The Research Poster

The poster is a common tool used by scholar's to present their research/academic work. Posters can be an effective, visual, and inviting way to share work with others. There are many helpful tips about creating a research poster on the web. This page will provide some of the top tips and sites that can help you create a successful poster.

Before you start on your poster, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

  1. What are the most interesting/important findings from your research? What ways is your persona unique?
  2. What are some non-textual ways I can convey information on my poster?
  3. What information can I share during my presentation instead of putting it on my poster?

By thinking about these questions as you being the poster designing process, you can set yourself up for a visually pleasing and effective poster.

If you have a poster you'd like to print or if you'd like help designing one, please schedule an appointment with us!

Poster Design Tips

  1. Use images rather than text
    A lot of text on a poster is boring to look at and hard to read. Remember that you will only be giving a short "lightning talk" about your poster. Most people you will be presenting to will not want to take longer than a minute or two to read through your poster. Images are a great alternative. You can find images on the web, but do be aware of copyright. If you use images solely for school assignments, you generally do not have to worry about getting copyright permissions but you still have to cite the source of your photo.
  2. Font size and style
    Your font size should be at least 24 (about 1/3 inch high) in an easily readable font. Your title font size should be at least 72 (1 inch high), and preferably larger if possible.
  3. Remember "KISS"
    A good rule of thumb for posters is the K.I.S.S. Principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid! Basically, keep your poster easy to read, free of jargon, and stick to the most interesting and important aspects of your research.
  4. Break it up. Use boxes and sections to logically divide your poster.

Helpful Sites