A research poster is a powerful visual tool for presenting academic work at a scientific conference, university showcase or poster session. It’s an excellent way for students to communicate dissertations or thesis projects. For researchers, it’s a platform to share findings, promote discussion and receive feedback from others.
But if you’re new to creating a research poster, it can be daunting. Fortunately, this guide breaks the process into simple, actionable steps—with tips to help you design a research poster that’s clear, engaging and professional.
What Should a Research Poster Include?
Before diving in, let’s look at the typical structure of a research poster. For instance:
| Section | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Title | A concise summary of your project |
| Introduction | Background and purpose of your research |
| Objectives / Research Questions | What you’re aiming to explore? |
| Methods | How you collected and analysed your data |
| Results | Key findings in visuals (graphs, charts, etc.) |
| Discussion | Significance of your findings |
| Conclusion | What do your results mean overall? |
| References | Sources cited |
| Acknowledgements | Thank any contributors or funders |
Additionally, here’s what a research poster looks like (see Figure 1):
How to Make a Research Poster (Step-by-Step)
🧠 Step 1: Plan and Organise Your Content
Firstly, don’t jump into the design right away. Instead, begin by outlining your content. Decide what you want to include, then sketch how you plan to arrange the sections. Your poster should follow a logical flow, guiding the viewer smoothly from start to finish.
🔹 Tip: Think of your poster like a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
📚 Step 2: Gather Your Materials Before Making Your Research Poster
Then, bring together everything you’ll need to make the research poster. For example:
- Key text (titles, abstracts, bullet points).
- Graphs and charts.
- Diagrams or photos.
- References and citations.
🔍 Only include the essentials. So, keep the text brief and focus on your most impactful findings.
🎨 Step 3: Design an Effective Layout
📌 [Visual Suggestion: Example grid layout with margins, columns, and title space]
Next, focus on creating a layout that is:
- Clean and structured.
- Easy to read from a distance.
- Split into clear sections with headings.
📌 Choose a clean and professional layout. Moreover, use tools like Canva, PowerPoint poster templates, or BioRender to get started. In addition, structure your content in columns or sections to make it easy to follow. And make sure it isn’t crammed or overflowing.
📊 Step 4: Use Visuals to Enhance Viewer’s Understanding
Visual elements make your poster more engaging and easier for others to understand. Therefore, use them wisely:
✅ Use:
- Graphs (bar, pie, line).
- Tables for summarised data.
- Flowcharts or infographics for processes.
❌ Avoid:
- Cluttered visuals.
- Tiny text in figures.
- Unexplained graphs.
🔹 Every visual should have a clear label and legend.
🔤 Step 5: Choose Fonts and Colours Carefully
At this point, keep your poster readable and attractive:
- Use sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri).
- Stick to 2-3 font sizes (e.g., Title > Headings > Body text).
- Ensure text is readable from a metre away.
- Choose a complementary colour palette (avoid clashing tones).
🎨 Use colour to highlight—not overwhelm.
⚖️ Step 6: Balance Text and Visuals
Too much text = overwhelming. On the other hand, too many visuals = confusing. Therefore, you need a balance.
✅ Use:
- Bullet points.
- Short paragraphs.
- Clear headings and subheadings.
🧩 Whitespace is your friend—it creates breathing room and improves focus.
🔹 Don’t fill every inch of space!
🧐 Step 7: Proofread and Get People’s Feedback
Before printing or submitting:
- Double-check for typos, grammar mistakes, and formatting errors.
- Make sure all visuals are labelled and cited.
- Ask a peer or mentor to review your poster—fresh eyes spot things you might miss.
📌 Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor. Additionally, ask peers for feedback.
🖨️ Step 8: Print and Practice Your Presentation
Lastly, once your poster is finalised:
- Save it as a high-res PDF.
- Check the dimensions match the required size (typically A0 or A1).
- Practice your pitch—know your poster inside out.
- Be ready to engage with questions during your presentation.
Key Points: How to Make a Research Poster Effectively
🔑 Keep it concise and visual: Focus on key information and visuals to ensure clarity.
🧭 Guide the viewer with a logical flow: Organise sections so the viewer can easily follow the poster.
🎨 Use clean design and accessible fonts/colours: Choose a simple typeface and contrasting colours for readability.
⚖️ Balance text and visuals: Combine brief text with impactful visuals for better understanding.
🎤 Practice your presentation skills: Be familiar with your poster so you’re ready to answer questions confidently.
Final Thoughts on Making Research Posters
In short, creating a research poster isn’t just about showing your results—it’s about telling an engaging, understandable and impactful story. Whether preparing for a class presentation or an international conference, following these steps will help you create stand-out posters.
📣 If you found this how-to guide helpful, please share it with your peers!
🧠 Want more tips? Then, check out my other pedagogy articles on academic writing and study skills.