Poster dimensions

• The size of the poster should be A0 - 84.1cm (width) x 118.9cm (length) or 33.11 inches (width) x 46.81 inches (length).
• The posters must be displayed in PORTRAIT format (NOT landscape).
• Please do not exceed these dimensions. Posters that do not fall within size limitation cannot be posted.

Poster printing and transport

• Posters MUST be printed prior to the event. Please bring it with you (as hard copy) to the African Cochrane Indaba.
• There will be NO printing facilities available at the venue.

Design restrictions

• All text should be in English.
• Please ensure you create posters that are as professional and visually appealing as possible, and that you use a font size that can be read from an arm’s length from the poster.
• Please also check whether your organization provides poster templates and has any brand guidelines that should be followed.

Mounting and dismounting

• Presenters are responsible for mounting and dismounting their posters.
• Posters should be attached to the poster boards with double sided tape or prestick only, which will be provided to you.

Flyers and hand-outs

• Please bring A4 copies of your poster with you to share with interested delegates.

Tips for first time poster presenters

• We know that making a poster for the first time can be a daunting experience and so we have asked a few of our colleagues what advice they would give to first time poster presenters. These suggestions are contained in the quotes below. We thank the following individuals for their kind contributions to these tips: Arrie Odendaal, Joy Oliver, Solange Durão, Taryn Young, Tamara Kredo, Babalwa Zani, Lai Jiang and Karen Daniels.
  
  
• “I always go to photoshare.org to find photographs for my posters. They have a great stock of international health and development images, and you can be guaranteed that permission to reproduce the photograph has been obtained from those people being photographed.  But do note that you have to register and make a request before you can use the image.  It may take them at least 24 hours to get back to you and then they may have some questions.  So don’t do it on the last minute!”
  
  
• “I like it when a poster visually (lots of pictures and graphs) tells a story - this is a great way to get people to talk to/engage with you about your poster. Use text sparingly – a picture is worth a thousand words!  For more ideas/tips go to ncsu.edu/project/posters.”
  
  
• “Transporting a poster printed on paper or soft cardboard can be very tricky.  Sometimes they’re too long to fit into the overhead luggage compartment, or otherwise they get lost after you check it in, or if they’re not in a firm enough holder then they can also get damaged.  To avoid some of these headaches and to travel in peace, consider printing your poster on cloth instead of on paper.  That way you can fold the cloth and carry it safely in your hand luggage.  Please remember to iron your cloth poster when you reach your destination – a creased poster does not display nicely!”
  
  
• “Less is more. Keep to the key information and don’t try to cram too much onto the poster.”
  
  
• “Ask a colleague what he/she thinks about the poster - does the essential message get across? Is the poster visually interesting? A fresh pair of eyes may give you another perspective on it.”
  
  
• “Prepare your poster well ahead of time. It takes a lot of thought, and writing and re-writing, so you may end up doing different drafts until you are happy with what you have. This is especially true if you are going to work with a graphic designer, as you’ll want to have enough time for reviewing the different versions of the poster.”
  
  
• “Get help from colleagues to read the content and make sure it’s simple and accessible. I also suggest getting help from a design studio to ensure the lay-out is clear, the colours easy to read and the graphics are great.”
  
  
• “Don’t underestimate the ability of a poster to communicate research, it could be loaded on the conference website after the conference so people can still quote you.”
  
  
• “Be present to answer questions for as long as possible during tea or lunch breaks.”
  
  
• “As they say a picture says a thousand words, consider using tables and figures instead of more text.”
  
  
• “Start working on your poster as soon as you receive the conference guidelines.  This will give you enough time to think and make changes and will avoid the last minute anxiety.”
  
  
• “Remember that a poster has three elements – oral presentation, visual display and content.  All of these elements are important, so don’t neglect any of them or give prominence to one element over any of the rest.”
  
  
• “Stand at your poster, even during the slots that you’re not being judged.  This gives you the chance to engage with other participants who are coming past to look at the posters.  It is a great opportunity for networking and more importantly for showcasing your important work.  A good idea would be to have some business cards ready for those who want to keep talking to you!”
  
  
• “Have copies of your poster printed on an A4 size paper so that the audience can keep the poster content and the contact info easily. I found it is quite handy.”
  
  
• “Start by drawing the design of your poster on an A4 or A3 page, even if your drawing is very rough.  That way you get a sense of the balance needed between the use of photographs, diagrams and written content, as you try to find the best way to illuminate your message."