Resear

Poster Template
ch 48” x 36”
PHHP Marketing & Communications DESIGN TIPS

Tips For Designing a Visually Aside from issues of color blindness, placing two bright colors
Interesting Scientific Poster together causes “color vibration,” an afterimage effect which is
bothersome to readers. 3 Below are some examples of vibrating color
Morgan Marvin, Director of Strategic Communications and combinations.
Marketing, College of Public Health and Health Professions
Red on green
Blue on orange
BACKGROUND
Purple on yellow
Scientific posters are widely used in the academic
community to showcase research findings and to generate With a simple and clean design, Avoid vibrating colors by pairing a bright color with a neutral color.
Also be sure to use CMYK color codes so that your colors print true
a conversation among the researcher and their audience. to their original hue.

But in a sea of posters, what makes a one standout? What

makes a good poster?

Here you will find a few pointers to designing a poster that

will grab the reader’s attention and invite them over to
learn more.
your poster will grab In addition to colors, using too many font styles is jarring for the

the reader’s attention

reader so limit your use of font types to no more than two. Sans Serif
fonts such as Gentona and Century Gothic are easier to read and are
recommended for titles and body copy.

METHODS
KEY CONCLUSIONS
Have you ever received an email that was super long and
instantly decided that you didn’t want to read it at that
opening the door for you to engage in an in- A simple and visually appealing poster invites the audience over to
moment? This is an example of #TLDR, or “too long didn’t
depth and meaningful conversation.
engage in a conversation and learn more from the researcher.
read.”

The same applies to poster design. When someone sees a

massive block of text, the reader feels negative about it
before they even begin to read.1 Because of this, it’s KEY TAKEAWAYS
important to be concise and to incorporate white space into
your design. • Don’t bury the lead. Hook your audience by first

Additionally, multiple studies have shown that there’s no sharing the outcomes.
such thing as multitasking,2. so it’s unrealistic to expect a • Concision is key
person to read the content on a poster while listening to
someone speak. And because the goal of a poster is to • Incorporate white space by using lists, headlines,
generate a conversation, it’s best to include only the most paragraph breaks, and widening line space
important information in the visual design and share any
additional details verbally. • Avoid color vibration by pairing bright colors with
neutral ones
Lastly, start with what the reader most needs to know: the
outcome! Just like a news article, this hooks the audience
and allows them to decide whether to continue reading the
REFERENCES
story to learn more.
1. Why You Need White Space When You Write.
https://www.writerswrite.co.za/why-you-need-white-space-and-5-ways-to-create-it/
2. You Can’t Multitask, So Stop Trying, HBR. https://hbr.org/2010/12/you-cant-multi-task-so-stop-tr
3. Accessibility, Penn State University. https://accessibility.psu.edu/color/brightcolors/
4. How to Create a Research Poster, NYU. https://guides.nyu.edu/posters

L e ar n ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

More
Scan here with your mobile device to visit Special thanks to Jason Rogers for his insights and expertise; Lindsey King and Jessica Kramer for their feedback
and willingness to help; MAMC faculty for sharing their knowledge; and Dean Beth Virnig for her vision and
the PHHP Brand Center for more poster appreciation for consistent branding.

design tips
 Cont Layo
ent
Recommended sections include:

Introduction or Background
ut
Recommendations include:

Review specific submission guidelines

• Research questions or aims
Lead with the results to grab the reader’s attention
Methods
• Design Optimize white space to separate sections and avoid clutter.
• Participants
• Measures Make sure your poster is accessible for all readers. Avoid color “vibrations” by
• Procedures pairing bright colors with neutral colors (i.e. avoid placing orange on top of blue
• Analysis backgrounds)

Results Align elements using Format->Align tools

• Consider organizing the results with a header for each aim or
research question. Font size and style
• Conveying findings using figures or tables can be more powerful • Use preselected fonts and sizing from template.
than text in the poster format. • Minimum font size for body text 28 pt.

Conclusion Figures, tables, and images

• Identify 2-3 take home messages.
• Depending on the conference and audience, this section may
feature implications.
References
• If allowed by the conference, you can save space by using a
numbered format such as MLA.
Acknowledgements (bottom footer)
• Include funder, any research labs/centers/groups supporting the
work, or collaborators not listed as authors.
• In a poster format, figures, tables, and images can be used to effectively
convey main ideas.
• For qualitative research, drawing attention to the best quotes can increase
the impact of the findings.
Place your results/key findings in the center of the poster for visual hierarchy.
Create QR Codes to connect visitors with additional content.
• Example: Reference list as accessible web page
http://users.phhp.ufl.edu/jhodge/poster/ref_example.html
• QR Code Generator https://www.qr-code-generator.com/
 Department/Center
CONCLUSIONS
PRESENTATION TITLE
(CONSIDER USING Summarize the hypothesis and the results. Was
your hypothesis supported? What is the
THE OUTCOME TO significance of your findings? What are the
recommended next steps to take your research
GRAB THE READER’S
Teach people something cool you
to the next level?

ATTENTION)
First Last, Title, Program Around 75 words
Font size: around 28

learned in 5 seconds as they walk by. Font type: Gentona Book

Justified

BACKGROUND (Font size: 40)

Briefly introduce the background of why you chose to

do this research as well as your hypothesis. Include
only what is highly relevant. Could also be titled
“Problem” or “Introduction.”
Emphasize the important words.
Around 50 words
Font size: around 28
Font type: Gentona Book
Justified
KEY TAKEAWAYS

METHODS • Key takeaway #1

• Key takeaway #2
Describe your research strategy and how you carried it • Kay takeaway #3
out. Include design, participants, measures, procedures,
analysis and any equipment or software you used. • Use bullet points
• Font size: around 28
Around 150 words
Font size: around 28 • Font type: Gentona Book
Font type: Gentona Book • Delete if not necessary
Justified

Other researcher’s
school logo

Organization or
initiative’s logo

REFERENCES (24pt)
More Be sure to include your references.

QR
The font size here should be no less than 12pt.

Information
Use a QR code to direct the audience to view more
info about your research, center, lab, videos, etc
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (24 pt)
It’s important to acknowledge people who have assisted you or provided funding for your research.
This font size should be no less than 12 pt.
 Department/Center

PRESENTATION TITLE (CONSIDER USING THE

OUTCOME TO GRAB THE READER’S ATTENTION) NO
First Last, Title, Program
MORE THAN TWO LINES
BACKGROUND (Font size: 40) RESULTS CONCLUSIONS
Briefly introduce the background of why you chose to do What did you find out? Discuss your data analysis and include any supporting charts, graphs or images. Summarize the hypothesis and the results. Was your
this research as well as your hypothesis. Include only what hypothesis supported? What is the significance of your
is highly relevant. Could also be titled “Problem” or Notice in this version, this is the largest section in the presentation creating a visual hierarchy. findings? What are the recommended next steps to take
“Introduction.” your research to the next level?
Font size: around 28
Around 50 words Font type: Gentona Book Around 75 words
Font size: around 28 Justified or Align Left Font size: around 24
Font type: Gentona Book Font type: Gentona Book
Justified Justified

METHODS
Describe your research strategy and how you carried it
out. Include design, participants, measures, procedures,
analysis and any equipment or software you used. KEY TAKEAWAYS

Around 150 words • Key takeaway #1

Font size: around 24 • Key takeaway #2
Font type: Gentona Book
Justified • Kay takeaway #3
• Use bullet points
• Font size: around 28
• Font type: Gentona Book
• Delete if not necessary

MORE
Chart explanation can go here. Be sure to include a chart title and describe what is being shown. INFORMATION
Use a QR code to direct the

Pro tip! Be sure to use graphics and charts that are clear and add context to your poster. Adding visuals for sake of adding
audience to view more info about
your research, center, lab, videos,
QR
visuals can lead to a poster that too busy for readers. etc

School, organization
or initiative’s logo

Be sure to include your references. It’s important to acknowledge people who have assisted you or provided funding for your research.
REFERENCES (24pt) The font size here should be no less than 12pt. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (24 pt) This copy should be no less than 12 pt font.
 Department/Center

PRESENTATION TITLE (CONSIDER USING THE

OUTCOME TO GRAB THE READER’S ATTENTION) NO
First Last, Title, Program
MORE THAN TWO LINES
BACKGROUND (Font size: 40) RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Briefly introduce the background of why you chose to What did you find out? Discuss your data analysis and include any supporting charts, graphs or images. Summarize the hypothesis and the results. Was your
do this research as well as your hypothesis. Include only hypothesis supported? What is the significance of your
what is highly relevant. Could also be titled “Problem” Notice in this version, this is the largest section in the presentation creating a visual hierarchy. findings? What are the recommended next steps to take
or “Introduction.” your research to the next level?
Font size: around 28
Around 50 words Font type: Gentona Book Around 75 words
Font size: around 28 Justified or Align Left Font size: around 24
Font type: Gentona Book Font type: Gentona Book
Justified Justified

TAKEAWAYS
METHODS
• Key takeaway #1
Describe your research strategy and how you carried it
• Key takeaway #2
out. Include design, participants, measures, procedures,
analysis and any equipment or software you used. • Kay takeaway #3
• Use bullet points
Around 150 words
Font size: around 24 • Font size: around 28
Font type: Gentona Book
• Font type: Gentona Book
Justified
• Delete if not necessary

MORE INFORMATION

Chart explanation can go here. Be sure to include a chart title and describe what is being shown.

Pro tip! Be sure to use graphics and charts that are clear and add context to your poster. Adding visuals for sake of Use a QR code to direct the audience to
adding visuals can lead to a poster that too busy for readers. view more info about your research,
center, lab, videos, etc QR

School, organization
or initiative’s logo

Be sure to include your references.

REFERENCES (24pt) The font size here should be no less than 12pt. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (24 pt) It’s important to acknowledge people who have assisted you or provided funding for your research.
This copy should be no less than 12 pt font.
 Department/Center

PRESENTATION TITLE (CONSIDER USING THE OUTCOME

TO GRAB THE READER’S ATTENTION) NO MORE THAN
First Last, Title, Program
TWO LINES

BACKGROUND (Font size: 40) RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Briefly introduce the background of why you chose to do this research as What did you find out? Discuss your data analysis and include any supporting Summarize the hypothesis and the results. Was your hypothesis
well as your hypothesis. Include only what is highly relevant. Could also charts, graphs or images. supported? What is the significance of your findings? What are the
be titled “Problem” or “Introduction.” recommended next steps to take your research to the next level?

Around 50 words Font size: around 28 Around 75 words

Font size: around 28 Font type: Gentona Book Font size: around 28
Font type: Gentona Book Justified or Align Left Font type: Gentona Book
Justified Justified

METHODS

Describe your research strategy and how you carried it out. Include any KEY TAKEAWAYS
equipment or software you used. Could also be titled “methodology” if more
applicable. • Key takeaway #1
• Key takeaway #2
Around 150 words
Font size: around 24 • Kay takeaway #3
Font type: Gentona Book • Use bullet points
Justified
• Font size: around 28
• Font type: Gentona Book
• Delete if not necessary

MORE
INFORMATION

Chart explanation can go here. Be sure to include a chart title and describe
Use a QR code to direct the audience to view
more info about your research, center, lab,
videos, etc
QR
what is being shown.

Pro tip! Be sure to use graphics and charts that are clear and add context to
your poster. Adding visuals for sake of adding visuals can lead to a poster that
too busy for readers.
School, organization or
initiative’s logo

It’s important to acknowledge people who have assisted you or provided funding for your research.
REFERENCES (24pt) Be sure to include your references.
The font size here should be no less than 12pt.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (24 pt) This copy should be no less than 12 pt font.
 Department/Center

PRESENTATION TITLE (CONSIDER USING THE OUTCOME

TO GRAB THE READER’S ATTENTION) NO MORE THAN
First Last, Title, Program
TWO LINES

BACKGROUND (Font size: 40) RESULTS CONCLUSIONS

Briefly introduce the background of why you chose to do this research as well What did you find out? Discuss your data analysis and include any supporting Summarize the hypothesis and the results. Was your hypothesis
as your hypothesis. Include only what is highly relevant. Could also be titled charts, graphs or images. supported? What is the significance of your findings? What are the
“Problem” or “Introduction.” recommended next steps to take your research to the next level?

Around 50 words Font size: around 28 Around 75 words

Font size: around 28 Font type: Gentona Book Font size: around 28
Font type: Gentona Book Justified or Align Left Font type: Gentona Book
Justified Justified

KEY TAKEAWAYS
METHODS
• Key takeaway #1
Describe your research strategy and how you carried it out. Include any • Key takeaway #2
equipment or software you used. Could also be titled “methodology” if more
applicable. • Kay takeaway #3
• Use bullet points
Around 150 words
Font size: around 24 • Font size: around 28
Font type: Gentona Book • Font type: Gentona Book
Justified
• Delete if not necessary

MORE INFORMATION

Use a QR code to direct the audience to view more

info about your research, center, lab, videos, etc
QR
Chart explanation can go here. Be sure to include a chart title
and describe what is being shown.

School, organization
or initiative’s logo

Be sure to include your references. It’s important to acknowledge people who have assisted you or provided funding for your research.
REFERENCES (24pt) The font size here should be no less than 12pt. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (24 pt) This copy should be no less than 12 pt font.