This document provides guidance on creating effective research posters. It discusses that posters visually explain and illustrate research to conference attendees or a class. Creating posters helps develop visual literacy, research, analysis, and presentation skills. The document reviews poster formats, layout guidelines, font and color tips, inclusion of images, printing considerations, and references. Key recommendations include using large, easy to read fonts; aligning text and images; limiting colors and fonts; and proofreading before printing.

1. Creating Posters
MERCY COLLEGE LIBRARIES

2. WHY DO WE CREATE POSTERS?
 A poster is simply a visual aid that helps you to explain
and illustrate your research.
 If your poster is for a conference, you stand next to it and
use it to discuss your research with other attendees.
 If your poster is for a class assignment, it is the vehicle by
which you present your work to the instructor and the
class.

3. WHAT SKILLS DO POSTERS DEVELOP?
 Visual Literacy
Visual literacy is a set of abilities that enables an individual
to effectively find, interpret, evaluate, use, and create
images and visual media.*
 Research
 Analysis & Synthesis of Information
 Citation
 Presentation & Public Speaking
*ACRL Visual Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education http://www.ala.org/acrl/standards/visualliteracy

4. Posters can
follow many
different
formats…
Poster Samples from University of Texas at Austin: https://www.utexas.edu/ugs/our/poster/samples

5. STEM disciplines
traditionally follow
the IMRaD format
 Introduction
 Materials &
Methods
 Results
 and Discussion
The Scientific Poster: Guidelines for Effective Visual Communication by Diane L. Matthews http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/crd/crd0301/pdfs/poster.pdf

6. But there are other formats…
• Thematic: Group sections of your poster according to
sub-themes
• Narrative: Tell a story about your topic; particularly
useful for a specific event (i.e. World War II)
• Question and Answer: Summarize your main research
questions and how you answered them
Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research. Designing a Research Poster for the Humanities/Social Sciences http://www.ugresearch.umd.edu/documents/designinghumanitiesposter.pdf

7. We have created several Mercy-branded poster templates to help get you
started. Check with your instructor if you’re not sure which size and layout is
suitable for an assignment or event.
Keep in mind, these templates represent just a few layout options – there are
many different poster templates available online.
Whichever format you choose, your poster should be clear, easy-to-read, and
visually appealing.
Templates…

8. Layout…
 Most people read posters from left to right, top to bottom – keep this in mind when
you position elements.
 Organize your content with columns, sections, headings, and blocks of text.
 Incorporate charts, graphs, and photographs that support the theme of your poster.
 Left-align your text blocks; justified text leaves awkward gaps.
 Avoid too much text – Bullet points and “chunks” of text are easiest to read.
 Align your text boxes and images.
 Don’t forget to leave space for references/works cited!
 White space is your friend!!!
Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research. Designing a Research Poster for the Humanities/Social Sciences http://www.ugresearch.umd.edu/documents/designinghumanitiesposter.pdf

9. Font and Color…
 Keep style elements consistent.
 Don’t use too many fonts and colors! No more than 2-3 font styles total.
 Use large text (at least 18-24 pt.).
 Use fonts that are easy to read.
 Choose a title that illustrates what your poster is about. Your title should be at least
twice the size of your regular text.
 Choose colors carefully and pay attention to contrast. When in doubt, dark print on
a light background is best.
Maryland Center for Undergraduate Research. Designing a Research Poster for the Humanities/Social Sciences http://www.ugresearch.umd.edu/documents/designinghumanitiesposter.pdf

10. Images...
Including images in your poster is an easy way to increase its visual appeal.
ImageQuest – contains millions of high resolution, rights-cleared images and
photographs, as well as citation information.
Google Images – search for images on the web. NOTE: You can refine your search by
usage rights (i.e. find only those images you are allowed to use or modify).
Make sure that images do not become “pixelated” (i.e. blocky or blurry) when enlarged.
Look at your poster at 100% resolution to make sure there is no pixelation; in PPT, go
to View>Zoom>100%

11. Printing…
Before you submit your poster file to be printed:
 Ask a Librarian to check your references/works cited.
 Ask a friend or classmate to look at your poster – is anything confusing or unclear to
them?
 Spellcheck!
 Slowly and carefully read through your poster to catch typos and mistakes.
 Check that all your boxes and images line up.
This Poster Checklist is a handy way to make sure your poster is in good shape
before you have it printed.
Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium (2005). A Quick Poster Checklist. Retrieved from http://www.washington.edu/undergradresearch/files/2014/06/pstrchecklist.pdf

12. And above all else…
ASK QUESTIONS!
WE QUESTIONS!

13. References
Scientific Posters (2016). Retrieved from http://writingcommons.org/open-text/genres/stem-technical-
writing/creating-scientific-posters
Tobey, E. (2015). Designing a Research Poster for the Humanities/Social Sciences Maryland Center for
Undergraduate Research. Retrieved from
http://www.ugresearch.umd.edu/documents/designinghumanitiesposter.pdf
Washington NASA Space Grant Consortium (2005). A Quick Poster Checklist. Retrieved from
http://www.washington.edu/undergradresearch/files/2014/06/pstrchecklist.pdf