Creek Connections

It is important to remember that at the symposium, display boards are generally left unattended for long periods of time.

Most exhibits enjoy success for only about 15 seconds!!! That means, if your display board cannot communicate its message quickly and easily, viewers will lose interest.

Display boards should be carefully planned, clear and concise, designed to transfer information effectively, AND created with the viewer in mind.

Creek Connections provides the typical tri-fold display boards most
commonly used by students to display their work.

Many students choose to lay out their display board using the typical science fair approach. Students often present the purpose, abstract, hypothesis, research methods, results, and conclusion. A few example layouts are shown below.

Such a layout is NOT mandatory, but it oftentimes helps students who may feel overwhelmed with the task of fitting all their information onto a single display board. Feel free to create your own design lay out and explanatory categories.

Display Board Tips

1. Research and Organize – Gather all of your fact and materials, then make a rough sketch of your display.
2. Create a Powerful Title – Come up with an “Attention-Grabber” that will create interest and capture attention.
3. Make it Easy to Understand – Use clear sub-titles and simple captions to make your point.
4. Make it Attractive – Use photos, illustrations and 3-D objects to keep your display exciting and enticing to others.
5. Use Your Imagination – Paints, markers, crayons and poster board will add impact to your display.

1. Colorful signs or posters,
2. Scrapbooks or photo albums filled with pictures of your project from start to finish,
3. Video presentations, slides, models, games, and/or other interactive displays,
4. Samples of your project or tools you used to complete it,
5. Interactive component.

Things to Remember:

1. Do not try to crowd too much information on your poster

2. Focus on only a few main points

3. Create simplified charts, graphs, and diagrams

4. Make key points clear by using a figure, table, or photograph

5. Vary the shape and size of visual elements

6. Use text simply and sparingly in a readable font

7. Create an element that will attract viewers from a distance

8. Make your message clear and simple by using big ideas, big type,
big photographs, big charts, big graphs, and short words

Check Out This Display!
> It’s colorful and eye-catching
> It does have too many words
> It uses pictures to describe project
> Samples and tools were displayed on the table

> Try creating a game for your project
> Make sure to display the game rules
> Don’t make the game too complicated
> It should not take too long to play
> Show that learning can be fun!

Display Board “Do’s and Don’ts”

Don’ts

1. Use an over-long title

2. Use text that is too small

3. Separate complimentary ideas, pictures, charts, or graphs

4. Stand in front of your display

Do’s

1. Keep your title short, snappy, and
to the point

2. Make sure all text can be read from a reasonable, comfortable distance

3. Lay out your information in a
logical order

4. Stay close by, but stand off to the side in case visitors have any questions