LibGuides: How to Create a Research Poster: Poster Basics

Why a poster?

Research posters concisely and attractively summarize information or research to help publicize the body of work and generate discussion. A poster usually includes brief text mixed with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation formats. At a conference, the researcher stands by the poster display while other participants view the presentation and interact with the author. When drafting a poster, you should ask yourself 3 questions:

What is the most important/interesting/astounding finding from my research project?
How can I visually share my research with conference attendees? Should I use charts, graphs, photos, images?
What kind of information can I convey during my talk that will complement my poster?

What does a good poster include?

Important information should be readable from about 10 feet away
Title is short and draws interest
Word count of about 300 to 800 words
Text is clear and to the point
Use of bullets, numbering, and headlines make it easy to read
Effective use of graphics, color, and fonts
Consistent and clean layout
Includes acknowledgments, your name, and institutional affiliation

Basics of creating a poster

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Ana Torres at NYU's Bern Dibner Library of Science and Technology for her permission to reuse content from her guide.