Scientific Poster Lab. Visual Methods for Target Group-Oriented Designs

Scientific posters are an integral part of the daily work of scientists. Usually, you design them for an expert group with special pre-knowledge. But sometimes there are also posters required to explain your work to a much broader target group – for example, at “Open House” events or on social media.
In this workshop you will learn visual methods that will help you to convey your message to a lay audience – and also, how you can re-use this competence to enhance your poster presentations for peer groups as well. Furthermore, we explore ways to present the main features of your poster on social media, using both images and text.

First Day

You will receive short introductions to topics such as:

• how to create comprehensible information graphics
• utilizing color, layout and text-image compositions
• where to find image and graphic sources to work with

You will also develop your own 

• core message for your poster, particularly for a broader target group
• concepts for converting the main points of your poster into social media content
  with visuals and text

This will help you to redesign your own poster for a wider target group, at your own pace at home, in preparation for the second day of this workshop (mandatory).

Second Day

We will meet face-to-face and work together on your drafts by giving and receiving feedback in a safe space. Afterwards you will be able to use the ideas and suggestions for your future work on this and other poster drafts and on social media.

Requirements

• For this workshop, a basic knowledge about research communication (e.g. from one of our basic courses) is helpful.
• Please bring your own laptop for the second session. 

HRA’s Project for Research Communication: This workshop is part of a larger research communication project which is funded by the Claussen-Simon-Stiftung. It can be credited to the topics & formats module of the certificate in research communication.