Presentation Board Design & Technology

Viewers comprehend a well-designed presentation board in 30 seconds.

Whether communicating a research, design or medical concept, a good presentation board presents it clearly, succinctly, legibly and attractively. Well-considered graphics and wording accomplish these objectives. As an alternative to handcrafting boards, several software packages facilitate easy board production.

Content

Words and images comprise the typical presentation board. Some boards, such as interior design color boards, additionally showcase fabric swatches and other objects.

Words

Good presentation boards use text sparingly and display them large enough to be seen from five feet away. Font sizes establish a hierarchy of information. Headings use sans serif fonts and body text uses serif fonts.

Images

Effective boards caption and label high-quality illustrations and photographs and distribute them well for visual balance.

Organization

Viewers comprehend a well-designed board in 30 seconds. Neutral backgrounds optimize readability. Headers and title blocks effectively tie multiple boards together.

Finishing

Spray adhesive affixes presentation artwork to standard or custom-sized foam core or gator board. Boards can be laminated matte or glossy as a final touch.

Technology

Presentation boards are most commonly produced with Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. Google Docs and Microsoft offer ready-made templates.

References

• Pennsylvania State University: Tips for Designing Effective Presentations
• Brandeis University: Poster Presentation Tips
• Utah Education Network: Advanced Presentation Boards
• Springfield College: Poster Creation and Presentation Tips
• Six Revisions: 26 Beautiful Photoshop Tutorials on Designing Posters

Resources

• Google Docs: Presentations Template Gallery
• Microsoft Office: Posters