washington state university presentation template

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Washington State University’s editorial guide helps University employees communicate clearly, concisely, and consistently about WSU.

Washington State University logos are an instantly recognizable representation of the entire university, its campuses, its colleges, and its extensions.

WSU photography captures the diversity of student life, research, and the spirit of WSU in your promotional materials.

Downloadable resources designed to help you easily implement the WSU brand.

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Additional brand resources – including information on colors, video, and print – can be found on the WSU Brand website .

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Instructions for making your poster, dimensions of posters.

SURCA posters are hung on display boards and are limited to a maximum size of 4 ft. high by 4 ft. wide . They may be smaller, but cannot be larger than this.

Designing Your Poster

The most common program to use in creating a poster is Microsoft PowerPoint; the use of Adobe products is also common. The first step is to check the size requirements, then create one slide in PowerPoint with those dimensions. There are many resources available to help with designing your poster. We encourage you to check out the following sites for poster tips, and talk to your advisor about poster ideas.

• CougsPrints’ website has helpful advice on making posters with PowerPoint .
• PowerPoint poster templates are also provided by CougsPrints on their website.
• Nature photographer and biologist Colin Purrington has a blog with popular advice on designing academic conference posters .

Where to Have Your Poster Printed

You can choose to print your poster wherever you like. There is a cost to print your poster, and your mentor or department may be able to help with that. Public poster-printing services on the WSU Pullman campus might offer discounts. The main one is:

• Coug Prints

There are also off-campus commercial printers available nearby.

Because poster printing can be a time-consuming process, there is typically a significant turnaround (two days, for example) between the time you print your poster and the time you can pick it up. Be sure to plan ahead and check with wherever you are having your poster printed to allow enough time to meet your deadline. For SURCA 2024, Coug Prints recommends having your poster printed no later than Wednesday, March 20 so you can pick it up on Friday, March 22 for the Monday, March 25 showcase. Avoid the last-minute rush and possible rush fees!

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Presenting Your Poster

Schedule and location of poster presentations.

As a poster presenter, you will explain your work and answer questions from judges and the public. Some people will generally understand the technical aspects of your work while others might know little about your topic. Two-to-three judges will visit you to evaluate your poster and your presentation; please give them preference over others . Be sure to allow time as you plan your presentation for questions from and interaction with the judges and the public.

SURCA will be in the CUB M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom (2 nd floor), with the awards ceremony following in the CUB Auditorium (room 177). Important times for poster presenters include:

• 12:00-2:00 p.m. Students will hang their posters. (If needed, you can send your poster with another student to hang it for you.)
• 2:00-2:45 p.m. The room will be open to judges only for a pre-judging session; students presenting posters may not be present .
• 2:45-3:30 p.m. Formal judging requires that ALL student presenters must be available to answer questions by judges.
• 3:30-4:45 p.m. Others will be admitted to the room, including other students, faculty, staff, and the community. Presenters should give judges preference when they come to your display.
• 5:00-5:45 p.m. The SURCA Awards Ceremony will take place in CUB Auditorium.
• 5:45 p.m. Students should pick up their posters following awards ceremony.

Preparing for Your SURCA Presentation

A large part of the competition is based on your interaction with the judges, who may be WSU faculty, post-docs, and/or members of the external community (e.g. alumni, business professionals, emeriti faculty, and so on). To prepare for your presentation:

• Review the judging rubric that will be used to evaluate all presentations.
• Prepare multiple presentations suitable for a wide variety of audiences, such as experts in your field, faculty, students who are and aren’t in your discipline, and the public. You should also prepare a short summary presentation, and be prepared to expand it.
• Practice your poster presentation and timing by yourself, with your mentor, and with other students who are within as well as outside of your discipline or your project’s category.
• Arrive in time to be familiar with the location of your poster.

Award Ceremony

Starting at 5:00 p.m. in the CUB Auditorium , awards will be given to top SURCA presenters. Mentors of award winners will also be recognized at the award ceremony. Following the ceremony, plan to return to your poster to remove  and keep it.

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Making posters with powerpoint.

Creating a research poster in PowerPoint is a multistep process. Our tips for setting up, creating, and printing will help you produce a high-quality poster for your presentation or event. NOTE: Once you have  created  and  spellchecked  your poster,  save your PowerPoint file as a PDF  for file submission and printing.

Using PowerPoint Templates

• Choose a size and orientation.
• Click the download link for the desired poster template.
• Open the file in PowerPoint and add your content to the layout provided or create your own.
• Save as a PDF file: File – Export – Create PDF/XPS Document.

Place your poster order!

Want to know how much your poster is going to cost? Get an estimate below!

Download a PowerPoint Template

Download a 24″ x 36″ PowerPoint template.

Download a 36″ x 48″ PowerPoint template.

Download a 36″ x 24″ PowerPoint template.

Download a 48″ x 36″ PowerPoint template.

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Making Posters with PowerPoint

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Things to consider before beginning

What size is the poster.

PowerPoint places a limit on the dimensions of slides; if you plan on printing a poster that has dimensions larger than 56″ you will need to create it with another piece of software like  Photoshop  or InDesign.

How much does a poster cost?

Get an estimate using the  price calculator .

Where are the images coming from?

Images copied from the web are low resolution (72 dpi) and are not good quality for a printed poster. Minimum image resolution should be 150 dpi at actual printing size for best results.

What is the deadline?

Posters are printed Monday through Friday with a standard 24-hour turnaround time. Plan ahead to avoid high volume times for quicker turnaround.

Start with a template

Choose from a variety of styles and sizes. Download a template .

Create a new poster

Open a new document in PowerPoint.

• Go to Design –> Slide Size
• Choose  Custom Slide Size
• Set  Width  and  Height  (max. 56″)
• Choose the  Landscape  (horizontal) or Portrait orientation.
• Click  OK .
• If a message pops up telling you that “ The current page size exceeds the printable area of the paper in the printer ” just click  OK .

Basic design tips

Academic posters are a summary of what you did, how you did it, and what you learned. Most are divided into four parts:

• Introduction (what you did)
• Design or methods (how you did it)
• Conclusion (what you learned)

Space is limited. Choose your words and graphics carefully.

Don’t forget to SPELL CHECK your poster before submitting for print!

Design your file at full size (100%). If your poster is 36″ wide x 24″ tall then set your slide dimensions to 36″ x 24″.

Present information the way you would normally read —left to right, top to bottom.

Use columns and line breaks to divide the poster into smaller sections. Use bullets instead of long paragraphs to summarize information.

Maintain a good contrast between the background color and the text. Consider using a light color background and a dark text. A gradient color fill background, especially black, will print poorly and is not recommended.

Someone standing 3–4 feet away should be able to read everything on your poster. Here are some suggested fonts and sizes:

Sans serif:  Lucida Sans, Lucida Grande ; Serif:   Palatino, Book Antiqua

• Title: 72 point
• Headings/section titles: 40 point
• Body text: 24 point
• Captions: 18 point

Limit yourself to 2–3 types of fonts in order to create consistency and unity.

A picture is worth 1,000 words. Poster content should be 60% images, 40% text . Use graphs, charts, tables, and photos to summarize and present data.

High resolution images ( 150 dpi or higher ) are required for printing high quality posters.

Color mode for best results is CMYK .

Insert images directly into PowerPoint . Don’t cut and paste, or copy and paste.

Copy and paste Excel charts and graphs into PowerPoint.

To adjust an image and retain proper proportion, hold the shift key on your keyboard, click, and drag the corners to scale . Enlarging images in PowerPoint is not recommended.

Saving to PDF

CougPrints Plus requires a PDF file set to your custom page size . To save a PowerPoint poster to PDF, follow the steps outlined in Saving PowerPoint Presentations as PDF Files .

Printing your poster

Order your poster online from CougPrints Plus by filling in the submission form and uploading your PDF file. Pick up and pay for posters at CougPrints Plus in the CUB.

Place your poster order!

Presenting your research

Presentation format and event-day setup, participation requirements.

At minimum, one author of your abstract must participate in the poster session for one hour. You may choose the time period during the 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. event.

Presentation format

Specifications.

If you are making a poster specifically for this event, limit the size to 48” x 48”.

If you already have a poster that was displayed at professional meetings during the past calendar year, you may use the same poster regardless of its size.

Please indicate poster size on the submission form so the committee can allow adequate space.

Design and printing

When developing your poster, utilize the following resources:

• Templates for poster design
• Instructions for making posters with PowerPoint

On campus you can get your poster printed inexpensively at Design and Printing Services:  509-335-3518.

Plan to have your poster ready by Tuesday, March 26. You will need it to set up for the event the following day.

Other presentation formats

Music and theater.

Musical and/or theatrical presentations will be accepted in either CD or DVD format. Please provide headphones to help viewers hear the presentation. Visuals from theatrical presentations may include drawings, costumes, programs, etc.

Non-poster formats

Space will be available for tabletop displays or presentation formats other than a display board. Please indicate your needs on the submission form and provide detailed information in the comment field.

Event-day setup

Setup times.

You must set up your exhibit between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Wed., March 27, unless you have made previous special arrangements.

If you work outside of the Pullman area and plan to arrive in Pullman on the day of the event, please call 509-335-6774 or email [email protected] to arrange for an alternative setup time.

Exhibit hours

Thursday, March 28, 2024 Academic Showcase: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. GPSA Research Exposition: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

M.G. Carey Senior Ballroom, Compton Union Building

Exhibits are open to the public.

Pre-assigned exhibit space

Display space is pre-assigned for all exhibitors.

Posters are to be mounted on display boards provided at the event. Heavy-duty tacks are supplied. It is your responsibility as a presenter to provide any other mounting supplies that you may need.

Alternative formats

If your work lends itself to a display format other than a poster, the Academic Showcase committee encourages you to use an alternative presentation format.

On the submission form, indicate special space and/or supplies that you may need (electricity, tables, easels, etc.). The Academic Showcase Committee cannot provide equipment for your presentation (e.g., computers, projectors, CD players, DVD players, screens, etc.).

If your presentation uses a DVD or CD, please provide headphones so that attendees may easily hear the presentation.

On-campus parking is available near the event location.

Exhibit removal

Exhibits must remain up until noon on event day.

You are responsible for removing all of your presentation and mounting materials between noon and 1:00 p.m. on Thur., March 28. Event organizers are not responsible for any materials left after that time.

WSU logos are an instantly recognizable representation of the entire university, its campuses, its colleges, and its extensions. Inspired by the rich history that has brought us to today and our aspirations for the future, WSU logos incorporate visual elements and text treatments to provide brand familiarity and competitive differentiation worldwide.

The Cougar head

The Cougar head is the primary representation of the brand and most recognizable visual symbol of the university. The graphic beloved by Cougs was created by WSU student Randall Johnson in 1936. It appears in films, is waved on College GameDay broadcasts,  and even made its way to outer space, pinned to Coug astronaut John Fabian’s suit while he was aboard space shuttle Challenger One. 

Reinforcement of our primary identity builds brand equity, so the Cougar head should be used as the primary graphic identifier of the university in all communications. Depending on the background, we offer color variations, ensuring that applications of the core logo have the same visual fidelity anywhere someone encounters the WSU brand.

The WSU logo, pairing the Cougar head and our hybrid typeface, is the centerpiece of our visual identity. It acts as a signature, an identifier, and the most visible representative of Washington State University. Everything is designed to flow from it. Every application is designed to align with it. And every piece of communication is strengthened by its consistent use. 

The wordmark (Washington State University) is based on the Proxima Nova typeface. The “Washington State University” type has been customized, converted to outline, and registered as an official brand logo for WSU. Do not try to recreate the wordmark. Use only the official horizontal or vertical lockups as provided. The Cougar head with shield should no longer be used.

WSU’s logos and marks must be used as provided and may not be altered in any way.

To protect the integrity of WSU’s logos and marks, keep competing visual graphics outside the designated clear space.

Horizontal lockups

The primary horizontal lockup has three components that are always together, united to clearly and consistently register our brand:

• The Cougar head,
• The custom-created Washington State University wordmark, and
• A single line dividing the two.

Minimum width: 1.5″ or 150 px clear space for Primary Horizontal lockup

Vertical lockups

The vertical configuration of our logo (with the Cougar head and wordmark stacked) gives visual flexibility depending on the need. Vertical lockups are available to campuses, colleges, WSU Extension, the Alumni Association and WSU Foundation available on the downloads page.

Minimum width: 1″ or 100 px clear space for Primary Vertical lockup

Clear space

We want our logo to stand out and be noticed. So we don’t crowd it. We give it space and allow it to breathe. By allowing sufficient “clear space” around it, we help ensure that our logo is both visible and legible.

Lockups for campuses, colleges, programs, and offices

Depending on the length of titles and other information, these lockups are designed to accommodate more text, while still emphasizing the primary logo.

Logos for executive offices, as well as Alumni Relations Foundation, and Extension are available for download. Please contact CAHNRS Marketing and Communications for guidelines on Extension-specific programming.

Custom logos outside these areas can be designed through Design and Printing Services. The first line will list Washington State University or WSU (campus location). Two additional lines of copy will be available. When determining that copy, please consider how the logo will be used with your target audience. Think function, not organizational charts.

Campus lockup

Campus lockup example. All campus and college lockups available on the downloads page .

Secondary mark

Our secondary mark, which combines the state of Washington with the letters W-S-U, highlights our statewide presence. The secondary mark should only be used to complement the core logos. It should never be used without the Cougar head present. For example, a T-shirt can feature a Coug head, with the state on a back or sleeve. Likewise, a publication may include a cover with the core logo, but for variety, also include the secondary mark on its back cover.

Do use the appropriate clearspace around the logo

Do follow the minimum size requirements

Do use the approved logos

Do NOT modify, stretch, rotate, or distort the primary logo any way

Do NOT use the logo as a repeating element

Do NOT crop the logo

Do NOT use colors outside of the WSU Primary or Secondary Palette.

Do NOT fill the logo with a gradient, image, or pattern.

Do NOT place the logo on busy photographic background

Do NOT squish, rotate, or skew the logos.

Do NOT recreate the logos

Do NOT incorporate or combine any other university parts or names with other marks, symbols, or graphics.

Make a custom logo for your unit

Fill out the form with your request. We are happy to help. Responses may be delayed due to increased demand.

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Presentations

Presenting uw excellence.

When it’s time to share your excellent work and ideas, make a great impression by using the UW presentation templates. Professional and stylish, they are the next step in putting your best foot forward.

Choose from multiple options for PowerPoint presentations and research posters. The options are boundless – from vertical and horizontal layouts, color schemes and various graphics – we have you covered. A pro tip for using these templates, first download and install the UW brand fonts for seamless integration.

Questions? Contact [email protected] .

PowerPoint templates

Research posters.

Download and install the University fonts prior to using the files below. Each template contains purple, gold and white backgrounds. Check out the file themes and layouts within each document for various background colors and layouts. Customize your backgrounds, logos and layout options in the master pages section.

If you are sharing this document for editing or viewing on multiple devices, you may need to replace the brand fonts with MS Office compatible fonts. Arial Black is a good substitution for Encode Sans, Calibri Light may be substituted for Uni Sans and Calibri Regular may be substituted for Open Sans.

PowerPoint template A

• Template A – standard 4:3
• Template A – widescreen 16:9

PowerPoint template B

• Template B – standard 4:3
• Template B – widescreen 16:9

PowerPoint template C

• Template C – standard 4:3
• Template C – widescreen 16:9

PowerPoint template D

• Template D – standard 4:3
• Template D – widescreen 16:9

PowerPoint template E

• Template E – standard 4:3
• Template E – widescreen 16:9

These research poster templates are 24″ x 36″. There are two vertical styles and one horizontal style.

Download and install the University fonts prior to using the files below.

Vertical posters

• Vertical posters – PowerPoint file
• Vertical posters – packaged InDesign files

Horizontal Posters

• Horizontal poster – PowerPoint file
• Horizontal poster – packaged InDesign files

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Vertical WSU Logos

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