Poster Design Tips
A well-designed poster is eye-catching, attractive, and communicates information effectively and economically. The following guidelines have been prepared by the PRI Information Core to help you design and present your research poster.
Keep in mind that this is a general guide. Always check the guidelines for the conference where you will be presenting your poster.
Content | Text | Graphics & Illustrations | Layout | Color | Presentation | Software & File Formats | PRI/Penn State Graphics | Other Resources
See also: Poster Construction Tips (laminating & mounting) | Printing Posters at PRI | PAA 2010 Annual Meeting | Penn State Graduate Exhibition
Content
- Include title, authors, author affiliations, email or other address, an introduction, a description of the methods used, and conclusions. References and acknowledgements may also be included. Abstracts are essential and should be highlighted.
- Select only the most pertinent data to report on the poster.
- Bring handouts that include the abstract and any supplementary information.
Text
- All text should be legible at a distance of 3 to 4 feet. Use at least a 24-point type size for the main text. The title type should be at least 1.5 inches high.
- The title should be kept as short as possible so that it can be read quickly.
- Use upper and lower case type throughout the poster. ALL UPPER CASE TYPE IS MORE DIFFICULT TO READ.
- Serif fonts (such as Times) are generally easier to read in the body of the text. Sans serif fonts (such as Arial or Tahoma) are best used in titles, headings, and captions for emphasis.
- Print all text using a laser printer.
- Use bold and/or italics for emphasis.
Graphics & Illustrations
- The poster is a visual format. Use plenty of graphical elements.
- Keep graphics as simple as possible. More complex data can be presented in a handout.
- Photographs should be enlarged to be discernible at a distance of 3 feet and printed with a matte finish (to reduce glare). They are more effective when used sparingly.
- Avoid hand drawings.
- Make sure you have permission to use photos and graphics created by others. See I found a photo on the web. Can I use it?
Layout
- Keep at least a 1-inch margin on all sides.
- The main body of the poster should be between waist and shoulder height. The title, authors and author affiliations should be higher.
- Paragraphs should be no longer than 10-20 lines long. Break up longer sections of text with graphics or bulleted lists.
- Arrows can be used to guide the reader's eye from one section to another.
- Use blank space to avoid a cluttered look, and to separate the elements of your poster.
Color
- Use color to emphasize elements and draw attention to your poster, but don't use too many different colors. Using colored borders can increase the poster's visual appeal.
- Text should be printed on a contrasting background (dark text on a light background, or light text on a dark background).
- Avoid harsh colors, such as neons.
Presentation
- Check the instructions for the conference where you are presenting your poster for the size and type of board that will be provided. Some types of boards require you to use either push pins or Velcro; with others, you may be able to use either.
- Arrive 20-30 minutes before the session is scheduled to begin to give yourself enough time to set up the poster.
- Set up the poster on the board with the number that corresponds to number of your presentation as it appears in the program.
- Stay at your poster board for the entire poster session so attendees have a chance to talk with you about your work.
Software & File Formats
See the workshop handouts on our help web site for:
PRI/Penn State Graphics & Acknowledgement
We have prepared a graphic (preview below) that you can insert in your poster to identify your affiliation with PRI. If you prefer not to use the graphic, you can acknowledge PRI’s support by including this text:
Institutional support was provided by The Pennsylvania State University’s NICHD Population Research Center Grant R24HD41025.
Adobe Illustrator (.ai) files* |
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PRI graphics |
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pri_grant_id2007.ai |
pri_grant_id2007.png |
Penn State shields |
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* Note: Some browsers may save the file as a PostScript file (.ps) by default. Change the file type to "All Files" and the file extension to ".ai". Once you have saved the file, open it in Adobe Illustrator. You can then copy and paste it into your poster file.
Other Resources
Books
- Nicol, A. M. N. & P. Pexman. Displaying Your Findings: A Practical Guide for Creating Figures, Posters, and Presentations. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2003. (PRI Library Call Number BF76.8 N53 2003; University Libraries holdings)
- Gosling, Peter J. Scientist's Guide to Poster Presentations. New York: Kluwer, 1999. (University Libraries holdings)
- Hailman, Jack P. & Karen B. Strier. Planning, Proposing, and Presenting Science Effectively: A Guide for Graduate Students and Researchers in the Behavioral Sciences and Biology. Cambridge University Press, 1997. (University Libraries holdings)
- Davis, M. Scientific Papers and Presentations. Burlington, Mass.: Academic Press, 2005 (rev. ed.). (University Libraries holdings)
Web Sites
- Advice on designing scientific posters by Colin Purrington, Swarthmore College
- Poster Presentations from the University at Buffalo Libraries
- Developing a Poster Presentation in the Social Sciences by Casey Flinn, George Mason University Writing Center
- Designing Effective Posters by Jeff Radel, University of Kansas Medical Center
- Poster Presentations at the 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America (photos of some of PRI’s student and faculty posters)
- PAA 2007 Annual Meeting Poster Session Winners, 2008 Poster Session Winners, and 2009 Poster Session Winners
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