Poster Guidelines

GUIDELINES FOR POSTER PRESENTATIONS

POSTER SIZE IS 43 in x 43 in, 1.09 m x 10.9 m

Attention to detail is vital when preparing for any presentation. For posters, a general concept is that the information should stimulate discussion, not give a long presentation. Because space is limited, keep text to a minimum, emphasize graphics, and make sure every item in the poster is necessary.

Preparation and Layout

  • Over 10% of our membership is visually impaired.
  • Consider this post from BrightCarbon on accessibility for those with dyslexia.
  • Keep it simple – too much information leads to messy or “busy” posters. Avoid large blocks of text.
  • Remember that the maximum size of your poster will be 43” high x 43” wide (1.09 M high x 1.09 M wide). The bottom edge of the poster boards are approximately 30 inches (76.2cm) off the floor. Your poster should be no larger than this board.
  • Include the title and authors of the poster as listed in your abstract.
  • Within columns, information should flow from left to right and from top to bottom.
    • The introduction or rationale should be placed at the upper left and the outcome/impact or concluding comments should appear at the lower right. Objectives and other information will fill the remaining space.
  • It may be helpful to use arrows or identifiers (sequential letters or numbers) to guide the reader through the poster.
  • Avoid overwhelming your audience with too many numbers, words, and/or complicated graphs.
  • Stick to two or three main points; too many can confuse the viewer.
  • Get feedback from others before finalizing.

Text

  • Use short sentences, simple words, and bullets to illustrate discrete points.
  • Be concise. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, or unusual abbreviations.
  • The printed outcomes/impacts should permit observers to focus on a concise statement of your central findings that lends itself to discussion.

Fonts

  • All information should be large enough to read easily from at least 4 feet away.
  • Over 10% of our membership is visually impaired.
    • Use large font sizes - minimum 40 point font is ideal. Text should be no smaller than 24 point font. Author(s) and affiliation(s) should be at least 42 point, subheadings should be at least 60 point. The title should be printed across the top of the poster in characters of 80-150 point.
  • Use sans serif fonts like Arial, Calibri, Century Gothic, Franklin Gothic Medium, or Lucida Sans.
    • Choose one font and then use it throughout the poster.
  • Use left justification and a minimum of 1.5 spacing.
  • Add emphasis by using bold, underlining, or color (considering those with colorblindness). (Italics are sometimes difficult to distinguish from regular.)
  • UDo not use all caps unless it is for one or two word headings. ALL CAPS TEXT IS NOT EASY TO READ.

Illustrations (graph, charts, photos, etc.)

  • The success of a poster directly relates to the clarity of the illustrations and tables.
  • Self-explanatory graphics should dominate the poster (at least 50% of your poster space).
  • Keep captions brief.
  • A minimal amount of text should supplement the graphic materials.
  • Graphic materials should be visible from a distance of four (4) feet.
  • Only include essential information in graphs and tables.
  • Label data lines in graphs directly, using large fonts and color. The use of legends and keys requires the viewer to take more time to interpret your message.
  • Lines in graphs should be thicker than normally provided in printed letter-sized paper reports or manuscripts.

Use of Color

  • Consider the needs of those with colorblindness when choosing colors for figures. See the above links including accessibility in PowerPoint. Do not combine red and green.
  • Overuse of color can be distracting – restrained use of 2 to 3 colors for emphasis is valuable.
  • Two to three related background colors will unify the poster.
  • Use a light background with darker photos; a dark background with lighter photos.
  • Use a neutral background (gray) to emphasize color in photos, a white background to reduce the impact of colored photos.


CANCELLATIONS/EDITS TO PRESENTATIONS

AFTER MAY 1, if you plan to cancel your presentation, make an edit to your title, make a change in speakers, change in presentation dates, etc., please fill out the information HERE or click the button below. If you are making a change to more than one presentation (such as a Poster and an Oral), fill out the information separately (i.e. fill out the information for the oral presentation, then on another line fill out the information for the poster presentation). Updates will be made as soon as possible and will be noted on the document when the request is completed.

JMIH 2022 Abstract Changes/Cancellations