ABP (Architecture, Building and Planning) Study and Research Guide

Visual elements

If your presentation is paired with a poster or panels, give yourself time to plan the production ahead and test print your work.

Being able to put your poster or panel on the wall and stand back and look at it will give you a better understanding of what needs improvement. 

In the design of your poster or panels, some common tips include:

• Ensure that the layout makes it clear where viewers should look first. 
• Use images and text in a hierarchy. 
• Choose two or three complementing fonts, and use each of them for a specific purpose (e.g. headings, body text). 
• Choose up to three key colours that complement each other in a colour palette. 

Speaking in public

When you are preparing what you will say, look for opportunities to link spoken and visual elements of your presentation and build your story and argument. 

Then, practice purposefully with a friend. You might also want to film yourself, to see how your body language could be used to enhance your presentation. 

Prepare prompts for yourself on small cue cards, rather than reading aloud directly from notes or keeping notes on your phone. 

When you need to deal with questions and feedback:

• You may find it easier to receive feedback if you think of it as being about 'the work' rather than 'you'. Listen to the feedback with this in mind. 
• It's ok to take a pause to regather yourself, or say you aren't sure about answering a question.