Research Posters

Effective posters have a clean and consistent layout, emphasize research questions and results, utilize purposeful graphics and visuals, have readily accessible text, and include citations and acknowledgements (where relevant).

When creating a poster, always check your conference's format guidelines.

If you are presenting at a professional conference, the conference should indicate the size limits of your poster. Standard U.S. conference poster size is 48" x 36". 

Always check your conference's format guidelines before sending your poster to print. 

• You can create your poster from scratch by using Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, Adobe InDesign, or a similar design program;
   
• Posters should be a single slide or page;
   
• Posters are most often designed in landscape orientation, though they can be made in portrait orientation as well. Always check your conference's format guidelines before setting up your layout.

• Section your poster according to the major points you wish to convey. For example: title, abstract, methodology, data, results, and conclusion. These sections should be in a logical, easy-to-read order, typically left to right, top to bottom. Ideally, a viewer can read your poster in 3–5 minutes;
   
• Posters should emphasize the use of imagery (around 60% of your poster) and limit text to no more than 1,000 words including captions (around 40% of your poster);
   
• Backgrounds, typically,  should be a solid tone or a very simple gradient. Choose a color that will complement the color you have chosen for your font.  If it is not needed to properly convey the message of your poster, then it is recommended that you do not use a background at all;
   
• Leave plenty of visual 'blank' space to make your poster easier to read.

You can find examples of 'good' poster design all over the web. You can also view the University of Chicago's Undergraduate Research Symposium poster archives

• 2023 Posters from the University of Chicago's Undergraduate Research Symposium
• 2022 Research Symposium Archive
• 2021 Research Symposium archive

Clark, Denea L. “Creating Effective Academic Posters | Undergraduate Research Center,” February 5, 2019. https://urc.ucdavis.edu/creating-effective-academic-posters.

Colin Purrington’s blog. “Designing Conference Posters » Colin Purrington’s Blog.” Accessed November 20, 2024. https://colinpurrington.com/tips/poster-design/.

Gilbert, Regine M., and Ron Rateau. Inclusive Design for a Digital World: Designing with Accessibility in Mind. Berkeley, California: Apress, 2019.

Haugh, Dana. “Yale University Library Research Guides: Academic Poster Resources: Software, Printing, & Help.” Accessed November 25, 2024. https://guides.library.yale.edu/academic-poster-resources/logistics.

Holmes, Kat. Mismatch: How Inclusion Shapes Design. Simplicity : Design, Technology, Business, Life. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The MIT Press, 2018.

Janse, Dirma. Science Poster Design Guide: A Practical Guide for Designing Science Posters. The Hague, the Netherlands: Eleven International Publishing, 2021.

Opara, Eddie, and John Cantwell. Color Works: Best Practices for Graphic Designers; an Essential Guide to Understanding and Applying Color Design Principles. Beverly, Massachusetts: Rockport Publishers, 2014.

Putnam, Sam. “Research Guides: How to Create a Research Poster: Poster Basics.” Accessed November 19, 2024. https://guides.nyu.edu/posters/poster-basics.

“Research Posters - Purdue OWL® - Purdue University.” Accessed November 19, 2024. https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/research_posters/index.html.

“Resources for Content Creators | Center for Digital Accessibility.” Accessed November 26, 2024. https://digitalaccessibility.uchicago.edu/resources/content-creators/.

Rowe, Nicholas. Academic & Scientific Poster Presentation: A Modern Comprehensive Guide. New York, NY: Springer Science+Business Media, 2017.

Saltz, Ina. Typography Essentials: 100 Design Principles for Working with Type. Beverly, Mass.: Rockport Publishers, 2009.

Sherin, Aaris. Design Elements, Color Fundamentals: A Graphic Style Manual for Understanding How Color Impacts Design. Beverly, Mass: Rockport Publishers, 2011.

Stocks, Elliot Jay, and Ellen Lupton. Universal Principles of Typography: 100 Key Concepts for Choosing and Using Type. Beverly, MA: Rockport Publishers, 2024.

Teaching, Learning. “LibGuides: Research Posters : Home.” Accessed November 19, 2024. https://guides.library.illinois.edu/poster/home.