POSTER INSTRUCTIONS
For the final project, your group is required to prepare a poster to showcase your work to the K Community (and your fellow CS classmates). The following sections offer a guide for the preparation, printing, and installation of your work.
The Poster Content
The following categories are recommended for your final project's poster. This is an opportunity to highlight your final project's main ideas and your team's challenges and achievements. You can choose several (or all) of them and/or add your own.
| Project Title & Group Information |
- Title of your final project. - Names and roles of each group member. |
|---|---|
| Introduction & Objective |
- Briefly describe the purpose of the application. - Explain the problem it addresses or the need it fulfills. - Talk about why your project is important. |
| Key Features |
- Highlight the main functionalities of the application. - Include any unique features or innovations ("cool stuff"). |
| System Architecture & Technology |
- Provide a diagram of the application's architecture (e.g., frontend, backend, database). - Briefly describe how each technology component interacts. - Outline the database schema or ERD, showing key tables and relationships. - List the programming languages, frameworks, tools, and databases used. Explain why these technologies were chosen. |
| Target Audience |
- Specify the intended user group or "market" for the application. - Include any relevant considerations about user needs or usability. - If your group has a "client", talk about their requirements. |
| Challenges & Solutions |
- Describe any major challenges faced during development (e.g., data or database issues, user authentication, API integration). - Summarize how they were addressed. |
| Screenshots | Demo Visuals | - Include screenshots of the user interface, game scenes, or web pages OR add QR codes or links to a demo if available. |
| Conclusion |
- Summarize what you've learned and the overall impact of the project to your group's learning experience. - Talk about how your group incorporated Functional Diversity to successfully complete your project. - Mention any features or optimizations planned for the future. - You can encourage feedback for further development. |
Printing the Poster
Kathryn Lightcap from the Center for New Media and Design will be waiting for you from Wednesday through Friday of Week 9 to drop your posters from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The CNMD is located in the library, first floor (behind the staircase).
The poster template size they provide on their web page says "24x36" (which is a bit small) but the actual size is 36x48. Please use this link to download the 36x48 template. The PowerPoint template has 4 different types of poster formats for you to choose (be as creative as you want in terms of color scheme, fonts, organization, image use, and so on).
During class, we will double check that everything is ready to print: no misspellings or errors, no copyright infringements and so on. You could use Grammarly or any other tool to check for spelling errors or better phrasings. You can use ChatGPT to help developing a structure for your poster.
The CNMD asks that you send the poster to your own email (or SharePoint), so that you can open it there and print it from one of their computers. Te costs will be covered by the Computer Science Department. Plan to spend 15 to 20 minutes there. According to their timeline, the posters might be ready within a day. Easels and cork-boards will be available also on Friday of Week 9 near the MPC (outside Kristen's office area, second floor of OU), so if you want to start installing your posters that day (or during the weekend) please do so.
Tips for a Great Poster
Here are some tips to make your posters more engaging and effective for the audience of OU:
Start with a Strong Title and Visual
- Keep the title short, specific, and interesting. Avoid vague terms; the title should immediately convey what the project is about.
- Add a prominent, high-quality image related to the project, such as a key screenshot, a mock-up, or a scene from your game/app/webpage. This can grab the viewers attention right away.
Engaging Colors
- Be consistent with your color palette. Choose a color scheme that complements the app or game or webpage and use it consistently. Avoid too many colors; a cohesive look will make the poster more professional.
- Use a high-contrast color (e.g., bold or complementary color) to highlight titles, headings, or important data. This makes key information pop.
Organize Content Visually
- Use a clear layout, divide the poster into sections with a clean hierarchy, using headings and subheadings that make it easy to scan visually.
- Arrange content in a way that naturally leads the eye, using visual cues (e.g., arrows, numbered steps) if needed.
- Don't overcrowd the poster; use whitespace to separate sections and make the poster look more inviting.
Emphasize Key Points
- Use bullet points for quick readability. Avoid looooooooooooong paragraphs and use concise descriptions.
- Make sure to highlight major features and benefits, so they can stand out visually, either with color, font size, or borders. This helps viewers quickly understand the value of your final project.
Make Technical Details Accessible
- Simplify diagrams by keeping architectural diagrams, ER diagrams, or workflows simple and labeled. Too much detail can be overwhelming.
- For architecture and database schemas, use colors to differentiate between parts (e.g., frontend vs. backend, different database tables).
- Make jargon accessible by explaining technical terms or providing a quick note for any essential ones.
Use High-Quality Visuals
- Use clear, high-resolution images of your app interface, game scenes, or webpages. Try to show "live" elements like user interactions.
- Use icons for technology stacks, e.g., icons of programming languages or database systems. This creates visual interest and can quickly communicate technology choices.
Review for Clarity and Consistency
- Proofread your poster: spelling and grammar errors can detract from professionalism. Ask a third or fourth person to help your group proofreading your poster.
- Using 2-3 font styles max, with clear hierarchy, keeps the poster clean. Stick to a consistent font size for body text, larger fonts for headings. Your poster template contains a guide for this.