Designing an Effective Research Conference Poster

This guide covers key steps and best practices for poster design, from initial planning to final printing. It includes instructions on layout, typography, color use, and integrating visual elements like charts and images.

I. Planning & Preparation

  • Consult your research mentor early and throughout the process for guidance on content and focus.
  • Sketch a preliminary layout on an 11” x 8.5” paper to organize your flow before opening design software.
  • Collect and create all relevant text, data visualizations, and images beforehand.

II. Design & Software Basics (Using PowerPoint)

  • UWM Logo: Keep it visible and unobstructed in the top-left corner.
  • Use built-in tools:
    • Arrange Tool: Essential for aligning, grouping, and layering objects neatly.
    • Ruler, Gridlines, & Guides: Enable these to ensure precise placement and consistency.
    • Shapes Tool: Create bordered or color-filled text boxes to define sections.
  • Set dimensions first: Before adding content, set your poster size (e.g., 44″ x 36″) in the “Design” > “Slide Size” menu.

III. Content & Layout

  • Logical Flow: Design to be read from top-left to bottom-right. Key elements must include:
    • Title, Author(s), Mentor(s), and College, School, or Department(s).
  • Hierarchy is key: Use a clear visual hierarchy with size and color to guide the eye to the most important information (Title > Headings > Body Text).
  • Embrace white space: Avoid clutter. Ample margins (min. 1-inch) and space between sections create “visual rest” and improve readability.
  • Text Tips:
    • Fonts: Use easy-to-read sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Helvetica) for titles and headings. Serif fonts (e.g., Times New Roman) can be used for body text.
    • Sizes: Title: 80-120pt, Headings: 36-48pt, Body Text: 24-36pt.
    • Be concise: Use bullet points and numbered lists to enhance clarity. Limit text blocks to ~50 words. Your poster is a visual abstract, not a paper.

IV. Images & Visuals

  • Prioritize high-resolution: Use images at a minimum of 300 ppi (pixels per inch) for print. Check clarity by zooming to 100%.
  • Resize properly: Hold SHIFT while dragging corner points to maintain proportions.
  • Always caption and cite all images not your own, including charts from other papers.
  • Using AI-Generated Images:
    • Utility: AI image generators (such as DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion) can be useful for creating conceptual visuals, abstract backgrounds, or illustrating concepts that are difficult to photograph.
    • Citing AI Images: This is an emerging area. Follow a standard citation style. The MLA and APA styles recommend a citation format that includes:
      • The prompt used (or a description of the image).
      • The AI model name and version.
      • The company that created the model.
      • The date the image was generated.
      • Example (APA): OpenAI. (2023). DALL-E 3. [Image generated from the prompt “a neural network as a glowing brain in a jar”]. https://labs.openai.com/
    • Caution: AI can produce inaccurate or biased imagery. Review all generated images critically for scientific validity before use.

V. Color & Accessibility

  • High contrast is essential: Use dark text on a light background (or vice versa) for maximum readability. Avoid light grey text.
  • Choose a neutral, easy-on-the-eyes color palette. Avoid vibrating color combinations like neon pink and green.
  • Consider color blindness: Avoid red-green contrasts. Use online tools (like Coblis) to simulate how your poster looks to color-blind viewers.

VI. Leveraging QR Codes

A QR code is an excellent tool for providing supplemental information without cluttering your poster.

  • What to Link:
    • Full paper or pre-print
    • A short video abstract or explanation
    • Your digital portfolio or project website
    • A related dataset or code repository
  • How to Create: Use a free online QR code generator (like QRCode Monkey or Canva).
  • Placement: Put the QR code in the bottom corner with a brief label (e.g., “Scan for Full Paper”).

VII. Printing & Presentation

  • File Format: Save and submit your final poster as a high-resolution PDF for printing.
  • Submission: To have the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) coordinate printing, submit your PDF to Tamara McKinney at talong@uwm.edu.
  • Bring handouts: Prepare a letter-sized version of your poster or a business card with your contact info for interested attendees.

Final Tip: Your poster is a conversation starter. Make it visually appealing, clear, and concise to draw people in and let your research shine!