone here has any experience or advice.

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

I have done a number of these presentations as an undergraduate student for honors projects. I have also made the for professors as a research assistant.

One of the easiest way to make a professional-looking poster is on PowerPoint. Customize the sizing to 36"x48". That is the standard poster size. If you have a different requirement, adapt as needed. Use text boxes and the design functions.

Save as a PDF or PPT.

This will need a special printer, and it can be expensive to print. However, many organizations/academic institutions may cover these costs for you.

[SarahEAW]

Yes, I used a power point template and had it printed at a local smaller university with a nursing program. The print dept. did it for $45. Be sure you get some advice on font sizes and arranging the items. It will look different all blown up.

If you want to email me I can send you the template. It is fun once you get going.

General Recommendations

• Use light-colored and subtle backgrounds and colors.

• High contrast is appropriate

• Adequate clear space will direct attention to key elements

• Avoid:

– dark colors if laminating

– rainbow effect by using too many colors

– holiday colors

– busy backgrounds

• Font is important:

– Main title should be large and readable at 10 feet

– Body text is best greater than 24 point.

– Text and titles in all capitals are harder to read

• Avoid excessive use of different fonts

• Graphs/charts:

– Portray impact to reader

– Attractive, clear & specific

• References:

– Not needed for poster

– Have available on separate pages for viewer to pick up and read

[UTVOL3]

I second Makesigns.com. They have live people to answer questions. They even helped me with ideas for improving the quality of photos I used. I suggest using their templates versus a dinosaur template that may be lurking on your facility's share drive. Learned that the hard way.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

What great info I learned here today...have to bookmark this thread. I've read many poster presentations over the years at AACN NTI conference and always wondered how they were created. Kudos to OP for being selected to present. Following the advice here will help you create a dynamic presentation.

:)

[passionflower, BSN, MSN, RN]

Congratulations Klone. I am dreading the capstone project. Since I am in OB I plan to do something OB related. I don't know about poster presentations but I can't wait to see your capstone. Good luck with the project!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

Has any one else seen electronic posters at conferences? Some conferences offer them as an alternative to papers posters, the attendees view the posters on computer stations in the conference exhibition hall. The e-posters are uploaded onto several stations and the viewer selects the posters from an index. With e-posters, the poster presenter does not have to worry about printer errors or potential damage to paper poster when travelling or shipping it to the conference.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Congratulations Klone. I am dreading the capstone project. Since I am in OB I plan to do something OB related. I don't know about poster presentations but I can't wait to see your capstone. Good luck with the project!

Thank you! Don't dread it...the capstone was probably my most enjoyable (and painful and frustrating) part of my whole program. Mainly because I felt like I was doing something concrete that affects me and my workplace in the immediate, rather than something theoretical.

Choose something that you are passionate in, something that totally sparks your interest, and then run with it! Have fun and good luck!

[klone, MSN, RN]

And thank you, everyone, for your assistance and words of advice! I learned that our facility has a person who assists with exactly this type of thing, and there is a template I'm expected to use. But within the confines of the template, the advice gleaned here will DEFINITELY help me in creating this thing!

[klone, MSN, RN]

I'm just bookmarking this because I HAVE to make my poster in the next week, and I want to be able to refer to this thread.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Just bumping this up again. Wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to the wonderful AN.com members who helped me - what an amazing font of knowledge you all are. And I wanted to give a special thanks to those who suggested makesigns.com - it literally took me about 1.5 minutes to order my poster, and it was $20 cheaper than the local place my employer suggested.

Very excited - the conference is in April.