Basic Info:
- Use Google Sheets, Powerpoint or Keynote
- The standard poster size is 36”x48” (one side MUST be 36”), or 3456 pixels by 2592 pixels
- Use text boxes to organize sections
- For Printing: don’t use a full color background (borders and bars are okay)
- Because your images will be printed on very large posters, they must be high resolution—at least 150 dpi but ideally 300 or above.
- Posters can’t be reprinted if there are mistakes, so please carefully proofread before you print
- Always provide a source for images/charts/graphics that are not yours
Best Practices:
- It should draw in people who are walking by
- Keep a clear narrative by centralizing a 2-3 key ideas
- Should be a summary of your work, highlighting key points of your research
- Don’t overwhelm with text- a person should ideally be able to read your entire poster in less than 10 minutes
- Have a clear layout that visually guides engagement with the poster
- Look to balance text and images, and avoid cluttering- white/empty/negative space is important
- Keep it simple: avoid multiple fonts (no more than 2), don’t go over the top with bold, italics, CAPITAL LETTERS
- Make sure your text is clearly legible: titles and headings should be 40-70 pt, body text at least 18 pt
- Use color to guide the reader but make sure your color choices are clearly legible (and remember that color looks different printed)
- Whenever possible use general, descriptive terms instead of field specific jargon
- Don’t overwhelm with text- a person should ideally be able to read your entire poster in less than 10 minutes
Presentations:
- Your peers and faculty will be walking around during the poster session- be prepared with a short (1-2 minute) pitch about your project and to answer any questions they may have- all group members need to be prepared to give a short presentation and answer questions
- Practice presentation before/during the making of your poster to help determine the visual cues for your poster
Resources:
