Research Poster Guidelines

Comprehensive guidelines for creating effective academic research posters including sizing, layout, typography, and design best practices.

Last Updated: 2024

Standard Poster Sizes

International Sizes (ISO 216)

US Sizes

Other Common Sizes

Orientation

• Portrait: Most common (height > width)
  • Better for long visual flows (top to bottom)
  • Examples: A0, 36"×48"
• Landscape: Less common but sometimes preferred
  • Better for wide content, timelines
  • Examples: 48"×36", 40"×30"

Always verify: Check conference specifications before designing!

Typography and Font Sizes

Recommended Font Sizes by Distance

Posters are viewed from 3-6 feet (1-2 meters) away:

Font Families

Sans-Serif (Recommended for Posters):

• Arial
• Helvetica
• Calibri
• Futura
• Gill Sans
• Why: Clean, readable at distance

Serif (Use Sparingly):

• Times New Roman
• Georgia
• Palatino
• When: Body text if preferred, but sans-serif better for headers

Monospace:

• Courier New
• Consolas
• When: Code snippets only

Typography Best Practices

1. Limit fonts: Use 1-2 font families maximum
2. Hierarchy: Establish clear size hierarchy
3. Weight: Use bold for emphasis, not italics
4. Alignment: Left-align body text, center title
5. Spacing: Generous line spacing (1.2-1.5)
6. Consistency: Same fonts for similar elements

Layout and Design Principles

Grid-Based Layouts

Column Structures:

Recommended: 2 or 3 columns for most research posters

Visual Flow

Reading Order (Western conventions):

1. Top to bottom
2. Left to right
3. Z-pattern or F-pattern

Section Ordering (typical):

+----------------------------------+
|            TITLE                 |
|     Authors, Affiliations        |
+----------------------------------+
| Introduction | Results           |
|              |                   |
| Methods      | Discussion        |
|              |                   |
| [Optional]   | Conclusions       |
+----------------------------------+
|         References / QR Code     |
+----------------------------------+

Spacing and Margins

• Outer margins: 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) all sides
• Column spacing: 0.5-1 inch (1.3-2.5 cm)
• Inter-section spacing: 0.5-1 inch
• White space: 30-40% of poster should be white space

Avoid: Dense, text-heavy layouts with minimal white space

Color Schemes

Colorblind-Safe Palettes

Use colorblind-friendly color combinations:

Okabe-Ito Palette (Recommended):

• Orange: #E69F00
• Sky Blue: #56B4E9
• Bluish Green: #009E73
• Yellow: #F0E442
• Blue: #0072B2
• Vermillion: #D55E00
• Reddish Purple: #CC79A7
• Black: #000000
• Gray: #999999

Viridis Palette (sequential):

• Good for heatmaps and gradients
• Colorblind-safe and perceptually uniform

Color Usage Guidelines

Background:

• White or light gray: Most common, professional
• Light colored: Pale blue, beige (use cautiously)
• Avoid dark backgrounds: Harder to read, expensive to print

Text:

• Dark on light: Black or dark gray text on white/light backgrounds
• Contrast ratio: At least 4.5:1 (WCAG AA standard)

Accent Colors:

• Use 2-3 accent colors maximum
• Section headers, key findings
• Consistent throughout poster

Figures:

• Colorblind-safe palettes
• Sufficient contrast
• Test in grayscale

Color Contrast Tools

• WebAIM Contrast Checker: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
• Coblis (Color Blindness Simulator): https://www.color-blindness.com/coblis-color-blindness-simulator/

Content Structure

Essential Sections

1. Title Section

• Title: Clear, specific, engaging
• Authors: Names (underline presenting author)
• Affiliations: Institutions, departments
• Logo: Institutional logo (corner)
• Contact: Email, QR code to paper/website

2. Introduction/Background

• Purpose: Context and motivation
• Length: 100-200 words
• Include:
  • Problem statement
  • Research gap
  • Objectives/hypothesis

3. Methods

• Purpose: How you did the study
• Format:
  • Bullet points preferred
  • Flow diagram if complex
  • Key parameters
• Include: Sample size, procedures, analysis

4. Results

• Purpose: What you found
• Format: Primarily visual (figures, tables, charts)
• Include:
  • Key findings (2-4 main results)
  • Statistical significance
  • Visual evidence

5. Discussion/Conclusions

• Purpose: What it means
• Length: 100-200 words
• Include:
  • Interpretation
  • Implications
  • Limitations
  • Future work

6. References

• Format: Small font, abbreviated citations
• Include: Key citations only (5-10)
• Style: Any consistent style

Optional Sections

• Abstract: Sometimes included, often omitted
• Acknowledgments: Funding, collaborators
• Future Work: Next steps

Visual Elements

Figures and Plots

Principles:

1. Simplify: Remove clutter, emphasize key points
2. Enlarge: Make larger than in paper
3. Label clearly: Large axis labels, legends
4. Standalone: Each figure tells a complete story
5. High resolution: 300 dpi minimum

Figure Types:

• Photographs: High quality, cropped appropriately
• Graphs: Bar charts, line plots, scatter plots
• Heatmaps: Use colorblind-safe colormaps
• Schematics: Diagrams, flowcharts
• Tables: Simple tables (complex tables → figure)

Tables

When to Use:

• Precise numerical values needed
• Comparisons across conditions
• Summary statistics

Best Practices:

• Keep simple: 3-5 columns, 5-10 rows maximum
• Large fonts: Same size as body text
• Clear headers: Bold column/row headers
• Alternating rows: Light shading for readability
• Minimal lines: Horizontal lines only (no vertical)

Icons and Graphics

Use:

• Icons for visual interest (methods, concepts)
• Simple graphics to break text
• Arrows to guide flow

Sources:

• Noun Project: https://thenounproject.com/
• BioRender: https://biorender.com/ (scientific illustrations)
• Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/ (icons)

Caution: Don't overuse; maintain professionalism

LaTeX Poster Packages

beamerposter

Description: Extension of Beamer for posters
Best For: Academic conferences, classic layout
Pros:

• Familiar to Beamer users
• Clean, professional appearance
• Many themes available

Cons:

• Less flexible than tikzposter
• Can be verbose

Template: assets/posters/beamerposter_academic.tex

Example Usage:

\documentclass[final]{beamer}
\usepackage[size=a0,scale=1.24]{beamerposter}
\usetheme{Berlin}

tikzposter

Description: Modern poster package using TikZ
Best For: Colorful, modern designs
Pros:

• Highly customizable
• Modern, attractive themes
• Block-based layout

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve
• Can be slow to compile

Template: assets/posters/tikzposter_research.tex

Example Usage:

\documentclass[25pt, a0paper, portrait]{tikzposter}
\usetheme{Autumn}
\usecolorstyle{Denmark}

baposter

Description: Box-and-poster system
Best For: Structured, multi-column layouts
Pros:

• Excellent column control
• Header boxes, structured layout
• Good for dense content

Cons:

• Complex syntax
• Less commonly used

Template: assets/posters/baposter_conference.tex

Example Usage:

\documentclass[a0paper,portrait]{baposter}

Printing and File Preparation

File Format

For Printing:

• PDF: Universal standard
• High resolution: 300 dpi minimum, 600 dpi for photos
• Color space: RGB for most printers (check with printer)
• Embed fonts: Ensure all fonts embedded
• Flatten: No transparency issues

Print Quality Checks

Before printing:

1. Proofread: Check for typos, errors
2. Colors: Check in print preview
3. Resolution: Zoom to 100%, check figure quality
4. Margins: Verify nothing cut off
5. Test print: Print small version (A4) to check layout

Print Providers

Options:

1. University print shop: Often cheapest, convenient
2. FedEx Office: Widely available
3. Online services:
   • Vistaprint
   • Printful
   • Academic Poster Printing (specialized)

Cost: Typically $50-150 for A0 glossy poster

Paper Types

Recommendation: Satin or matte for most academic posters

QR Codes

What to Include

Generate QR codes linking to:

• Paper PDF: Published or preprint
• Supplementary materials: Data, code, videos
• Personal website: Lab or researcher page
• Video abstract: 1-2 minute video summary
• Online version: Interactive poster

Placement

• Common locations:
  • Bottom right corner
  • Next to references
  • Near contact information
• Size: 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) square
• Label: "Scan for paper" or "More info"

QR Code Generators

• QR Code Generator: https://www.qr-code-generator.com/
• QRStuff: https://www.qrstuff.com/
• LaTeX package: qrcode for generating in LaTeX

Design Best Practices

Do's

✓ Use large fonts (28pt+ for body text)
✓ Keep text minimal (30-40% of poster)
✓ Use visuals (60-70% figures, plots, images)
✓ Tell a story (clear narrative flow)
✓ Colorblind-safe colors
✓ Test readability (view from 6 feet away)
✓ Include contact info (email, QR code)
✓ Proofread (multiple times!)

Don'ts

✗ Don't use small fonts (<24pt body text)
✗ Don't overcrowd (leave white space)
✗ Don't use complex tables (simplify or visualize)
✗ Don't use full paragraphs (use bullets)
✗ Don't use many fonts (1-2 max)
✗ Don't use low-res images (<300 dpi)
✗ Don't use red-green contrasts (colorblind issue)
✗ Don't make it a paper (posters ≠ papers)

Poster Presentation Tips

During the Poster Session

1. Stand by your poster: Be available, engaged
2. Elevator pitch ready: 1-2 minute summary prepared
3. Different depths: Short version (1 min), medium (3 min), deep dive (10 min)
4. Engage visitors: Ask questions, invite discussion
5. Business cards: Have them ready
6. Notebook: Record feedback, questions
7. Handouts: Optional 1-page summary (with QR code)

Talking Through Your Poster

30-second version:

• What is the problem?
• What did you do?
• What did you find?

2-minute version:

• Background + motivation
• Methods (briefly)
• Key result (show main figure)
• Conclusion + implications

5+ minute version:

• Full walkthrough
• Address specific questions
• Discuss limitations, future work

Accessibility Considerations

Visual Accessibility

1. Color contrast: High contrast (4.5:1 minimum)
2. Colorblind-safe: Use Okabe-Ito or similar palettes
3. Font size: Large enough to read from distance
4. Font choice: Clear, sans-serif fonts
5. Alt text: Consider providing text description

Physical Accessibility

1. Mounting height: Low enough for wheelchair users to read bottom
2. QR codes: Provide alternative (short URL, handout)

Checklist Before Printing

• Proofread all text (typos, grammar)
• Check author names and affiliations
• Verify all figures are high resolution (300+ dpi)
• Ensure colorblind-safe color schemes
• Test readability from 6 feet away (print small version)
• Verify poster dimensions match conference requirements
• Check that fonts are embedded in PDF
• Include contact information (email, QR code)
• Add institutional logo
• Verify references are accurate
• Ensure figures have clear labels and captions
• Check that layout is not too dense (adequate white space)
• Verify QR codes work (test scan)
• Confirm file is high-resolution PDF
• Get feedback from colleagues

Example Poster Layouts

Layout 1: Two-Column (Recommended for Most)

+----------------------------------------+
|              TITLE                     |
|      Authors & Affiliations            |
+----------------------------------------+
|  INTRO    |  RESULTS                   |
|           |                            |
|  METHODS  |  RESULTS (cont.)           |
|           |                            |
|           |  DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS    |
+----------------------------------------+
|        REFERENCES    |    QR CODE      |
+----------------------------------------+

Layout 2: Three-Column

+---------------------------------------+
|              TITLE                    |
|      Authors & Affiliations           |
+---------------------------------------+
| INTRO  | RESULTS | DISCUSSION         |
|        |         |                    |
| METHOD | RESULTS | CONCLUSIONS        |
|        |         |                    |
|        | RESULTS | FUTURE WORK        |
+---------------------------------------+
|    REFERENCES       |   QR CODE       |
+---------------------------------------+

Layout 3: Horizontal Flow

+----------------------------------------+
|              TITLE                     |
|      Authors & Affiliations            |
+----------------------------------------+
|  INTRODUCTION    |    METHODS          |
+----------------------------------------+
|           RESULTS                      |
|    (large figure spanning width)       |
+----------------------------------------+
|  DISCUSSION      |   CONCLUSIONS       |
+----------------------------------------+
|        REFERENCES    |    QR CODE      |
+----------------------------------------+

Resources

LaTeX Templates

• assets/posters/beamerposter_academic.tex
• assets/posters/tikzposter_research.tex
• assets/posters/baposter_conference.tex

Online Resources

• Better Posters Blog: https://betterposters.blogspot.com/
• Colorblind Safe Palettes: https://colorbrewer2.org/
• BioRender (scientific illustrations): https://biorender.com/
• Poster Design Guide (Colin Purrington): https://colinpurrington.com/tips/poster-design/

Tools

• Inkscape: Free vector graphics editor
• PowerPoint: Surprisingly popular for posters
• Illustrator: Professional design tool
• LaTeX: Best for reproducibility, version control

Summary

Key Takeaways:

1. Size: Verify conference requirements (typically A0 or 36"×48")
2. Fonts: Large (28pt+ body, 72pt+ title)
3. Layout: 2-3 columns, generous white space
4. Visuals: 60-70% visual content
5. Colors: Colorblind-safe, high contrast
6. Content: Tell a story, keep text minimal
7. Quality: 300+ dpi, test print
8. Accessibility: Readable from distance, clear hierarchy

Remember: A poster is not a paper - it's a visual summary designed to spark conversations!