ISMPP Booth Poster Design App

Home

Layout

Just because the science
can be complex... doesn’t
mean its presentation
should be!

Audiences rarely read a poster from start to finish, so it is important to
ensure that the design (font sizes, positioning of information, etc) clearly
conveys your key points.

Considered use of white space and visual prioritisation of content (‘visual
hierarchy’) helps to guide an audience’s attention, allowing them to
quickly digest the most critical information.

Good design principles suggest that your poster should be
40% title and text and 30% images, leaving 30% white space!¹

Examples of good poster design

Story

Just because the data
exist... doesn’t mean they
are all needed!

Lots of text and figures may be difficult for your audience to digest, so
only show them what they need to know!

Keep your core scientific narrative in mind, critically examining your data
to avoid the undue influence of habit and tradition to present every little
detail. Additionally, could creative data visualisation convey complex data
in a more engaging way?

Keep words to a minimum – aim for 800 words as your absolute maximum
(a typical poster length)¹ and go lower if you can!

Example of data visualisation

Accessibility

Just because design
options are numerous...
don’t sacrifice accessibility!

Accessibility extends beyond reducing content and is hugely important to
consider for certain populations – for example, those with visual, auditory,
physical, speech, cognitive and neurological disabilities.

A huge variety of fonts, colours and visual styles are available, but consider
from the start which combinations work for all audiences¹ – information
should be meaningful and usable for as many people as possible.

In an online survey targeting general conference attendees including
those from neurodivergent, Deaf and disabled communities:²

18% reported their accessibility needs were unmet
Poster designs with less visual clutter were preferred and audio/visual
summaries were recommended

University of Cambridge. Inclusive Design Toolkit. Available at: https://www.inclusivedesigntoolkit.com/UCvision/vision.html
Last accessed 18 January 2023.
JL Wells et al. Oral presentation and poster #6 presented at the 2023 European meeting of ISMPP. 24-25 January, London, UK.

Digital

Just because they’re called
digital enhancements...
doesn’t mean they always
enhance!

Digital tools such as QR codes, animations and augmented reality offer a
modern way to enhance your content, but their misuse can also disrupt
the narrative and be overwhelming.

Implementation is key – digital content should be user-friendly and easily
accessible, relevant to the original content and useful to your audience to
help or to further understanding.

The use of digital solutions can also make your poster more accessible by
allowing the use of screen readers.

Audience

Just because your poster
makes sense... doesn’t mean
it’s right for the audience

While focusing on presenting the science well, it is easy to lose sight of your target audience, which can result in content that is confusing for the reader.

Consider your educational objectives and pitch your content at the right
level and relevance to ensure your audience goes away enlightened.
Remember, plain language is a powerful tool too!

Gov.UK recommends writing for a 9-year-old reading age for their web articles.¹

Research on the use of language in legal documents showed that 80% of
people preferred sentences in clear English – the more educated the
person and the higher their specialist knowledge, the greater this
preference was.²

Gov.UK. Content design: planning, writing and managing content. Last updated 1 December 2022. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/writing-for-gov-uk.
Last accessed 13 January 2023.
Mark Morris. Guest Post: Clarity is king – the evidence that reveals the desperate need to re-think the way we write. Gov.uk. 17 February 2014. Available at: https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2014/02/17/guest-post-clarity-is-king-the-evidence-that-reveals-the-desperate-need-to-re-think-the-way-we-write/.
Last accessed 13 January 2023.

Parameters

Just because there are
parameters... doesn’t mean
you can’t be creative!

Budget, compliance regulations, templates and congress guidelines are all
critical to our work and may seem like an impenetrable barrier to producing
a good poster. Yet, basic best practice should still be followed and, by
keeping an open mind and actively exploring creative and innovative ideas
within the boundaries, you can still produce interesting and engaging content.

Look out for cost-efficient options for poster enhancements, such as an
online poster version behind a QR code.

Once upon a time... Effective storytelling in an age of omnichannel communication

Just because the science can be complex... doesn’t mean its presentation should be!

Just because the data exist... doesn’t mean they are all needed!

Just because design options are numerous... don’t sacrifice accessibility!

Just because they’re called digital enhancements... doesn’t mean they always enhance!

Just because your poster makes sense... doesn’t mean it’s right for the audience

Just because there are parameters... doesn’t mean you can’t be creative!

Share

Layout Example 1

Layout Example 2