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:
- What is the most important, most interesting, or most compelling discovery from my project?
- How can I best visually share my project?
- 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