This guide was developed to help students create a presentation poster. Tips and resources are included that can help you plan, design, and prepare a poster and presentation.
Nervous about presenting? Practice with and get feedback from a professional in the MCC Libraries. Schedule a session.
Why Create a Presentation Poster?
- A poster can be a dynamic method for displaying research.
- Effective posters give a quick overview of your research and encourage viewers to stop and talk.
Who Is Your Audience?
- Make sure the main message is clearly stated in the document.
- Don’t use “shop talk” language if targeting a broader group of people.
Is There a Required Poster Size?
- There is not a required poster size.
- Typical sizes range from 24” high x 36” wide to conference posters as large as 36” high x 48” wide.
- At Scholars' Day, many students reuse posters from other conferences or presentations to avoid the cost and trouble of reprinting.
- Faculty sponsors may assist students by sending posters to the MCC printshop for printing, specifying the size, and selecting color printing.
- You may alternatively choose to print your poster at a local print shop.
What About Design and Style?
- Balance the visual appeal with the information delivery.
- Don’t make the design excessively busy; too much visual information can confuse the main message.
- White space is important—avoid clutter.
- Keep the font large enough so viewers can easily read information from a few feet away.
- Only use one or two fonts.
- A three-column format is typically used.
- Highlight keywords with font changes (e.g., bold, italics).
- Graphs, tables, and charts should help visually explain data.
- Posters are usually read top to bottom and left to right.
