Build a one-page infographic poster on a topic of your choice. The poster combines body text, multiple graphic objects, intentional text wrapping, and accessibility metadata — everything Domain 5 covers, applied to a real design problem. The framework specifies: at least one shape with text inside it, one SmartArt graphic (process or comparison), one picture with a picture style applied, and one icon. All objects must have alternative text. Text wrapping must be set intentionally — not left on the default In Line setting where it's inappropriate.

📋 Pick Your Topic

Pick a topic you can explain visually in one page. Some options that work well as infographics:

• "How [a process] works" (e.g., How vaccines work, how composting breaks down food, how a song is recorded)
• "The 5 [things] you should know about [topic]" (study tips, road trip essentials, sleep hygiene principles)
• "[Topic A] vs [Topic B]" comparison (cardio vs strength training, dogs vs cats as pets, online vs in-person classes)
• A timeline of an event, era, or development (history of social media, evolution of a sport)
• A "cycle" or "pattern" you can visualize (water cycle, seasons, daily routine optimizer)

Avoid topics that don't lend themselves to visual breakdown — a single argument, a long narrative, a poem. Posters are for content with structure: stages, parts, comparisons, sequences.

📋 Step-by-Step Build Instructions

1. Set Document Properties first. File → Info → Properties. Set Title to your poster's title and confirm Author shows your full name. Adding the Subject "Week 6 Infographic Poster" helps your teacher's grading.
2. Set page orientation. Layout → Orientation → Portrait or Landscape. Posters work in either; pick what fits your content. Most "process" or "timeline" content works better landscape; most "5 things you should know" content works better portrait.
3. Set narrow margins. Layout → Margins → Narrow (0.5" all sides) — gives you more space for the design. Or Layout → Margins → Custom Margins for non-standard values.
4. Add your poster headline at the top. Type a title. Apply Heading 1 (Ctrl+Alt+1). Make it large and bold. This is the first thing readers see — make it count.
5. Insert your SmartArt graphic. Insert → SmartArt. Pick a Process (for sequences/steps) or Relationship (for comparisons) layout. Click OK. Use the Text Pane to populate 3-5 nodes with your content. Apply a color set (SmartArt Design → Change Colors) and a SmartArt Style. Resize the SmartArt to take up roughly one-third of the page.

   Insert › SmartArt › Pick layout › Text Pane → fill nodes
6. Insert at least one shape with text inside. Insert → Shapes → pick a rectangle, callout, or banner shape. Click-drag to place. Right-click → Add Text (or just click and type). Type a key statistic, a callout quote, or a step number. Apply a Shape Style for visual polish.

   📷

   Screenshot: Shape with text — example

   Capture a styled rectangle or callout shape with text inside (e.g., "73% of people don't know this") on the poster, with the Shape Format tab visible showing the Shape Styles gallery.

   Suggested filename: shape-with-text.png
7. Insert at least one picture and apply a Picture Style. Insert → Pictures → Stock Images (or This Device if you have your own). Search and pick a picture that supports your topic. Click the picture → Picture Format → pick a Picture Style from the gallery. Resize as needed.

   Insert › Pictures › Stock Images › Picture Format → Picture Styles
8. Insert at least one icon. Insert → Icons → search for something that supports a key concept on your poster. Click → Insert. Resize and recolor (Graphics Format → Graphics Fill).
9. Optional but recommended: insert a text box. Insert → Text Box → Simple Text Box (or Draw Text Box). Add a key insight, statistic callout, or quote. Apply a Shape Style for visual integration.
10. Now position everything. Click each object in turn. Picture/Shape Format → Arrange group → Position dropdown. Pick a preset that fits the layout. For finer control: Position → More Layout Options → set exact horizontal/vertical measurements.
11. Set Wrap Text on every object intentionally. Click each object → Picture/Shape Format → Wrap Text. Pick the wrap that suits each object's role:

    • Square for body-flow images that text should flow around
    • Tight for irregular-edged objects (especially after Background Removal)
    • Top and Bottom for full-width banners or charts
    • Behind Text for watermarks or background design elements
    • In Front of Text for stamps or design overlays

    Never leave on default "In Line with Text" for design layouts. Most poster objects need Square or Tight.
12. Add alt text to every object. Right-click each object → View Alt Text. Type a 1-2 sentence description of what the object shows and why it's there. For purely decorative objects (a divider line, a bullet marker shape), check "Mark as decorative" instead.

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    Screenshot: Alt Text pane with description filled in

    Capture the Alt Text pane open beside an object, with a meaningful 1-2 sentence description typed in the box. Show the "Mark as decorative" checkbox unchecked for content-bearing objects.

    Suggested filename: alt-text-pane.png
13. Run the Accessibility Checker. Review tab → Check Accessibility. The pane on the right shows any objects without alt text or other accessibility issues. Address every error before submitting.
14. Add a few sentences of body text connecting your visual elements. The poster shouldn't be 100% graphics — body text fills in context the graphics can't carry alone. Keep it tight (3-5 short paragraphs total across the whole poster).
15. Verify with Show/Hide. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to turn on formatting marks. Confirm no double-Enter spacing, no stray tab characters, and no orphan paragraphs between objects.
16. Save the .docx. File → Save As → Browse. Filename:

    lastname-firstname_week06_infographic-poster.docx
17. Export the PDF. File → Export → Create PDF/XPS Document. Same filename, .pdf extension:

    lastname-firstname_week06_infographic-poster.pdf
18. Open the PDF and verify. Close Word. Find the .pdf. Open it. Confirm: all objects rendered, alt text preserved (PDF readers can read alt text), text wrapping looks right, no objects clipped or overlapping awkwardly. If anything broke, return to .docx and fix.

✅ Project B Requirements Checklist

• Document Properties (Title, Author) populated
• One page (poster format — portrait or landscape)
• Heading 1 applied to the poster headline
• At least one SmartArt graphic (process or comparison layout) with populated nodes and applied colors/style
• At least one shape with text inside, with a Shape Style applied
• At least one picture with a Picture Style applied
• At least one icon from Insert → Icons
• Optional: a text box, a 3D model, or a screen clipping (extra credit)
• Every object has been positioned intentionally (not left at default insert location)
• Every object has an intentional Wrap Text setting (NOT left on "In Line with Text")
• Every object has alt text — meaningful 1-2 sentence descriptions, not filenames or "image"
• Accessibility Checker (Review → Check Accessibility) shows no errors
• Body text supports the graphics with 3-5 short paragraphs of context
• Show/Hide reveals no double-Enter spacing or stray tab characters
• Saved as .docx using the course naming convention
• Exported as .pdf using the course naming convention
• The .pdf opens cleanly and matches the .docx

The framework specifies: "a brief reflection on which graphic element required the most decisions" plus a formatting checklist confirming wrapping settings. This week's third deliverable combines both into one short document.

📝 Part 1 — Object Decisions Reflection (1 paragraph, 100-150 words)

Write a single paragraph addressing all three of these:

1. Which graphic element required the most decisions during your build, and why? (Position? Size? Wrap? Alt text? Style? Color?)
2. What's one decision you made that another designer might have made differently — and why you stuck with yours?
3. If you built a Volume 2 of this poster, what's one object type you'd add or change?

📋 Part 2 — Verification Checklist

Below the paragraph, paste the following checklist. Replace each [ ] with [x] only after genuinely verifying that item. Add the object's name (or location on the poster) in the "Item:" line.