Presenter Resources

• Posters should be 40″ x 32″ (w x h) for a horizontal layout and 32″ x 40″ (w x h) for a vertical layout. This size matches the foam board that you will be provided to hang your poster. Please note that we do not have alternative sizing for foam board, and thus posters that do not meet this dimension cannot be easily accommodated.
  • Please do not pay to have your poster mounted.
  • The event provides clips to hang your poster to the foam board provided.
• You may view previous year posters in the poster repository. Your netID and password may be required to view this resource.

Poster Printing

The best on-campus option (and usually the most cost-effective) for large-format poster printing is Creative Communications (3900 Seventh Ave N.E., phone: 206-543-5680). Please use this order page for appropriate size printing for your poster.

Additional printing near campus include:

• EZ Copy and Print
• FedEx Office Print and Ship Center
• Professional Copy and Print
• Rainier Copy and Print

We highly recommend you request a proof from these printing services if available.

Image Resolution (PowerPoint)

To ensure that your images print appropriately, at a high resolution, and are not fuzzy, we recommend adjusting your image size and quality. To do this in PowerPoint:

• Navigate from “File” → “Options” (bottom left) → “Advanced” → “Image Size and Quality”
• Ensure the checkbox “Do not compress images in file” is checked.
• Set the “Default resolution” to “330 ppi” from the dropdown.

Poster Sizing (PowerPoint)

If your poster template does not match the sizing recommendations above, you can adjust the sizing of the template. To do this in PowerPoint:

• Navigate to “Design” → “Slide Size” → “Custom Slide Size”
• Enter the “Width” and “Height”.
• Click “OK“.

Accessibility

Below are recommendations to make your poster as accessible for your audience as you can. These are not required, but highly recommended:

• Use large, sans serif, fonts and simple design visuals on plain backgrounds.
• Font size recommendations:
  • Title: 85-100 pt.
  • Authors: 45-60 pt.
  • Headings: 36-45 pt.
  • Body: 24-36 pt.
  • References/acknowledgements may be smaller than 24 pt.
• Ensure to include breathing space, or whitespace, between your items.
• Instead of paragraphs, opt to use bulleted lists or brief sentences.
• Left-align paragraph and list body/text.
• Include captions for all figures, pictures, or charts/graphs.
• Spell out acronyms and avoid or define jargon and idioms.
• Use high contrast colors. You can test your poster with the Color Contrast Analyzerand Color Blindness Simulator.

When Talking/Speaking

• Consider facing your audience versus relying on your poster.
  • Feel free to utilize or rely on visual elements, like figures, to guide the conversation or presentation.
• Potentially have examples to explain your research to someone who may not be from your discipline/area of study.
• Speak clearly, slowly, and loudly. You will often be in a space surrounded by other students, audience, and in an open area.

More Resources:

• UW DO-IT Universal Design
• Designing Effective Research Posters

• Your presentation should be 10 minutes in length (this is enforced given the many presenters going before and after you). You will have an additional 2 minutes for questions and answered.
  • You will be presenting in a classroom or meeting room setting with 5-6 other presenters.
  • The presentation will be moderated by a faculty or invited moderator and supported by a volunteer.
• You may choose to accommodate your presentation using visual elements, such as slides or handouts (provided by yourself).
• You may choose to accommodate your presentation by using live demonstrations, performance, and/or audience participation.

Bringing Your Presentation

If you are presenting your presentation via the computer, we ask that you provide your presentation via the form sent to all presenters through email. This ensures we have your presentation ahead of time. However, we also encourage you to bring your presentation via a USB drive, cloud link, and/or email– which can be accessed via a classroom computer– the day-of the event just in case.

Technology in Presentations

In each presentation room, you can look forward to having access to a desktop or laptop computer provided by the event, connected to a projector. You may also access a whiteboard or chalk board and will be able to use a laser pointer or slide navigator remote.

You may not use your own laptop. You are asked to upload your presentation prior to the event via a form sent to all presenters through email. In addition, you are encouraged to bring your presentation via a USB drive if needed as a backup.

Tips for Presentations

• Consider utilizing the UW Brand presentation slide templates.
• Know that you will not be able to easily access a “Presenter View.” This means that any notes you have may not be visible to you via the screen.
• Consider providing your slides as a PDF file for the most compatibility between devices.
• Ensure that you’ve checked on any audio or visual elements before presenting to ensure they work properly and are able to be accessed.
• Practice, practice, practice! Ensure that you are running through your presentation to understand time, pacing, and vocalization. Consider doing it in a classroom-like setting and with co-presenters.

Accessibility

Below are recommendations to make your presentation as accessible for your audience as you can. These are not required, but highly recommended:

• Use large, sans serif, fonts and simple design visuals on plain backgrounds.
• Ensure that font sizes are never smaller than 24 pt.
• Instead of paragraphs, opt to use bulleted lists or brief sentences.
• Left-align paragraph and list body/text.
• Include captions for all figures, pictures, or charts/graphs.
• Spell out acronyms and avoid or define jargon and idioms.
• Use high contrast colors.
• Consider using your presentation tools built-in accessibility checker. They may catch formatting inconsistency, color contrast, and more.
• If there are interpreters during the question and answers:
  • Speak directly toward the person asking the question, not the interpreter.
  • Ensure you stop every 2-3 sentences to ensure the interpreter is able to communicate and is well-paced with the conversation.
  • If the interpretation is into a non-English language (non-ASL) avoid using Enlightened specific idioms, phrases, or colloquial expressions that may be difficult to interpret.

When Talking/Speaking

• Consider facing your audience versus relying on your presentation.
  • Feel free to utilize or rely on visual elements, like figures, to guide the conversation or presentation.
• Potentially have examples to explain your research to someone who may not be from your discipline/area of study.
• Speak clearly, slowly, and loudly. You will often be in a classroom like setting, where rooms can be at-capacity. Speaking loudly may ensure everyone can hear you.

Students will deliver a 10-minute presentation that typically includes a performance component in the Meany Hall Studio Theatre. The presentation may include a PowerPoint component discussing the research process that went into creating the performance. Performances can include music, theater, dance, etc. Please note that tech support is very limited. 

Those delivering PowerPoint presentations should download their slides onto the provided laptop. You may not use your own laptop. We strongly recommend that if you have slides to accompany the presentation, you save them on a USB drive and save another back-up version online or in your email. Juliet McMains and additional tech staff and volunteers will be in the room to help you.

Presenters are welcome to bring supplementary materials/handouts to their session to give to the audience.

Presentations for this session must be art forms created as part of the research process. These may include paintings, drawings, printing, sculpture, architectural models, digital arts, experimental media, jewelry, textiles, photography/film, mixed media, and more. We do our best to accommodate all Visual Arts & Design presentations, within reason and within the space limitations of the Allen Library Research Commons.

Exhibitors are required to present on the day of Symposium.

All artwork will be on display. Office of Undergraduate Research Staff will review your artwork descriptions for content and space availability. Participants of this session agree to the following:

• Participants must be on-site for installation and are responsible for securing the artwork. The library cannot provide any method to secure equipment/artwork. You may secure all equipment related to your installation using cable locks, zip ties, and/or other appropriate methods.
• Participants are responsible for de-installation as scheduled with libraries staff.
• Labels and “Do not touch” signs will be provided for artwork by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Research Commons staff. Labels will include artwork title, artist name(s) and major(s), mentor name(s), media, and relevant artist statement.
• The Visual Arts and Design Session is hosted in the Allen Library Research Commons and must agree to adhere by the UW Libraries Code of Conduct.