Home Blog Design How to Design a Winning Poster Presentation: Quick Guide with Examples & Templates

How to Design a Winning Poster Presentation: Quick Guide with Examples & Templates

Cover for how to design a poster presentation

How are research posters like High School science fair projects? Quite similar, in fact.

Both are visual representations of a research project shared with peers, colleagues and academic faculty. But there’s a big difference: it’s all in professionalism and attention to detail. You can be sure that the students that thrived in science fairs are now creating fantastic research posters, but what is that extra element most people miss when designing a poster presentation?

This guide will teach tips and tricks for creating poster presentations for conferences, symposia, and more. Learn in-depth poster structure and design techniques to help create academic posters that have a lasting impact.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

  • What is a Research Poster?

Why are Poster Presentations important?

Overall dimensions and orientation, separation into columns and sections, scientific, academic, or something else, a handout with supplemental and contact information, cohesiveness, design and readability, storytelling.

  • Font Characteristics
  • Color Pairing
  • Data Visualization Dimensions
  • Alignment, Margins, and White Space

Scientific/Academic Conference Poster Presentation

Digital research poster presentations, slidemodel poster presentation templates, how to make a research poster presentation step-by-step, considerations for printing poster presentations, how to present a research poster presentation, final words, what is a research poster .

Research posters are visual overviews of the most relevant information extracted from a research paper or analysis.   They are essential communication formats for sharing findings with peers and interested people in the field. Research posters can also effectively present material for other areas besides the sciences and STEM—for example, business and law.

You’ll be creating research posters regularly as an academic researcher, scientist, or grad student. You’ll have to present them at numerous functions and events. For example:

  • Conference presentations
  • Informational events
  • Community centers

The research poster presentation is a comprehensive way to share data, information, and research results. Before the pandemic, the majority of research events were in person. During lockdown and beyond, virtual conferences and summits became the norm. Many researchers now create poster presentations that work in printed and digital formats.

Examples of research posters using SlideModel's templates

Let’s look at why it’s crucial to spend time creating poster presentations for your research projects, research, analysis, and study papers.

Summary of why are poster presentations important

Research posters represent you and your sponsor’s research 

Research papers and accompanying poster presentations are potent tools for representation and communication in your field of study. Well-performing poster presentations help scientists, researchers, and analysts grow their careers through grants and sponsorships.

When presenting a poster presentation for a sponsored research project, you’re representing the company that sponsored you. Your professionalism, demeanor, and capacity for creating impactful poster presentations call attention to other interested sponsors, spreading your impact in the field.

Research posters demonstrate expertise and growth

Presenting research posters at conferences, summits, and graduate grading events shows your expertise and knowledge in your field of study. The way your poster presentation looks and delivers, plus your performance while presenting the work, is judged by your viewers regardless of whether it’s an officially judged panel.

Recurring visitors to research conferences and symposia will see you and your poster presentations evolve. Improve your impact by creating a great poster presentation every time by paying attention to detail in the poster design and in your oral presentation. Practice your public speaking skills alongside the design techniques for even more impact.

Poster presentations create and maintain collaborations

Every time you participate in a research poster conference, you create meaningful connections with people in your field, industry or community. Not only do research posters showcase information about current data in different areas, but they also bring people together with similar interests. Countless collaboration projects between different research teams started after discussing poster details during coffee breaks.

An effective research poster template deepens your peer’s understanding of a topic by highlighting research, data, and conclusions. This information can help other researchers and analysts with their work. As a research poster presenter, you’re given the opportunity for both teaching and learning while sharing ideas with peers and colleagues.

Anatomy of a Winning Poster Presentation

Do you want your research poster to perform well?  Following the standard layout and adding a few personal touches will help attendees know how to read your poster and get the most out of your information. 

The anatomy of a winning poster

The overall size of your research poster ultimately depends on the dimensions of the provided space at the conference or research poster gallery. The poster orientation can be horizontal or vertical, with horizontal being the most common.  In general, research posters measure 48 x 36 inches or are an A0 paper size.

A virtual poster can be the same proportions as the printed research poster, but you have more leeway regarding the dimensions. Virtual research posters should fit on a screen with no need to scroll, with 1080p resolution as a standard these days. A horizontal presentation size is ideal for that.

A research poster presentation has a standard layout of 2–5 columns with 2–3 sections each. Typical structures say to separate the content into four sections; 1. A horizontal header 2. Introduction column, 3. Research/Work/Data column, and 4. Conclusion column. Each unit includes topics that relate to your poster’s objective.  Here’s a generalized outline for a poster presentation:

  • Condensed Abstract 
  • Objectives/Purpose
  • Methodology
  • Recommendations
  • Implications
  • Acknowledgments
  • Contact Information 

The overview content you include in the units depends on your poster presentations’ theme, topic, industry, or field of research. A scientific or academic poster will include sections like hypothesis, methodology, and materials. A marketing analysis poster will include performance metrics and competitor analysis results.

There’s no way a poster can hold all the information included in your research paper or analysis report. The poster is an overview that invites the audience to want to find out more. That’s where supplement material comes in. Create a printed PDF handout or card with a QR code (created using a QR code generator ). Send the audience to the best online location for reading or downloading the complete paper.

What Makes a Poster Presentation Good and Effective? 

For your poster presentation to be effective and well-received, it needs to cover all the bases and be inviting to find out more. Stick to the standard layout suggestions and give it a unique look and feel. We’ve put together some of the most critical research poster-creation tips in the list below. Your poster presentation will perform as long as you check all the boxes.

The information you choose to include in the sections of your poster presentation needs to be cohesive. Train your editing eye and do a few revisions before presenting. The best way to look at it is to think of The Big Picture. Don’t get stuck on the details; your attendees won’t always know the background behind your research topic or why it’s important.

Be cohesive in how you word the titles, the length of the sections, the highlighting of the most important data, and how your oral presentation complements the printed—or virtual—poster.

The most important characteristic of your poster presentation is its readability and clarity. You need a poster presentation with a balanced design that’s easy to read at a distance of 1.5 meters or 4 feet. The font size and spacing must be clear and neat. All the content must suggest a visual flow for the viewer to follow.

That said, you don’t need to be a designer to add something special to your poster presentation. Once you have the standard—and recognized—columns and sections, add your special touch. These can be anything from colorful boxes for the section titles to an interesting but subtle background, images that catch the eye, and charts that inspire a more extended look. 

Storytelling is a presenting technique involving writing techniques to make information flow. Firstly, storytelling helps give your poster presentation a great introduction and an impactful conclusion. 

Think of storytelling as the invitation to listen or read more, as the glue that connects sections, making them flow from one to another. Storytelling is using stories in the oral presentation, for example, what your lab partner said when you discovered something interesting. If it makes your audience smile and nod, you’ve hit the mark. Storytelling is like giving a research presentation a dose of your personality, and it can help turning your data into opening stories .

Design Tips For Creating an Effective Research Poster Presentation

The section above briefly mentioned how important design is to your poster presentation’s effectiveness. We’ll look deeper into what you need to know when designing a poster presentation.

1. Font Characteristics

The typeface and size you choose are of great importance. Not only does the text need to be readable from two meters away, but it also needs to look and sit well on the poster. Stay away from calligraphic script typefaces, novelty typefaces, or typefaces with uniquely shaped letters.

Stick to the classics like a sans serif Helvetica, Lato, Open Sans, or Verdana. Avoid serif typefaces as they can be difficult to read from far away. Here are some standard text sizes to have on hand.

  • Title: 85 pt
  • Authors: 65 pt
  • Headings: 36 pt
  • Body Text: 24 pt
  • Captions: 18 pt

Resume of font characteristics a winning poster presentation must follow

If you feel too prone to use serif typefaces, work with a font pairing tool that helps you find a suitable solution – and intend those serif fonts for heading sections only. As a rule, never use more than 3 different typefaces in your design. To make it more dynamic, you can work with the same font using light, bold, and italic weights to put emphasis on the required areas.

2. Color Pairing

Using colors in your poster presentation design is a great way to grab the viewer’s attention. A color’s purpose is to help the viewer follow the data flow in your presentation, not distract. Don’t let the color take more importance than the information on your poster.

Effective color pairing tactics for poster presentations

Choose one main color for the title and headlines and a similar color for the data visualizations. If you want to use more than one color, don’t create too much contrast between them. Try different tonalities of the same color and keep things balanced visually. Your color palette should have at most one main color and two accent colors.

Black text over a white background is standard practice for printed poster presentations, but for virtual presentations, try a very light gray instead of white and a very dark gray instead of black. Additionally, use variations of light color backgrounds and dark color text. Make sure it’s easy to read from two meters away or on a screen, depending on the context. We recommend ditching full white or full black tone usage as it hurts eyesight in the long term due to its intense contrast difference with the light ambiance.

3. Data Visualization Dimensions

Just like the text, your charts, graphs, and data visualizations must be easy to read and understand. Generally, if a person is interested in your research and has already read some of the text from two meters away, they’ll come closer to look at the charts and graphs. 

Tips for properly arranging data visualization dimensions in poster presentations

Fit data visualizations inside columns or let them span over two columns. Remove any unnecessary borders, lines, or labels to make them easier to read at a glance. Use a flat design without shadows or 3D characteristics. The text in legends and captions should stay within the chart size and not overflow into the margins. Use a unified text size of 18px for all your data visualizations.

4. Alignment, Margins, and White Space

Finally, the last design tip for creating an impressive and memorable poster presentation is to be mindful of the layout’s alignment, margins, and white space. Create text boxes to help keep everything aligned. They allow you to resize, adapt, and align the content along a margin or grid.

Take advantage of the white space created by borders and margins between sections. Don’t crowd them with a busy background or unattractive color.

Tips on alignment, margins, and white space in poster presentation design

Calculate margins considering a print format. It is a good practice in case the poster presentation ends up becoming in physical format, as you won’t need to downscale your entire design (affecting text readability in the process) to preserve information.

There are different tools that you can use to make a poster presentation. Presenters who are familiar with Microsoft Office prefer to use PowerPoint. You can learn how to make a poster in PowerPoint here.

Poster Presentation Examples

Before you start creating a poster presentation, look at some examples of real research posters. Get inspired and get creative.

Research poster presentations printed and mounted on a board look like the one in the image below. The presenter stands to the side, ready to share the information with visitors as they walk up to the panels.

Example of the structure of a scientific/academic conference poster presentation

With more and more conferences staying virtual or hybrid, the digital poster presentation is here to stay. Take a look at examples from a poster session at the OHSU School of Medicine .

Use SlideModel templates to help you create a winning poster presentation with PowerPoint and Google Slides. These poster PPT templates will get you off on the right foot. Mix and match tables and data visualizations from other poster slide templates to create your ideal layout according to the standard guidelines.

1. One-pager Scientific Poster Template for PowerPoint

how to make a poster presentation research

A PowerPoint template tailored to make your poster presentations an easy-to-craft process. Meet our One-Pager Scientific Poster Slide Template, entirely editable to your preferences and with ample room to accommodate graphs, data charts, and much more.

Use This Template

2. Eisenhower Matrix Slides Template for PowerPoint

how to make a poster presentation research

An Eisenhower Matrix is a powerful tool to represent priorities, classifying work according to urgency and importance. Presenters can use this 2×2 matrix in poster presentations to expose the effort required for the research process, as it also helps to communicate strategy planning.

3. OSMG Framework PowerPoint Template

how to make a poster presentation research

Finally, we recommend presenters check our OSMG Framework PowerPoint template, as it is an ideal tool for representing a business plan: its goals, strategies, and measures for success. Expose complex processes in a simplified manner by adding this template to your poster presentation.

Remember these three words when making your research poster presentation: develop, design, and present. These are the three main actions toward a successful poster presentation. 

Summary of how to make a research poster presentation

The section below will take you on a step-by-step journey to create your next poster presentation.

Step 1: Define the purpose and audience of your poster presentation

Before making a poster presentation design, you’ll need to plan first. Here are some questions to answer at this point:

  • Are they in your field? 
  • Do they know about your research topic? 
  • What can they get from your research?
  • Will you print it?
  • Is it for a virtual conference?

Step 2: Make an outline

With a clear purpose and strategy, it’s time to collect the most important information from your research paper, analysis, or documentation. Make a content dump and then select the most interesting information. Use the content to draft an outline.

Outlines help formulate the overall structure better than going straight into designing the poster. Mimic the standard poster structure in your outline using section headlines as separators. Go further and separate the content into the columns they’ll be placed in.

Step 3: Write the content

Write or rewrite the content for the sections in your poster presentation. Use the text in your research paper as a base, but summarize it to be more succinct in what you share. 

Don’t forget to write a catchy title that presents the problem and your findings in a clear way. Likewise, craft the headlines for the sections in a similar tone as the title, creating consistency in the message. Include subtle transitions between sections to help follow the flow of information in order.

Avoid copying/pasting entire sections of the research paper on which the poster is based. Opt for the storytelling approach, so the delivered message results are interesting for your audience. 

Step 4: Put it all together visually

This entire guide on how to design a research poster presentation is the perfect resource to help you with this step. Follow all the tips and guidelines and have an unforgettable poster presentation.

Moving on, here’s how to design a research poster presentation with PowerPoint Templates . Open a new project and size it to the standard 48 x 36 inches. Using the outline, map out the sections on the empty canvas. Add a text box for each title, headline, and body text. Piece by piece, add the content into their corresponding text box.

Basic structure layout of an academic poster presentation

Transform the text information visually, make bullet points, and place the content in tables and timelines. Make your text visual to avoid chunky text blocks that no one will have time to read. Make sure all text sizes are coherent for all headings, body texts, image captions, etc. Double-check for spacing and text box formatting.

Next, add or create data visualizations, images, or diagrams. Align everything into columns and sections, making sure there’s no overflow. Add captions and legends to the visualizations, and check the color contrast with colleagues and friends. Ask for feedback and progress to the last step.

Step 5: Last touches

Time to check the final touches on your poster presentation design. Here’s a checklist to help finalize your research poster before sending it to printers or the virtual summit rep.

  • Check the resolution of all visual elements in your poster design. Zoom to 100 or 200% to see if the images pixelate. Avoid this problem by using vector design elements and high-resolution images.
  • Ensure that charts and graphs are easy to read and don’t look crowded.
  • Analyze the visual hierarchy. Is there a visual flow through the title, introduction, data, and conclusion?
  • Take a step back and check if it’s legible from a distance. Is there enough white space for the content to breathe?
  • Does the design look inviting and interesting?

An often neglected topic arises when we need to print our designs for any exhibition purpose. Since A0 is a hard-to-manage format for most printers, these poster presentations result in heftier charges for the user. Instead, you can opt to work your design in two A1 sheets, which also becomes more manageable for transportation. Create seamless borders for the section on which the poster sheets should meet, or work with a white background.

Paper weight options should be over 200 gsm to avoid unwanted damage during the printing process due to heavy ink usage. If possible, laminate your print or stick it to photographic paper – this shall protect your work from spills.

Finally, always run a test print. Gray tints may not be printed as clearly as you see them on screen (this is due to the RGB to CMYK conversion process). Other differences can be appreciated when working with ink jet plotters vs. laser printers. Give yourself enough room to maneuver last-minute design changes.

Presenting a research poster is a big step in the poster presentation cycle. Your poster presentation might or might not be judged by faculty or peers. But knowing what judges look for will help you prepare for the design and oral presentation, regardless of whether you receive a grade for your work or if it’s business related. Likewise, the same principles apply when presenting at an in-person or virtual summit.

The opening statement

Part of presenting a research poster is welcoming the viewer to your small personal area in the sea of poster presentations. You’ll need an opening statement to pitch your research poster and get the viewers’ attention.

Draft a 2 to 3-sentence pitch that covers the most important points:

  • What the research is
  • Why was it conducted
  • What the results say

From that opening statement, you’re ready to continue with the oral presentation for the benefit of your attendees.

The oral presentation

During the oral presentation, share the information on the poster while conversing with the interested public. Practice many times before the event. Structure the oral presentation as conversation points, and use the poster’s visual flow as support. Make eye contact with your audience as you speak, but don’t make them uncomfortable.

Pro Tip: In a conference or summit, if people show up to your poster area after you’ve started presenting it to another group, finish and then address the new visitors.

QA Sessions 

When you’ve finished the oral presentation, offer the audience a chance to ask questions. You can tell them before starting the presentation that you’ll be holding a QA session at the end. Doing so will prevent interruptions as you’re speaking.

If presenting to one or two people, be flexible and answer questions as you review all the sections on your poster.

Supplemental Material

If your audience is interested in learning more, you can offer another content type, further imprinting the information in their minds. Some ideas include; printed copies of your research paper, links to a website, a digital experience of your poster, a thesis PDF, or data spreadsheets.

Your audience will want to contact you for further conversations; include contact details in your supplemental material. If you don’t offer anything else, at least have business cards.

Even though conferences have changed, the research poster’s importance hasn’t diminished. Now, instead of simply creating a printed poster presentation, you can also make it for digital platforms. The final output will depend on the conference and its requirements.

This guide covered all the essential information you need to know for creating impactful poster presentations, from design, structure and layout tips to oral presentation techniques to engage your audience better . 

Before your next poster session, bookmark and review this guide to help you design a winning poster presentation every time. 

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how to make a poster presentation research

University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois Library Wordmark

Research Posters : Step by step

  • Elements of a poster
  • Step by step
  • Visualizations & images
  • Illinois logo
  • Archiving - Grad Students
  • More Resources
  • Oral Presentations
  • 2023 Undergraduate Research Symposium This link opens in a new window

CREATING YOUR POSTER

You have two choices when creating a research poster:

  • You can create your poster from scratch by using PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign, or a similar design program. 
  • You can use one of the  University of Illinois Research Poster Templates .

Sizing your Poster

  • If you are presenting for the  Undergraduate Research Symposium , resize your slide to width 48 inches by height 36 inches.
  • If you are presenting at a  professional conference , your instructions should indicate the size limits of your poster. Standard U.S. conference poster size is 48" by 36". 

​ ***IMPORTANT: You must change the size of your slide before you start working on your poster. This will ensure that your images and text do not become pixilated when the poster is printed. See below for specific instructions. 

How to correctly size your poster in PowerPoint:

  • Select the "Design" tab
  • Click "Slide Size"
  • Select "Page Setup"
  • Under the "Slides sized for:" dropdown menu, select "Custom"
  • Set the "Width" and "Height" to what is needed for your poster
  • Click "OK" 

How to edit PowerPoint slide size image

How to correctly size your poster in Adobe InDesign:

When a new document is created in Adobe InDesign, a dialogue box prompts you to enter dimensions:

screenshot of Adobe InDesign create a document menu

  • Change the dimension metric to inches from the drop down box.
  • Margins are intentional space from an object to the edge of the poster, intended not to be trimmed. You can set this to 0 inches on all sides unless you have a specific plan to use margins in your design.
  • Bleed shows the printer where to trim white space that occurs when printing color onto white poster paper. If you are printing your poster, include at least a 0.25 inch bleed on each side; remember not to place any content in the bleed as it will be trimmed by the printer.
  • Slug is a space for the creator to leave any notes for the printer. You can set this to 0 inches unless you have notes. 

If you ever want to change your poster dimensions after starting the poster, you can do so through the Document Setup Menu .

Using multiple font styles can really make your poster stand out and look professional. Consult this graphic to understand different font styles, what fonts work best together, and what fonts to avoid.

COLOR SCHEME CHOICES

Sticking to a color scheme can help your poster look professional. Consistent use of color can help your viewer understand how information is organized on your poster. Not sure where to start with color?

  • Pick colors from an image (including a custom one you're planning to use on your poster)
  • Use Illinois branding colors

Not sure what to do with the hex code from a brand guide or color palette generator?

  • Adobe InDesign

Always check that your text is accessible on background colors using WebAIM's free contrast checker.

If printing your poster, it's a good idea to do a small-scale test print of your poster before getting it printed. Colors often appear brighter and more vibrant on a screen than when printed. There still might be some variation in color depending on the color scale the printer uses, but it will be a closer match on paper than what you see on screen.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR POSTER

All posters MUST have:  

  • Title: Make it catchy and use at least 72 pt. font. 
  • Your name and contact information.
  • Institutional affiliation, see the  Illinois logo  tab above.

You many also include:

  • Research question or hypothesis: Do not copy your abstract if it is included in the program. 
  • Methodology: What is the research process that you used? Explain how you did your research.
  • Your interview questions.
  • Observations: What did you see? Why is this important?
  • Findings: What did you learn? Summarize your conclusions.
  • Themes: Pull out themes in the literature and list in bullet points.
  • Consider a brief narrative of what you learned - what was the most interesting/surprising aspect of your project?
  • Add interesting quotes from your research.
  • Data: Use your data to generate charts or tables.
  • Images: Include images (visit the  Visualization & Images  tab in the guide for more information). Take your own or legally use others.
  • Recommendations and/or next steps for future research.
  • Citations: Only list 3-5 on your poster. If you have more, put them on your handout.
  • Acknowledgements: Don't forget to thank your advisor, department, or funding agency.

More helpful tips

  • Read Colin Purrington's suggestions for successful poster design.
  • Be creative in your display, think beyond the text of your paper. You can use boxes, formatting, font, and images to break up the sections of your research poster.
  • Think carefully about your title. If you would like a longer, more descriptive title, consider a subtitle. Brainstorm several titles and have a peer/colleague/friend/teacher rank them. The title needs to highlight your subject matter, but it does not need to state all your conclusions. Some good titles simply ask questions, others answer them.
  • You can section your poster according to the major points about your research you want to convey. For example: title, abstract, methodology, data, results, and conclusion. Consider the flow of your poster--these should be in a logical, easy-to-read order. Remember that most people read from left to right and top to bottom.
  • Qualitative data (e.g. quotes from references and/or interviews) can also be shared on your poster. Make sure you include captions, legends, annotations, citations, and footnotes, if necessary.
  • Design your poster as if you were designing for a professional publication. Be consistent with your layout, color choices, fonts and sizes.
  • All text of your poster should be *at least* 24 font size and an easy-to-read font style (e.g. Arial or Verdana). Anything smaller is too difficult to read.
  • Remember the “KISS Principle”: Keep It Simple, Stupid! In succinct, brief, jargon-free terms, your poster must explain: 1) the scientific problem in mind (what’s the question?), 2) its significance (why should we care?), 3) how your particular experiment addresses the problem (what’s your strategy?), 4) the experiments performed (what did you actually do?), 5) the results obtained (what did you actually find?), 6) the conclusions (what do you think it all means?), and, optionally, 7) caveats (any reservations?) and/or 8) future prospects (where do you go from here?).
  • What is the number one mistake made in poster presentations? Too much information! Try to keep your poster to the point and and clear. You can always include more information in your handout or on a website.
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  • Next: Visualizations & images >>
  • Last Updated: Nov 8, 2023 3:52 PM
  • URL: https://guides.library.illinois.edu/poster

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Designing a Research Poster: Getting Started

  • Getting Started
  • Sections of a Poster
  • Design Tips
  • Using Images
  • Formatting A Poster
  • Poster Examples

Presentation

  • How to Design a Research Poster Presentation used for the Designing a Research Poster Workshop

Attribution Acknowledgement

The template for this LibGuide was created by the Kraemer Family Library at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs .

Poster Sessions Explained

  • What is a Research Poster
  • What is a Poster Session
  • Preparing a Poster Session

A research poster is a visual tool that allows to present your research in a graphic way. A research poster should be designed to attract attention and convey information in a clear and organized way.  Well designed posters should work to create conversation between the researcher and the individuals viewing the poster. 

Your research poster will be large (usually 36 x 48 in) and will be printed on high quality poster paper. You will need to have your poster printed professionally. 

What should a research poster contain?

The same major sections as a research paper and some additional identifying information:

  • The Title of Your Study
  • Author's Name and Information (including all co-authors): department, university, and contact information
  • Introduction
  • Materials/Methodology
  • Conclusions
  • Works Cited
  • Acknowledgements: be sure to recognize sources of funding that you may have received

how to make a poster presentation research

A poster session or poster presentation is the presentation of research information by an individual or representatives of research teams at a congress or conference with an academic or professional focus. A poster session is an opportunity for you to share your research in a creative, visual way.  Poster sessions will usually be scheduled for 1-1.5 hours, but may vary with each conference.

Most of the time, each scholar will be given an easel, a cardboard support or corkboard (often with 48" width X 36" height) in order to support the poster. You may be responsible to bring your own push pins or tape. 

Colleagues and peers will move informally between the posters while presenters typically give a brief (1-2 minute) talk about their research and answer questions. If people are reading your poster, you can say "Please let me know if you have any questions" to indicate that it is your poster.

Look like a professional! Participants usually will be dressed in business/professional attire.

There can be three parts to your poster session:

  • Your poster
  • An optional handout

If you chose to do a handout, it should have two sides. The first side of the paper should include a picture of your poster (this can be in black and white or color). The second side of the handout should include your cited references, further information about your topic and your contact information.

All three components should complement one another, not repeat each other. It's nice to know ahead of time if you will have a small table for your handouts and/or business cards. You may not want to hold anything in case some one would like to shake your hand.

Your poster should be an outline of your research with interesting commentary about what you learned along the way.

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How to prepare an effective research poster

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  • Peer review
  • Lucia Hartigan , registrar 1 ,
  • Fionnuala Mone , fellow in maternal fetal medicine 1 ,
  • Mary Higgins , consultant obstetrician 1 2
  • 1 National Maternity Hospital, Dublin
  • 2 Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medicine and Medical Sciences, University College Dublin
  • mhiggins{at}nmh.ie

Being asked to give a poster presentation can be exciting, and you need not be daunted by the prospect of working out how to prepare one. As Lucia Hartigan and colleagues explain, many options are available

The long nights are over, the statistics have been run, the abstract has been written, and the email pops into your inbox: “Congratulations! You have been accepted for a poster presentation.”

All that work has been worthwhile. Your consultant congratulates you and your colleagues are envious of your having a legitimate excuse to go away for a couple of days, but now you have to work out how to prepare a poster. Do not despair, for you have many options.

Firstly, take this seriously. A poster is not a consolation prize for not being given an oral presentation. This is your chance to show your work, talk to others in the field, and, if you are lucky, to pick up pointers from experts. Given that just 45% of published abstracts end in a full paper, 1 this may be your only chance to get your work out there, so put some effort into it. If you don’t have access to the services of a graphic designer, then some work will be entailed as it normally takes us a full day to prepare the layout of a poster. If you are lucky enough to have help from a graphic designer, then you will need to check that the data are correct before it is sent to the printer. After all, it will be your name on the poster, not the graphic designer’s.

Secondly, check the details of the requirements. What size poster should you have? If it is too big, it may look arrogant. If it is too small, then it may seem too modest and self effacing. Should it be portrait or landscape? Different meetings have different requirements. Some may stay with traditional paper posters, so you need to factor in printing. Others present them electronically, but may have a deadline by which you need to have uploaded the poster. When planning a meeting the organisers work out how many poster boards there will be and then the numbers, so follow their requirements and read the small print.

Then make a template. It can be tempting to “borrow” a poster template from someone else, and this may buy you some time, but it is important to check what page set-up and size have been selected for the template. If it’s meant for an A2 size and you wish to print your poster on A0 paper, then the stretching may lead to pixillation, which would not look good.

Next, think about your layout. Use text boxes to cover the following areas: title (with authors, institution, and logo), background, methods, results, and conclusions. Check that the text boxes are aligned by using gridlines, and justify your text. Use different colours for titles, and make sure you can read the title from 3 metres away. Some people will put their abstract in a separate box in the top right hand corner underneath the title, and then expand a little in the other areas. That is fine, so long as you follow the golden rule of writing a poster: do not include too much text. One study showed that less than 5% of conference attendees visit posters at meetings and that few ask useful questions. 2 The same research found that, in addition to the scientific content of a poster, the factors that increase visual appeal include pictures, graphs, and a limited use of words. 2 The ideal number of words seems to be between 300 and 400 per square metre.

Now make it look pretty and eye catching, and use lots of graphics. Outline text boxes or fill them with a different colour. If you can present the data using a graph, image, or figures rather than text, then do so, as this will add visual appeal. If you want to put a picture in the background, and it is appropriate to do so, fade the image so that it does not distract from the content.

Fonts are important. Check whether the meeting has set criteria for fonts; if they have, then follow them. You do not want to stand out for the wrong reason. If there are no specified criteria, then the title should be in point size 72-84, depending on the size of the poster. The authors’ names should be either the same size, but in italics, or else a couple of sizes smaller.

If you are including the hospital logo, don’t take a picture that will not size up properly when enlarged. Instead, obtain a proper copy from the hospital administrators.

References can be in small writing. No one is likely to read them, and you are including them only to remind yourself what you learnt in the literature review. One intriguing possibility is the use of a trigger image to link the poster to online content. 3

Finally, there are also things you should not do. Don’t leave your figures unlabelled, include spelling errors, use abbreviations without an explanation, or go outside the boundaries of the poster. Don’t be ashamed that you “only” have a poster. At a good meeting you may find that the comments from passers by are an amazing peer review. We have presented at meetings where world experts have given feedback, and with that feedback we have written the paper on the flight home.

Competing interests: We have read and understood the BMJ Group policy on declaration of interests and have no relevant interests to declare.

  • ↵ Scherer RW, Langenberg P, von Elm E. Full publication of results initially presented in abstracts. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007 ; 2 : MR000005 . OpenUrl PubMed
  • ↵ Goodhand JR, Giles CL, Wahed M, Irving PM, Langmead L, Rampton DS. Poster presentations at medical conferences: an effective way of disseminating research? Clin Med 2011 ; 1 : 138 -41. OpenUrl
  • ↵ Atherton S, Javed M, Webster S, Hemington-Gorse S. Use of a mobile device app: a potential new tool for poster presentations and surgical education. J Visual Comm Med 2013 ; 36 (1-2): 6 -10. OpenUrl

how to make a poster presentation research

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How to Create a Research Poster: Research Poster Resources

What is a research poster.

A Research Poster is a structured presentation of the presenter's research in the form of a poster. This allows viewers to absorb the key points of research from a brief viewing. Posters are an important method of sharing research, especially at academic conferences. Research posters are generally accompanied by a brief presentation by the researcher. 

Online Poster Resources

  • Impactful Scientific Posters-The Basics A video from the American Chemical Society
  • Designing Conference Posters - Colin Purrington Downloadable templates, What to put in each section, Dos and Don'ts, How to make your poster more engaging,Priting, How to present a poster, and Motivational advice.
  • Poster Presentations - Designing Effective Posters - University of Bufflao Background readings, Design tips, and Resources
  • Designing an Academic Poster - Adam Reid A prezi containing tips about size, color, layout, fonts, graphics and software.
  • www.academicposter.org Design tips, templates and gallery.
  • Scientific Posters - byMichael Alley, author of The Craft of Scientific Writing Design, Examples, Templates, and Presenting tips

Using Images

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  • New York Public Library Digital Collections This link opens in a new window Over 800,000 images digitized from the The New York Public Library's collections; including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints, photographs and more.
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Making a Better Research Poster

Marist College Presentation Poster Template

Marist Poster Template

Marist Resources for Student Research

  • VPAA Student Research Grant
  • Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (CURSCA) The Celebration of Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity (CURSCA) is Marist College’s annual showcase of scholarly and creative work by undergraduates. CURSCA provides a forum for students to share their work with, and be celebrated by, the Marist community.

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Undergraduate Research

How to design a research poster.

Presenting your scholarly work and research can take a number of different formats, all of which have pros and cons associated with them. While some fields use live performances or oral presentations to display their work, others use research journals or written manuscripts, while others still implement the use of research posters or gallery displays. Below is a comparison of some of the more common methods for displaying and presenting research and scholarly work.

Creating an effective research poster

We have provided a 6 step guide for you to follow. We also encourage you to attend one of our workshops “Presenting Your Research I: Story Design” and “Presenting Your Research II: Poster Design” for assistance. You may find the dates/times for these workshops (along with others) in MU Engage .

This short 5-minute video takes you through some pointers on how to create a research poster.

Consider the following questions before designing your poster. Depending on your event/audience, the poster content may be different. Presenting your work at a discipline specific conference means an audience who will have more understanding of the terminology and processes used in your work – meaning more use of discipline specific vocabulary. Whereas, presenting at an event with more laypeople (think the Spring Forum), means that most in the audience will not understand discipline specific vocabulary or graphics, so your poster content would be different as it would need to be understood by that audience.

Take time to brainstorm what you want the viewer to get from your poster (whether you are standing by it to present the information or not).

  • What is your goal ?
  • Who is your audience ?
  • What is the most interesting/compelling part of your work?
  • What will be interesting to others ?
  • How can you make it interesting to others?

Before you can begin designing the poster, you have to consider a few things. And the first thing is:

Poster Size

Before you go plugging in data, text and images you need to decide on the overall size of YOUR poster. Some conferences/events have specific size limitations – VERIFY THIS FIRST! Otherwise, you may find yourself scrambling to redesign a poster last minute.

Here, however is some standard information for you to consider:

Mizzou’s Spring Forum – the boards and easels used are 2 sizes: 45in x 45in (square), or 36in x 60in (wide rectangle). Poster sizes vary, however we have found that 36in x 42in, or 42in x 48in are typical.

Poster Orientation

Your poster may be a rectangle in portrait orientation (‘hotdog’), or landscape orientation (‘hamburger’); OR, you may have a square poster. This is where you consider how to communicate your work and how it will best ‘flow’.

Mizzou poster templates

Mizzou has some poster templates (branded with Mizzou logos and colors), that you may download to use. You may find them at the Mizzou Branding & Licensing website here (scroll down to ‘Research Posters’ and please note that they are automatically sized to 56in x 36in – so you should resize them based upon what YOU want your poster size to be. You do NOT have to use these templates, but you may find them helpful. Check with your mentor .)

Now that you have determined what you want to communicate to your audience, and the poster size in which you will do this – you have to consider the content itself. How will the information be placed on the page to best flow and be understood by the viewer?

Consider the following items to include:

  • Abstract, if appropriate
  • Background/Introduction
  • Research Question/Problem/Hypothesis
  • Methodology (Materials & Methods)
  • Conclusions, Future Studies
  • Acknowledgements

Remember to:

  • Make it easy for the reader to follow
  • Anchor your information with something familiar
  • Label figures and images
  • Use sections, headlines
  • What can be visual about your work?
  • What needs to be explained ? ( And can it be explained more clearly using visuals? )
  • What context do you need to provide?
  • Biography/influences on your authors
  • Lists, timelines
  • Key quotations/text
  • Cultural context
  • Graphs, charts
  • Illustrations
  • Resist temptation to overuse color
  • Use color for meaning and significance
  • Use color to highlight important content
  • Frames around poster components
  • Bullet points
  • Headlines of text, headings
  • Check the University of Missouri Identity Standards website to download Mizzou logos and confirm your color of “Mizzou gold.”
  • Determine title that is understandable to an audience outside of your field/major
  • List authors of poster
  • Consider font type, size, color, etc.
  • Include the MU logo (and other logos depending on the nature of your work)

You should plan for your poster to take a minimum of 2-4 business days ( 48-72 hours ) to be printed. You must plan in advance for your poster pickup – we recommend that you consult the printer and ask for their timeline as you are not their only customer, and each printer will have different turnaround times.

Poster printing costs range depending on the size and type of material which you select for your poster – the average poster costs about $60.00.

BEFORE YOU PRINT! Check your poster for typos and grammatical errors. Has your mentor given you the ‘okay?’

  • MU Print and Mail Services . Select ‘Posters’ from within the ‘Student Services’ drop-down.’
  • FedEx has partnered with us to provide presenters a special price for printing posters. To get this special price you MUST use this online portal to submit your poster, in PDF format. You will required to provide your contact information and pay for your poster in advance by credit card.
  • 36in x 48in poster (landscape or portrait layout) = $30.00
  • 36in x 36in poster = $22.50
  • Custom size poster, the price will be $2.50/sq foot
  • Staples (115 Conley Road)
  • UPS Store – 3 locations 503 E. Nifong, Ste H 2000 E. Broadway 2101 W. Broadway #103

We also recommend that you view past posters in your category to get a sense of what has been done. Click here to view the 2020 and 2021 online Spring Forum presentations.

Other resources.

  • NYU Libraries How to Create a Research Poster
  • Colin Purrington: tips for making posters
  • UC Davis: How to Make and Effective Poster
  • Science: How to prepare a scientific poster
  • Fresh Spectrum: How to design a research poster using CANVA

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Creating conference posters: Structure, form and content

This article aims to provide an overview of the form, structure and content of conference posters for researchers who intend to submit an academic poster to a conference. It focuses in particular on the design and layout of academic conference posters, making some suggestions for possible poster layouts. It also provides information about factors influencing conference selection. Finally, it summarises some top tips to be considered when creating a conference poster such as font selection and use of images.

Provenance and Peer review: Solicited contribution; Peer reviewed; Accepted for publication 30 January 2021.

Introduction and aims

This article provides an overview of the process of designing and creating academic posters. It will discuss tools and resources that will be of use to researchers who intend to submit an academic poster to a conference.

Academic conference posters are a method of communicating academic research succinctly ( Gopal et al 2017 ). Posters give the opportunity to present the author’s work in an attractive way. They can be created for a number of reasons, including communicating the progress that a research project is making, to look for collaborators for future research projects, as an alternative to a traditional conference presentation, as an effective entry to the development of professional presentations ( Durkin 2011 ) or to further a career. Creating a poster provides the author with a pleasing visual record of their research, which can be displayed publicly after the conference. Academic posters are also created in order to increase a researcher’s impact in a particular field of research, which may open up future research and employment opportunities.

The audience for a conference poster will depend on the nature of the conference. Many organisations hold their own internal conferences that communicate the results of projects that have been undertaken within departments, or to promote best practice. The audience at an academic conference will be researchers, academics, students and professionals who want to keep up to date with the latest research or who are looking for potential research collaborators. Sometimes scientists will be asked to present their research to members of the public in a poster. The content and presentation of the poster will need to be adapted to suit the intended audience. This article focuses on the design of academic conference posters in order to meet these needs.

Conference selection

When selecting a conference at which to present a poster, there are several factors which should be considered by the author. For example, researchers should consider which conference has the most relevant subject coverage. This may be a conference which the author has previously attended, one that is promoted by a colleague, or one that is advertised in a journal or mailing list. Lang et al (2019) identified five factors that students and practitioners should consider when selecting a conference to attend. These factors are:

  • The conference is targeted towards specific areas of interest
  • There are opportunities for networking
  • There are well-known and respected plenary speakers
  • There is an opportunity to present
  • The conference has been recommended by others or has been attended by the author previously.

Another factor which will influence conference selection is cost. In order to obtain funding from an employer or external funding organisation, it may be necessary to demonstrate how presenting at a conference will benefit the author and their organisation ( Gray 2020 ).

Poster layout

The main purpose of creating an academic poster is the ability to communicate information in a concise and visually pleasing way ( Gundogan et al 2016 , Rowe & Ilic 2011 ). In order to present information as clearly as possible, a conference poster can have a similar structure to a research paper – but it will need to have a much smaller word count. This means initial planning to ensure the relevant information is conveyed within the poster using the words available.

Before beginning to design and create an academic poster, the requirements of the conference should be clearly understood by the author. These requirements include the orientation of the poster: is it landscape or portrait? Does the conference specify which fonts must be used and what size? How long can the title be? If submission guidelines are not followed, it may lead to a conference poster submission being rejected ( Berg & Hicks 2017 ).

Once the requirements have been read and understood, it is time to begin the design process. It is helpful to sketch a poster on paper first before creating it on a computer. The poster can be designed using boxes to represent the different sections, and the content can be added later. There should be a clear flow from section to section on a poster to make it as easy to read and follow as possible. Poster colour schemes should be carefully selected, keeping to only two or three colours. Red and green colour combinations should be avoided, as people with colour blindness will find this combination difficult to read. Colour can be used to emphasize the poster’s primary focus – for example red to associate a poster with heart disease ( Christenbery & Latham 2013 ).

In order to make a poster attractive and easy to comprehend, around 30 to 40% should be empty space, for example between each section of the poster. There should be 40 to 50% of the space taken up with graphics, and 20 to 25% should contain text ( Baker 2012 ). If a poster contains too much text and too many graphics, it makes it much harder to read.

For an alternative design idea, see resources that Morrison has created ( Morrison 2019 ). This alternative poster design was developed in order to make it much easier for a poster’s audience to understand the main finding that the author is communicating. In this design, all the important information is included but is not the main emphasis of the poster. It also incorporates the use of a QR code where the poster and supplementary material can be downloaded.

A key part of any academic poster is its title. The title of an academic poster is the part that is going to grab people’s attention and encourage them to read the poster. It is therefore vital that it clearly describes the topic of the poster and is short and catchy ( Siedlecki 2017 ). It should be the largest font size on a poster.

The author of an academic poster should be clearly displayed on the poster along with the author’s job title and contact details. This will allow anyone with questions to follow-up once the conference is over. In their study, Gopal et al (2017) found that only 41% of the posters they assessed included contact details either email or postal address. The author’s organisation and/or funder may also require that their logos be added to the poster.

The introduction is the opportunity to explain why the poster was created and set the context for the information presented in the poster. As in a research paper, the methods are used to explain how the research was conducted. If the poster is about a particular procedure or piece of equipment, a photograph can be used in place of words. The addition of photographs will make a poster more visually pleasing and will reduce the number of words required in the methods section.

Research results can be presented in several ways, such as graphs, charts or infographics. This again makes the poster more visually pleasing and aids the comprehension of the results. Data that are presented as graphs, charts or infographics ensure that the results of research can be understood much quicker than trying to read tables of data or large amounts of text.

The conclusions of the research can be presented as bullet points, the information can be listed in a concise way that the audience can easily find on the poster. This section may include what was learnt, the significance of the findings and opportunities for future research.

The main text of a poster should be readable from at least 1.5m away. Any labels on diagrams and references can be of a smaller size. Exact font sizes might be specified in the conference submission guidance, in which case these should be followed exactly. Any headings of the same importance should be of the same font size.

It is important that any other sources used during the creation of the poster are correctly referenced. It is usual to have around five references on a poster, all formatted correctly. Using a reference manager such as Endnote, Mendeley or Zotero can help to ensure that references are in the correct format. Endnote has a plugin which can be used with PowerPoint, for other reference managers, authors must create the references in Word and then copy and paste them to PowerPoint. As Gopal et al (2017) discovered in their study, even when pre-defined requirements are only size and orientation, 28% of posters did not meet both of these criteria.

Presentation of information

As Gundogan et al state (2016) an academic poster should be an aesthetically pleasing format – therefore an important element of any poster are the images that it contains. These could be photographs, diagrams, charts or graphs. If images are used they should be in PNG, GIF, JPEG or TIF formats as these are better for re-sizing without losing image clarity. If images from other sources are used, it is important that any copyright licences are complied with. If possible, an author should use their own images as they will own the copyright on those images. As Gopal et al (2017) illustrated in their study, only 29% of posters assessed had no copyright issues with the material they had included. Any images included in a poster should have a resolution of at least two hundred dots per inch or 80 dots per centimetre to avoid the image having a grainy or pixelated appearance when it is enlarged. Pixabay is a good source of royalty-free images with CC0 licenses ( Pixabay 2020 ). The use of infographics can make a poster more visually appealing. Infographics can be created in many applications, including Canva, Easelly or Piktochart.

When creating a poster, it is important to ensure that the poster has been completed ahead of any deadlines to ensure that there is enough time to print the poster, if required. The conference requirements may state that the posters will be printed by the organisers or the author may have to print it themselves.

Presenting a conference poster online

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many traditional face-to-face conferences have been moving online. There are three main formats that conferences have used to present posters in an online environment.

  • An online gallery – posters are hosted online. These online galleries are sometimes supplemented with an online discussion board to ask questions about the posters.
  • Asynchronous – this involves recording a video presentation of about 5min explaining the poster. There may then be a live session during the conference where attendees could question the posters author.
  • Synchronous – a poster is presented live during a scheduled session with the opportunity for questions.

Although the disadvantage of electronic posters is that they are harder to keep on permanent display, the advantage is that they can still be viewed after a conference is over, allowing discussions to continue ( Powell-Tuck et al 2002 ).

Conclusion and top tips

When creating an academic poster, the author needs to ensure that the submission guidelines are followed. The use of a non-serif font makes the content easier to read in smaller sizes. If any images that are not the author’s own are used, the author should have the correct permissions to use them. The author should try not to cram as much information as possible into the poster; there should be a clear flow and space between sections on the poster. In order to avoid any errors in spelling and grammar, a colleague can be asked to proofread the poster before it is submitted.

Once the conference is over, the poster can be displayed in an office or in the author’s department. This allows a wider audience to see the poster. The poster could be added to a repository online if it has not already been archived by the conference.

No competing interests declared

ORCID iD: Veronica Phillips https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4383-9434

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Posters, presentations & science writing: start.

  • Writing Tips & Evaluation

The PURPOSE of a poster presentation is to create rapid, concise & visual communication of research. (Hoffman, 2010). This guide provides information on how to create a successful science poster & presentation.

USE these principles for EVERY step of preparation

  • CREATE an APPEALING DESIGN to draw attention.
  • ENGAGE your audience : ~ explain your research, ~ ask for feedback, ~ gather new ideas, ~ make research connections
  • RAPID: convey your research quickly and clearly
  • CONCISE: express your findings succinctly  
  • VISUAL: draw your audience in with design, figures, graphs, & illustrations.

Selected New Resources

how to make a poster presentation research

Posters on the Web

F1000: Faculty of 1000 Flickr: Poster Sessions ePosters : online library of scientific posters Better Posters blog Designing Conference Posters  by Colin Purrington

how to make a poster presentation research

This poster is by Emily Austen . Source: Better Posters

  • Next: Prepare >>
  • Last Updated: Feb 2, 2024 9:27 AM
  • URL: https://guides.lib.berkeley.edu/posters

How to Create a Research Poster

  • Poster Basics
  • Design Tips
  • Logos & Images

Poster Design Guides and Tips

  • Academic Posters Edinburgh Napier University student success how-to guide for academic posters.
  • Designing Conference Posters Colin Purrington, a PhD and former professor, breaks down how to design conference posters and a list of do's and don'ts.
  • Creating an Effective Scientific Poster (PDF) University of Guelph, Integrative Biology Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 2011/2012. Covers preparation, design principles, software guide, and a checklist for assessing your poster.
  • Poster Presentations: Designing Effective Posters University at Buffalo research guide by Fred Stoss, Biological Sciences Librarian.

Free PowerPoint Templates

  • Genigraphics
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  • Last Updated: Jul 11, 2023 5:09 PM
  • URL: https://guides.nyu.edu/posters

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Library services for undergraduate research.

  • Creating an Abstract
  • What is a Literature Review?
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  • Conducting Research
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Research Poster

A research poster session is a visual, interactive forum. The research is conveyed graphically in an informal setting. The researcher stands next to her/his poster and is prepared to answer questions to clarify information. The poster itself IS NOT the enlarged research paper. The poster should " entice the viewer with clarity, simplicity, and pictures ".

Impactful Scientific Posters

This site is developed to help students who are creating research posters for presentation at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. At this site you will find information about:

  • What to include in a research poster
  • How to design and organize a research poster
  • What software programs to use to create a research poster

Research poster sessions, historically have been widely used by the scientific community in presenting original research. However there has been an increase in the use of poster sessions for undergraduate research in the social sciences and humanities.

View Sample Posters

Poster Sessions  - flick r 

A group on flickr for sharing posters and getting feedback

Poster Sessions - flick r

A group on flickr where people share photos of their posters

Online Design Resources

  • Effective Poster Design   "An effective poster is a visual communications tool"
  • Design Effective Posters   Contains examples of original and improved posters
  • Creating Anthropology Conferences Posters: A Guide for Beginners

Considering Content

When developing an outline of a research poster, you want to consider including some of the following sections:

  • Introduction or Background
  • Literature Review
  • Methods or Results
  • Purpose or Objectives
  • Acknowledges
  • Works Cited

Content should be:

  • clear and concise
  • relevant and significant

Considering Design, Organization & Layout

The " Rule of Thirds " is a design tool used by photographers and graphic artists. The rule states that visual images (the poster) can be divided into nine equal segments (three sections high and three sestions wide. The audience's eye should travel from the top to the bottom in a Z pattern. The most important parts of the poster should be located on this "Z" shape.

Layout and design  should consider:

  • balance and spacing
  • consistency
  • headings and fonts

Graphics should be:

  • clearly relevant to project
  • easily seen from a few feet away
  • simply, easy to understand
  • aesthetically pleasing, eye catching, but not garish
  • clearly labeled

Sample layouts - at a glance

  • Suggested layout arrangements
  • Tips for a readable poster (PDf)
  • Sample poster template (PowerPoint format)

Finding Stock Images

  • U.S. Government Photos
  • Library of Congress Images,   flick r  
  • B ing Image Feed
  • Creative Commons Images
  • ArtStor Guide, fine arts images

Books from the Catalog

how to make a poster presentation research

Journal Articles on Poster Design

Title: Visual Design Tips to Develop an Inviting Poster for Poster Presentations .

Authors: Tomita, Kei 1 , [email protected]

Source: TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning; Jul2017, Vol. 61 Issue 4, p313-315, 3p

Abstract: The article offers suggestions for making a poster presentation at an academic conference as it is different from other presentation formats. Topics discussed include integrating the results, discussion, and conclusion sections or introduction and literature review sections in order to reduce the amount of text; name and affiliation bigger than the main text but smaller than the tittle and addition of figures and tables for creating visual variety and making poster more inviting.

http://libproxy.wustl.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eft&AN=123733000&site=ehost-live&scope=site

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Title: Effective visual design and communication practices for research posters: Exemplars based on the theory and practice of multimedia learning and rhetoric.

Authors: Pedwell, Rhianna K.; Hardy, James A.; Rowland, Susan L.

Source: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Education ; May2017, Vol. 45 Issue 3, p249-261, 13p

Abstract: Evidence shows that science graduates often do not have the communication skills they need to meet workplace standards and expectations. One common mode of science communication is the poster. In a review of the literature we show that poster design is historically problematic, and that the guidance provided to students as they create posters for assessment is frequently inconsistent. To address this inconsistency we provide some guiding design principles for posters that are grounded in communication theory and the fundamentals of rhetoric. We also present three nondiscipline-specific example posters with accompanying notes that explain why the posters are examples of poor, average, and excellent poster design. The subject matter for the posters is a fabricated set of experiments on a topic that could not actually be the subject of research. Instructors may use these resources with their students, secure in the knowledge that they do not and will never represent an answer set to an extant assessment item. © 2016 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(3):249-261, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

http://libproxy.wustl.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eft&AN=123088019&site=ehost-live&scope=site

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Title: The Research Poster and How it Consolidates and Communicates Key Concepts of a Research Inquiry.

Authors: McAuley, Mike ; Hodgkinson, Gray

Source: Design Principles & Practices: An International Journal: Annual Review ; 2017, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p1-14, 14p, 2 Color Photographs, 3 Diagrams, 2 Charts

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Title: A practical guide to designing a poster for presentation.

Authors: Briggs, David J.  [email protected]

Source: Nursing Standard . 4/29/2009, Vol. 23 Issue 34, p35-39. 5p. 2 Diagrams, 1 Chart.

Abstract: Poster presentations are frequently used to disseminate research findings and clinical initiatives at conferences, and present module material for educational courses. However, many nurses lack confidence when it comes to designing posters. This article considers the skills required to design a poster. Aspects of good poster design are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Title: Poster design—six points to ponder .

Authors: Brown, Bernard S.

Source: Biochemical Education ; July 1997, Vol. 25, p136-137, 2p

Abstract: Students should ponder six points when designing and producing posters. They should prepare by thinking about how their findings might be presented as a poster even while they are carrying out the research, looking for possible illustrations and layouts, and taking note of how professional advertisers stick with one main message that is written in a few words and accompanied by eye-catching visuals. They should organize information on the poster so that there is balance between the three elements of text, illustrations, and space. Students' posters should have a clear pathway that follows the normal reading direction for the language used in the poster. To enhance legibility, they should use upper- and lowercase letters and ensure that type size and column width look right. A short but catchy title, bold headings, not too much text, and simple pictures will help explain their work. Students should also ensure that posters are readable at two meters in two minutes to catch potential readers' attention .

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How to Create a Poster Presentation

Getting started, poster design best practices.

  • Don't be too wordy! Keep text concise and clear.
  • Organization is key. Think about what you want to say first and then carefully consider layout.
  • Consider your audience. What will they have questions about? What do you want them to learn from your poster?
  • Make sure your title is descriptive and large enough to be readable from far away.
  • Think about image and font sizes so the poster is readable from 5-8 feet away.
  • Use headings, bullets, and graphics to break up text.
  • Make sure your images and graphics have contrast so they pop on the page.
  • Think about including contact information for those who want more information.
  • Remember, your poster will read left to right just like a page.

Example Posters (Click arrow to scroll through)

Lava Mae Poster

Award Categories

This year posters will be judged in two categories:

Most Visually Appealing Poster Description: A visually appealing poster can be judged based on the following criteria:

  • Do visuals enhance poster content? Is it eye-catching?
  • Are the components of the poster balanced across the space?
  • Easy to read, pleasing-on-the-eye font/ color scheme choices? Is text error-free?
  • Are photographs, graphs, tables, and other graphics creative?  

Best Articulation of Career Development Through Internship Description: In this category, we are looking for the poster to show how the internship impacted the student’s career path and development of career competencies.

  • Poster provides clear description of the internship including student’s responsibilities/accomplishments
  • Poster clearly identifies career readiness skills and how they were strengthened through internship
  • Poster articulates student’s next steps and career goals
  • Poster showcases internship in dynamic way such as “day-in-the-life”

Poster Template

This template will help you get started. Just download this and add your content to the boxes using PowerPoint. Be sure to keep the box sizes the same so that the poster will print properly.

Eagle Intern Fellowship poster template

Need Access to PowerPoint?

Because of the ease of importing images, formatting text boxes, and making slides with extra-large dimensions, many people use PowerPoint for creating posters. For this project, please use the PowerPoint template on this page for your poster. BC students can download PowerPoint for free . You are only allowed one download per computer. If you have received a new computer since your first download, you can re-download it on your new device. For any other technical assistance or if installation does not work, please connect directly with BC Information Technology Services by either calling (617-552-4357) or visiting the IT Help Desk located in O’Neill Library, 3rd floor. For those on or close to campus this summer, you can also use the Library computers that house all softwares.

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How to Prepare for a Poster Session

  • Introduction to Poster Sessions
  • Components of a Poster Presentation
  • Designing Your Poster
  • Printing Your Poster
  • Archiving Your Poster
  • Additional Resources

Components of a Poster Session

Presentation.

Prior to the poster session, you should prepare and practice a 1-2 minute "elevator pitch" or "lightning talk" about your research project. In preparing for your presentation, think about how much information can reasonably be conveyed in 1-2 minutes. Since your poster already contains a lot of information, your presentation should aim to complement and highlight the information on the poster, not repeat it. Present information that provides context for the information on your poster, while following the organizational structure of the poster. 

One simple approach is to think about a unique experience or insight that adds a human element to your research. What makes your project interesting? How did you become involved in this work to begin with? A brief anecdote may be useful, and can serve as a way to catch people's attention and get them interested in learning more about your research.

In preparing your presentation, it's important to think about your anticipated audience. Are you presenting at a conference likely to be attended by specialists in your field, or are you presenting at a multidisciplinary event that will be attended by people with different backgrounds and levels of expertise? In either case, a good rule of thumb is to minimize your use of jargon or overly technical language, and this is particularly important for events that will draw a more general audience. Try practicing your presentation for a friend who doesn't have any background in your area of research. If they find your presentation difficult to follow, this is a good indicator that you should work on simplifying your language to make the information more accessible. 

Finally, think about what sorts of questions people may have for you. If you are able to practice in front of someone, encourage them to ask you questions about your research. And don't worry if you don't know the answer to someone's question. Thank them for your question, and offer to the follow up with them later after you've had some time to think it over. 

While your presentation is arguably the most important element of a poster presentation, the poster itself is generally what catches people's attention. This portion of the guide discusses the role that your poster plays in presenting your research. For information about formatting and designing your poster, see the Designing Your Poster page . 

The role of the poster is to provide a visual outline of your research project. It should not aim to represent the project in full detail. It may be helpful to think of your poster as a highlight reel of your research project. It is important to strike a balance between including enough information so that the poster is informative, while avoiding including too much information as this can make your poster difficult for people to take in, or create information overload. Aim to strike a balance between text and visuals. The question of what types of visuals are appropriate will depend on the details of your project, but some possibilities are data visualizations (e.g. charts or graphs) or photographs. 

The best approach may be to think of your poster as a visual aid for your presentation. So in preparing your poster, consider what you can cover in your presentation, and how this might be enhanced by visual material that you can include on the poster. What might it be useful to refer to on your poster in the course of giving your presentation? Visuals are especially useful when they can convey information that is difficult to express with text alone. 

The final component of a successful poster presentation is a handout. While handouts are generally not required, they can be beneficial for a number of reasons. First, they provide you with more space with which you can convey additional information, information that may be important to convey, but not quite important enough to include on your poster. Handouts also serve as a way to help attendees remember you (so be sure to include your name and contact information!). 

In most cases you should limit your handout to a single sheet of paper which can contain information on both sides. On one side, consider including an image fo the poster. This will help attendees associate the handout with their interactions with you during the session. Color printing can be expensive, so it's alright to use a black and white image of the poster so long as it's clear and legible. You can always include a URL to a full color image of the poster online. In addition to supplementary information, you can use the handout to list URLs for your website, or any place online where people can learn more about your research. 

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IMAGES

  1. Poster Basics

    how to make a poster presentation research

  2. Poster Examples

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  3. The Online Scientist

    how to make a poster presentation research

  4. How to create an effective poster presentation

    how to make a poster presentation research

  5. 40 Eye-Catching Research Poster Templates (+Scientific Posters) ᐅ

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  6. Home Poster Presentations Research Guides At Ucla Library

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VIDEO

  1. How to Make Creative Poster Design in Photoshop

  2. Research poster presentation by Computer Applications department in PMIST

  3. HOW TO MAKE A POSTER FOR SCHOOL PROJECT CREATIVE POSTER PRESENTATION IDEAS

  4. Poster making &presentation is an effective tool for evaluating the students' knowledge& creativity

  5. Poster Presentation Success How to Design, Prepare and Present a Winning Poster

  6. How to make a Poster in Poster Presentation || TT Reza ||Techspark2.0 || Research||

COMMENTS

  1. How to Design a Winning Poster Presentation (Examples & Templates)

    Step 3: Write the content. Write or rewrite the content for the sections in your poster presentation. Use the text in your research paper as a base, but summarize it to be more succinct in what you share. Don't forget to write a catchy title that presents the problem and your findings in a clear way.

  2. How to prepare a scientific poster

    Practice a 1- to 2-minute pitch until you feel comfortable. The poster and your pitch must be aimed at the audience that will be present. The clearer and more rational your poster layout, the easier it will then be for you to make a strong pitch. —Srinivas.

  3. Poster Basics

    Research posters summarize information or research concisely and attractively to help publicize it and generate discussion. The poster is usually a mixture of a brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants can come and view ...

  4. How to design a poster presentation so your research stands out

    Step 2: Put the most important messages first. In Joseph's poster, like in so many, the conclusion is hidden away at the end of the poster. We've moved it up next to the title. In addition, we've moved the author affiliations to the bottom of the poster.

  5. PDF Effective Poster Presentations

    Effective Poster Presentations Content Considerations 1. What to consider when creating your poster: The following questions can help the content relevance and ... a. One part billboard, one part research paper. i. Good posters, like billboards, should capture the interest of the potential audiencefrom a distance. ii. Make sure your poster is ...

  6. Preparing and Presenting Effective Research Posters

    Conclusions. Effective research posters should be designed around two or three key findings with accompanying handouts and narrative description to supply additional technical detail and encourage dialog with poster viewers. Keywords: Communication, poster, conference presentation. An assortment of posters is a common way to present research ...

  7. Step by step

    How to correctly size your poster in PowerPoint: Select the "Design" tab. Click "Slide Size". Select "Page Setup". Under the "Slides sized for:" dropdown menu, select "Custom". Set the "Width" and "Height" to what is needed for your poster. Click "OK".

  8. How to make an academic poster

    Logos for the trust you are working at, as well as the conference/congress you are attending can be placed on either side of the title. •. Title: this needs to have the largest font size of your entire poster to be eye catching. Keep the title as short as possible - it doesn't need to be a paragraph long [1], [3].

  9. Designing a Research Poster: Getting Started

    A poster session or poster presentation is the presentation of research information by an individual or representatives of research teams at a congress or conference with an academic or professional focus. A poster session is an opportunity for you to share your research in a creative, visual way. Poster sessions will usually be scheduled for 1-1.5 hours, but may vary with each conference.

  10. How to prepare an effective research poster

    Firstly, take this seriously. A poster is not a consolation prize for not being given an oral presentation. This is your chance to show your work, talk to others in the field, and, if you are lucky, to pick up pointers from experts. Given that just 45% of published abstracts end in a full paper, 1 this may be your only chance to get your work ...

  11. How to Create a Research Poster: Research Poster Resources

    A Research Poster is a structured presentation of the presenter's research in the form of a poster. This allows viewers to absorb the key points of research from a brief viewing. Posters are an important method of sharing research, especially at academic conferences. Research posters are generally accompanied by a brief presentation by the ...

  12. How to Design a Research Poster

    Creating an effective research poster. We have provided a 6 step guide for you to follow. We also encourage you to attend one of our workshops "Presenting Your Research I: Story Design" and "Presenting Your Research II: Poster Design" for assistance. You may find the dates/times for these workshops (along with others) in MU Engage.

  13. Creating conference posters: Structure, form and content

    As in a research paper, the methods are used to explain how the research was conducted. If the poster is about a particular procedure or piece of equipment, a photograph can be used in place of words. The addition of photographs will make a poster more visually pleasing and will reduce the number of words required in the methods section ...

  14. How to Create a Research Poster in PowerPoint

    Smith Institute for Applied Research at Johnson C. Smith University provides information on how to format standard research posters. The video provides basic...

  15. PDF How To Make An Effective Poster

    First Thing First: The Title and Abstract. The title of your abstract is very important. Reflect the content of the paper. Specific and Succinct. Use key words for indexing and for searches. 250 Word Max. Includes the following: The research question or problem. The methods.

  16. Library Guides: Posters, Presentations & Science Writing: Start

    CREATE an APPEALING DESIGN to draw attention. ENGAGE your audience: ~ explain your research, ~ ask for feedback, ~ gather new ideas, ~ make research connections. RAPID: convey your research quickly and clearly. CONCISE: express your findings succinctly. VISUAL: draw your audience in with design, figures, graphs, & illustrations.

  17. Research Guides: How to Create a Research Poster: Design Tips

    Colin Purrington, a PhD and former professor, breaks down how to design conference posters and a list of do's and don'ts. Creating an Effective Scientific Poster (PDF) University of Guelph, Integrative Biology Undergraduate Curriculum Committee 2011/2012. Covers preparation, design principles, software guide, and a checklist for assessing your ...

  18. How to make a great research poster? Academic poster design for

    Want to make a research poster for a conference? Learn all you need to know about making a perfect research poster including its benefits, structure, layout,...

  19. Creating a Poster

    What software programs to use to create a research poster; Research poster sessions, historically have been widely used by the scientific community in presenting original research. ... Abstract: The article offers suggestions for making a poster presentation at an academic conference as it is different from other presentation formats. Topics ...

  20. Libraries: How to Create a Poster Presentation: Getting Started

    Make sure your title is descriptive and large enough to be readable from far away. Think about image and font sizes so the poster is readable from 5-8 feet away. Use headings, bullets, and graphics to break up text. Make sure your images and graphics have contrast so they pop on the page.

  21. How to Prepare for a Poster Session

    Poster. While your presentation is arguably the most important element of a poster presentation, the poster itself is generally what catches people's attention. This portion of the guide discusses the role that your poster plays in presenting your research. For information about formatting and designing your poster, see the Designing Your ...

  22. 18 Creative Research Poster Templates (Word, PowerPoint)

    18 Creative Research Poster Templates (Word, PowerPoint) Learning how to create a research poster template is important as these are widely used in conferences, presentations, and more, especially in the academic community. A research or scientific poster template summarizes the research or information in a concise and attractive way to ...

  23. Free printable, customizable research poster templates

    Skip to start of list. 195 templates. Create a blank Research Poster. Plant and Animal Evolution Activity Research Poster in Hand Drawn Style. Poster by Canva Creative Studio. Green Orange Modern User Persona Landscape Poster. Poster by ruisaxila. Yellow and Orange Playful Illustrative Research Forum Poster. Poster by Letteringbynica.

  24. How to Prepare for Your Research Presentation

    Learn pro tips on how to create and deliver your oral or poster presentation. You can apply these approaches to any presentation, but especially research presentations for various venues ranging from the classroom to local and national conferences. We will also be going over what to expect and important dates leading up to the 22nd annual Na Liko Na'auao Research Symposium., powered by ...

  25. Advanced LaTeX Workshop

    This workshop provides a hands-on introduction to more advanced topics in LaTeX, including using beamer and BibTeX. Beamer provides an elegant way to create presentations and posters while taking advantage of the potential of LaTeX. BibTeX is a powerful, integrated citation system that is easy to use with LaTeX. Peer consultations and troublesho...

  26. Scholarly Article or Book Chapter

    Poster, Presentation, Protocol or Paper. Deposit scholarly works such as posters, presentations, research protocols, conference papers or white papers. If you would like to deposit a peer-reviewed article or book chapter, use the "Scholarly Articles and Book Chapters" deposit option.

  27. Dibrugarh 24x7 on Instagram: "#News

    262 likes, 0 comments - dibrugarh24x7 on February 23, 2024: "#News | Dibrugarh University Research Scholars' Association (DURSA), in collaboration with the De ...