Creating a Poster

What you include in your poster (e.g. abstract, methods, conclusion) and how you format it (e.g. dimensions, orientation, etc.) will typically be determined by either:

• the assignment outline and/or rubric, if it is a class project, or

• the submission guidelines if it is for an academic conference (see for examples)

Some guidleines will be very strict while others may be looser and only state the required dimensions. Here are some examples:

• ALA Conference Poster Guidelines

• Sigma Nursing Conference Poster Guidelines

• Harvard University Scientific Poster Presentation Rubric

Typically, Humber College students can find their assignment outlines and grading rubrics on their Blackboard course page.

Below we have some general guidelines and things to keep in mind when creating a poster.

Poster Content

Whatever topic you are presenting on, whether you are outlining laboratory research or a new approach you have taken in the workplace, your poster should tell a story. 

Your assignment outline or conference guidleines may dictate what sections are to be included in your poster. However, it is important to note that all research takes a similar journy and in detailing that journey, you can tell a story: 

• an observation is made (e.g. "Many students in this course are not using credible sources in their research"

• a question is asked (e.g. "How can we get more students using library resources?")

• a way of helping answer that question is devised (e.g. a survey is created, or an alternative approach is created)

• the research is conducted (e.g the survey is sent out, or the alternative approach is tested)

• results are assessed (e.g. "What did the survey results tell us?")

• conclusions are reached (e.g. "How can we make changes based on the results? Where do we go from here?"

This story-arc mirrors the scientific method - each step is a part of the story (observation, hypothesis, etc.) But the same journey happens in other non-scientific fields of study. Each part of the story will be a different section in your poster.

You may wish to include a section on literature reviews or acknowledge existing research in your topic area to help set the stage for the research that you have done.

As you map out your story and create conent for each section, it is important to:

• be concise

• avoid repetition

• include only your key findings (you many not have room for everything)

• ask yourself "What are the takeaways? What might people do with this information?"

Formatting

Dimensions

Your assignment outline or conference website will most likely provide details on the dimensions of your poster. If it is a print poster, the dimensions will be given in inches (e.g. 36"x48"). If it is a digital poster, the dimensions will most likely be given in pixels (e.g. 1920 x 1080).

Take into account the orientation of your poster. Is it portrait or landscape? The first dimension listed is the width, the second dimension is the height.

Fonts

• Choose a font size of approximately 24-30 for your body text, choose larger for headings and title. Your poster should be legible from approximately 10' away.

• Limit yourself to 3 fonts and always use them intentionally. Have a font style and colour for headings, subheadings, and body-text.

• Avoid script fonts (those that resemble handwriting) as they will be difficult to read.

Colour

Be consistent with your colour choices. Choose from a set palette of 3-5 complementary colours. 

Images

Be consistent with your image style. Use the same type of icon or image throughout (e.g. single-colour icons).

References

It is vital that you include citations to works quoted or referenced in your poster. The assignment outline or conference submission guidelines will usually state which citation style to use. APA format is a concise way to include in-text citations and references on a poster.

You may wish to include a references section at the end or foot of your poster.

Alternatively, to save space, some people choose to include a URL or QR code that links to a document or webpage with the full reference list. Cloud storage services such as OneDrive or Google Drive allow you to store documents online. Tools such as Bitly allow you to create both short URLS and QR codes.

Authorship

Don't forget to include your name and school/program affiliation on your poster too. It's important for the viewers/audience to know who created the poster and where they work or study.

For conference presentations, it helps to include contact details as well.

Print vs. Digital

Traditionally, poster sessions require a printed version of the poster that will be mounted on a wall, easel, or stand.

Posters can be printed on several sheets of paper, cut or pieced together in a collage style, or created professionally on a single sheet or poster-board. 

However, digital posters - ones that are displayed on a screen or projector - are becoming more popular. Digital posters have several benefits including the lack of printing costs as well as the ability to  include animated or interactive content. Interested in finding out more about this new style of presenting? Visit our page dedicated to digital posters.