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Designing a research poster

Visual hierarchy in a research poster

Focal Point: The most prominent element that draws immediate attention, often the title or key visual.

Level of Importance: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary: Organizes information by priority, with primary elements being the most critical and tertiary the least.

Visual Movement/Flow: The path the viewer’s eye follows through the poster, guiding them logically through the content.

Proportion: The size relationship between different elements, emphasizing more important information with larger size.

Balance: The even distribution of visual elements to create a harmonious composition.

Repetition/Consistency: Reusing visual elements (like colors, fonts) to create a cohesive design.

White Space: Empty areas around content that prevent clutter and improve readability.

Alignment/Grid: The structured arrangement of elements in a grid to create order and consistency.

Contrast: The difference between elements (e.g., color, size) to create emphasis and distinguish sections.

Typography: The selection and use of fonts to ensure readability and enhance the poster’s aesthetic.

 

Example about a poster with best technical details.

Typography

General Guidelines:

  • Use only one or two fonts for a clean and professional look.

  • The title should be at least 72 pt for visibility.

  • All text should be at least 24 pt in size and use a clear, easy-to-read font.

  • Maintain consistency in font sizes throughout the poster.

  • Apply italics, bold, or underlining consistently to avoid visual clutter.

  • Check for any specific formatting guidelines provided by the conference or event and adhere to them.

 

These fonts tend to be easy to read and are great for bodies of text. Common examples are:

Avoid these fonts:

If you are creating a printed poster (48 in. x 36 in.), consider using the following recommended font sizes:

  • Title:  88 to 120 points 
  • Names and Affiliations:  70 to 90 points
  • Major headings: 54 to 80 points
  • Sub headings: 48 to 72 points
  • Text: 36 to 52 points

Color

Using a cohesive color scheme enhances the professional appearance of your poster. Consistent color use also helps viewers easily understand the organization of information. Unsure where to begin?

Try using a free color palette generator.

1. Color Vision (simulation of text)

2. Vischeck

3. Coolors

4. Pick colors from an image (including a custom one you're planning to use on your poster)

Tips-Colors

•Text and background should contrast
•Background color should make the content stand out
•Font color should stand out but not be distracting 

Images

When creating a research poster, the following criteria are essential for ensuring that images and charts effectively communicate information:

1. Find images on the web but be concerned with copyright. Check out this guide on legally using online images.

  • Identify photos that are licensed as Creative Commons or take your own photos.

2. Use high-resolution images (at least 300 DPI) to prevent pixelation when printed.

3. Ensure clarity and sharpness for all figures, graphs, and illustrations.

4. Select images and charts that directly support the research findings.

5. Ensure data visualizations (graphs, tables, or infographics) are accurate and up-to-date.