After determining the shape and size of your structure, you can decide
how best to present the information needed to explain your project. Some
exhibitors prefer to build their structure first, so that they may try
out different arrangements of illustrations and three-dimensional items
on the finished display space. Or, you can measure off your back wall,
side walls, and interior base areas, and then “try out” the size and
placement of your display items on matching-size sheets of tracing
paper.
There are many good ways to present the same information. Exhibit design
is an art with some established principles but with few fixed rules.
Here are some guidelines which may help you.
_Preliminary Sketches._ Make sketches of all possible layout ideas and
study each for clarity of content and visual effect.
_Text._ Keep all text to a minimum number of words. Viewers come to see
an exhibit, not to read it! A good illustration, specimen, or a graphic
representation (see Figure 4) can save many words. Where text is needed,
letter it clearly and large enough for easy reading. But avoid
unnecessarily large or garish lettering—titles and text should only
explain your exhibit, never dominate it!
[Illustration: Figure 4]
_Text Placement._ Some exhibitors place captions uniformly over or under
all illustrations, but text blocks placed at the side may communicate as
clearly, and help prevent visual monotony (see Figure 5).
_Points of Emphasis._ If you use a series of illustrations or specimens
to tell a running story, consider enlarging or featuring one of the most
significant items so it can serve as the focal point of the series, as
in Figure 5.
_Large Photos._ Unless your photographs can be viewed in detail without
stooping and squinting, either have them enlarged or discard them.
_Color Photos._ Color photos are expensive, but just one or two will add
interest to a large group of black-and-white prints.
_Charts and Graphs._ If your exhibit contains charts and graphs, keep
them simple. Avoid line charts if several curves must cross and recross.
Logarithmic charts, scatter diagrams, and similar ratio charts are
confusing to the average viewer. Caption and explain charts and graphs
adequately. Simple pie, bar, and representational charts, as shown in
Figure 6, can be particularly meaningful. Often the use of colors will
make the various factors more discernible.
[Illustration: Figure 5]
_White Space._ Next to content, the exhibitor’s most valuable tool is
“white space”—those unoccupied areas of his display panels. Crowded,
busy panels on which materials and text fill every inch of space are a
hallmark of the amateur. Worse, they defeat their purpose, for viewers
usually take one hurried glance, decide that understanding so cluttered
an exhibit would be a chore, and move on to simpler displays. (As a rule
of thumb, approximately 40% of your available display space should be
occupied by absolutely nothing!)
_Organization._ Just as you organize words into sentences and
paragraphs, your exhibit elements (textual and visual) should be
organized into groups and subgroups. (See Figures 1 and 2.) Here again
the “feature” technique may be employed. For example, if you are
displaying several similar specimens you may emphasize the most unusual
one by placing it on a raised or differently-colored background as shown
in Figure 7.
[Illustration: Figure 6]
[Illustration: Figure 7]
_Apparatus._ Amateur exhibitors sometimes get carried away with
enthusiasm for large arrays of mechanical apparatus which are both
unnecessary and confusing. If your project involved development of a
unique piece of equipment, consider whether you can display it alone,
without the entire assembly into which it fits. Sometimes this can be
done by displaying the featured part alongside a drawing or photograph
of the complete assembly, as in Figure 4. Again, keep details to a
minimum; leave them in the project report.
_Mechanical movement._ Usually motion in a science fair exhibit is
called for only when there is a clear need for it. Thus it is logical to
use a turntable to revolve different fluorescing mineral specimens under
“black light”, or to present successive radioactive ore specimens to a
Geiger-counter probe. But to use such a turntable to present a series of
photographs would probably be unnecessarily contrived. Usually you may
spend your efforts better on sound content, clean design, and clear text
than on mechanical gimmicks.
_Pushbuttons and Such._ Few audience-participation devices in science
fair exhibits merit the effort, money, and space expended on them. But
if you do display equipment for viewers to operate, make certain it can
be operated safely and dependably even when you are absent (as during
the judging). Nothing frustrates an exhibit viewer more than a
pushbutton that doesn’t work!
_Demonstrations._ These can be informative and interesting, and you may
want to include one. But since you cannot be on hand to demonstrate at
all times, design your exhibit to “stand alone” without the
demonstration. And when you are absent, you may avoid unsatisfied viewer
curiosity either by removing the idle demonstration equipment, or by
posting a “Next demonstration at ____ o’clock” sign.
_Living Things._ Plants or animals which have been employed in the
science project can often be displayed to lend interest and meaning to
the exhibit. But since the science fair follows the project, interim
growth and aging may alter living specimens so that at fair time they
are considerably less meaningful or attractive than at the peak of your
project. Also, if you compete in several fairs, you may find
transportation and special care of your living specimens difficult and
onerous. If you do plan to exhibit living specimens, familiarize
yourself with local and national fair regulations governing their use,
make sure that animals can be housed attractively and comfortably, and
protect both animals and plants from inquisitive fingers. Then be
selective and employ the minimum needed to make your point in the
exhibit.