What is a Scientific Poster and how can I design an appealing layout for my research?
The full design process from information architecture to typography and layout to visualisation will be covered. You will learn how to design your own Scientific Poster.
What should I put on the Scientific Poster to insure a successful visualisation and communication of my research project?
How should I draft, structure, plan and visualise my Scientific Poster?
Discussion of specific questions related to issues arising in participant's own work.
Learning objectives
In this hands on course you learn to implement the know-how in your own scientific project.
Format
Interactive workshop combining input sessions, plenary discussion and hands-on group work.
First day 9:00 16:30
| 09:00 | What is the anatomy of a traditional scientific poster? Why and how the scientific communication changes? |
| 10:00 | Theory input about the basics: the fundamental layout principles and guidelines for placing elements within a design and discuss the use of different grids as well as the anatomy of the page. It is all about understanding the traditional dos and don’ts of typography. |
| 11:00 | Hands on experience and exercise in the software |
| 13:00 | Understanding grids: different treatments can produce a variety of results for text- or im-age-heavy designs. The examples shown here demonstrate this and present alternative options for typographical elements. symmetrical grid, symmetrical variations, asymmetrical grids, developing the grid, baseline and grid, cross alignment and working without a grid |
| 15:00 | Hands on drafting with pencil and then hands on designing with Affinity introduction of the needs for a visualisation |
| 16:00 | At the end of the day a list of items to be pre-pared for the second day shall be established |
Second day 9:00 16:30h
| 09:00 | Affinity Pixels für image editing. Elements on the page: the relationship between the grid and the placement of text and images. Images, alignment, hierarchy, arrangements, entry points, pace … |
| 09:30 | Hands on session, how to setup typeface classes in Affinity for best readability |
| 10:00 | Hands on designing |
| 14:30 | form and function: The intention of a project, or the specifics of a brief, will affect layout decisions. This chapter presents layout variations as well as different format and finishing-options. Preflight and print options, what is my medium and how do I have to prepare the file for the output channel. |
| Till 16:30 | Hands on designing an ready to print file export. |
Prerequisites
No prior experience required. Participants should have at least one current or planned project that they can use as a basis for the hands-on exercises.
Trainer
Tanja Hess, Gestaltung und Kunst HGK (ZHdK), Fachhochschule Graubünden (FHGR)
Time and place
11 March 2026, 09:00-16:30 (C, 83 83-3231)
13 March 2026, 09:00-16:30 (C, 48 48-229)
Target group
PhD students at all levels, postdoctoral researchers;
academic staff from other universities, please contact fd@unisg.ch
(min. 6, max. 16 participants)
Language
English