How to Create and Design a Compelling Poster

What is a Conference Poster?

An academic conference poster summarizes information or research concisely with a goal of publicizing and generating discussions. A poster should be a mixture of text mixed with visuals, which can include tables, graphs, and pictures. 

The components of an academic paper are often included in a poster, but are modified to present the information visually. A poster should contain less text, have shorter sentences, and rely on the use of bullets and visuals where possible. Both an academic paper and poster will include a reference section.

Qualities of a Good Poster
  • Readable from a distance of 5-10 feet away.
  • Short and interesting Title
  • Word count is limited to 300-800 words
  • Text is clear and concise. 
  • Uses bullets, numbers, and headlines
  • Uses visuals and complementary fonts and colors to enhance the content.
  • Consistent and Clean
  • Includes acknowledgments. 
Other Suggestions
  • Keep it Simple, and Keep it to the Point. 
    • Present enough data to support your conclusions, but also ensure that you present sufficient data to support your conclusions
  • Know the poster standards for your discipline. Ask your advisor for guidance on your discipline's standard poster specifications. 
  • Before a poster session, rehearse a brief summary of your project. 
Where to Begin

To being creating a poster, it is important to be able to answer the following questions:

  1. What is the most important, most interesting, or most compelling discovery from my project?
  2. How can I best visually share my project?
  3. What information can I share during my talk that will enhance my poster?
Recommended Poster Software
  • PowerPoint - Available through Microsoft Office 365 
  • Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or InDesign - Available through Adobe Creative Cloud 
  • Canva - Open Source Website for Designing Posters
Look Here for Information on designing great posters