Creating a Research Poster
adapted from the University of Nevada Libraries Poster Resources and Design Tips
A Good Poster Will
- Summarize your work
- Convey a message visually
- Be readable from about 4 feet away
- Be clearly organized
Poster Design Tips
- Use large text (your text should be at least 18-24 pt.)
- Do not use more than 2-3 font styles total
- Use fonts that are easy to read
- Avoid too much text (no more than 800 words max)
- Organize your content with columns, sections, headings, and blocks of text
- Choose a title that illustrates what your poster is about. Your title should be at least twice the size of your regular text.
- Choose colors carefully and pay attention to contrast. If in doubt, dark print on light background is best.
- Selectively incorporate charts, graphs, photographs, and other graphics that support the theme of your poster
- Avoid fuzzy images; make sure all graphics are high-resolution and easily visible
- Include your name on your poster and the UMD logo
- Edit your poster carefully before the final print-out
Templates
Examples
- University of Texas Poster Samples for the sciences, social sciences, and humanities
- Flickr Poster Sessions Group
- PhD Poster Gallery
Poster Preparation Resources
- Advice on Designing Scientific Posters from Swarthmore College
- Academic Posters from Edinburgh Napier University
- The Basics of Poster Design from the Washington Space Grant Consortium
- Creating Effective Posters from North Carolina State University
- Creating a Poster in Adobe Illustrator (PDF) from Penn State University
- How to Make an Effective Poster by David Shelledy
- Preparing a Poster Presentation from Northeastern University via the WebGuru
Check your Poster
- After you have created your poster, review it using the checklist created by the Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium.
Print your Poster
- The Engineering Copy Center on campus prints posters.
