Getting Started

Accessing Project Creation

There are several ways to start creating a new project:

1. From Your Profile Menu

   • Click your profile picture in the top-right corner
   • Select "Upload a Project" from the dropdown menu

2. From Your Profile Page

   • Navigate to your profile
   • Click the "Create New Project" or "+" button in your project portfolio section

3. From the Community Page

   • Navigate to the Explore Community section
   • Look for and click the "Create Project" button

If you're creating a project specifically to submit to a showcase or competition, you must create and submit it directly through that showcase's page. Projects created through your profile cannot be retroactively submitted to showcases. For guidance on creating projects for showcase submission, please see our Submitting Projects to Showcases article.

Setting Up Your Project

Selecting a Project Template

When creating a new project, you'll first need to select a template:

• ProjectBoard offers several pre-designed templates for different types of projects
• Each template includes specific sections and structure suited to different project types
• You can select "Create your own template" if you prefer to start from scratch
• Review the available templates to find one that best matches your project needs

For a detailed overview of available templates and their features, please see our Project Templates and Layouts article.

Basic Project Information

After selecting a template, you'll establish your project's fundamental details:

• Project Title

  • Choose a clear, descriptive title that accurately reflects your work
  • Aim for a title that's informative but concise
  • Avoid using all caps or excessive punctuation
    
  • There is a 60 character limit on your project title (so keep it concise!)

• Cover Photo

  • Upload a high-quality image that represents your project
  • Recommended size: 1200x675 pixels
  • Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF
  • Maximum file size: 5MB
  • This image will be the first thing people see when browsing projects

• Project Description

  • Write a brief overview of your project
  • Keep it concise but informative
  • Include your project's main goal or purpose
  • Consider this your "elevator pitch" to attract interest
    
  • There is a 700 character limit on your project description.

• Category Selection

  • Choose the category that best fits your project
  • This helps others discover your work when browsing by category
  • You can select multiple categories if your project spans different areas

• Team Members (Optional)

  • Add team members if this is a group project
  • Each team member will need a ProjectBoard account
  • All team members will have equal access to edit the project

Developing Your Project Content

Adding Project Details

ProjectBoard provides a flexible framework to showcase different aspects of your project:

• Project Template Components
  • Problem/Question: Define what you're trying to solve or explore
  • Method/Approach: Explain how you approached the problem
  • Results/Outcomes: Share what you discovered or created
  • Conclusion/Impact: Discuss the significance of your work

Enhancing with Media

Add rich media to make your project more engaging: 

• Photos

  • Upload relevant images showing your process, equipment, or results
  • Add captions to explain what each image represents
  • Organize images in a logical sequence

• Videos

  • Upload or embed videos demonstrating your project
  • Keep videos concise and focused
  • Consider including a brief introduction video

• Documents

  • Add supporting documents like research papers, data sheets, or presentations
  • Supported formats include PDF, DOC/DOCX, PPT/PPTX, XLS/XLSX
  • Consider what supplementary materials will enhance understanding of your work
    

The first attachment will be used as the cover photo for each individual project section so upload the best looking image first!

Adding Links

Connect your project to external resources by including links in the section descriptions:

• Research citations
• Related websites
• Code repositories (GitHub, etc.)
• Dataset sources

Project Visibility and Management

Saving Your Work

As you develop your project:

• Click "Save Draft" regularly to prevent losing your progress
• Draft projects are only visible to you and your team members
• You can return to edit your project at any time

Publishing Your Project

When your project is ready to share:

1. Review all content for completeness and accuracy
2. Ensure all required fields are filled out
3. Click the "Publish" button
4. Confirm your choice to make the project public

Managing Project Visibility

Control who can see your project:

• Public: Visible to all ProjectBoard users and appears in community searches
• Private: Only visible to you and team members
• Profile Display: Toggle whether to show the project on your public profile

Tips for Effective Project Presentation

Best Practices

• Start with a Clear Structure

  • Organize information logically
  • Use headings and sections to break up content

• Visual Impact

  • Use high-quality images
  • Keep visual elements clean and professional
  • Ensure text is readable against backgrounds

• Tell a Story

  • Present your project as a narrative from problem to solution
  • Highlight your process, not just the outcome
  • Include challenges you faced and how you overcame them

• Be Concise but Complete

  • Provide enough detail to understand your work
  • Avoid unnecessary technical jargon
  • Consider your audience's background knowledge