Posters are a common way to present scholarly work
Use these tips to create an effective poster to communicate your project. Check our social media for upcoming Poster Making Workshops. Additional poster writing workshops are held by Printing Arts Lab (PAL) located in Fenwick Library. For additional information, please visit their website.
Poster Writing Tips
What to Include
Aim for a balance of approximately 50% text and 50% visuals like pictures, maps, graphs, diagrams, or text blocks.
You must include:
- A Title Section: Project name (96–140 pt, sentence case), author name(s), affiliation (department or program), email contact, and the George Mason University logo.
Plus:
- Your research question, thesis statement, or hypothesis (bold if embedded in text), Abstract/Introduction, Literature Review/Background, Methods, Results/Evidence, and Discussion/Conclusion/Future Directions. If you are unsure about section titles or organization, use research journals or posters in your field as models.
Poster Sizes
Always check with conference about their allowable size (56” by 40” PowerPoint maximum). OSCAR standard poster size is 48" wide by 36" height. Set the poster size and shape first in page set-up (Design or file).
Design
Set the layout, color scheme, and background in the Slide Master. Insert the background on the master rather than on individual slides. The background may be a picture, texture, or solid color, but use pictures sparingly, as they can make the poster appear too busy or difficult to read. Choose a text color that is legible and provides high contrast with the background. For easier printing, use dark text on a light background.
Use grids and guides (view or view guides) to design layout logically:
- Snap to grid, set grid to 0.5 inch (right click on slide, not available)
- Use Control or Option to make more guides, (use Dynamic Guides)
- Align objects, don’t cross your guides.
Style Guide
Use a consistent formatting style for each type of text throughout the poster. Format section and subsection headings in bold using 30–36 pt font.
Use body text that is large enough to read from a distance (18–24 pt). Include figure captions (18–24 pt) for all visual elements to help readers understand the significance of each graphic, even if they do not read all of the text.
Be consistent in your use of CAPITALS, italics, bolding, and other text formatting for each type of content.
Printing
You can print posters for free through Research Poster Printing (RPP) at Fenwick Library. Check out the website for more information.
Please submit at least 3 business days in advance of your desired pick-up date. Do give RPP plenty of time to print your poster, especially right in the spring when they are really busy. Individuals can request up to two posters per week.
If you choose not to use RPP service, your school or college may have a large format printer for posters. Ask your faculty mentor or check with the dean’s office to see if this option is available to you. Again, paper can be of lower quality, and they usually need a long lead time to print.
Other Tips & Tricks
Design your poster to tell a clear narrative, starting in the upper left corner and ending in the lower right corner.
Bold your research question, thesis statement, or hypothesis near the beginning, and bold your final conclusion at the end to help readers find the key points.
Choose a color scheme and design that match your topic (e.g., Comic Sans may suit elementary education but not mortuary rituals).
Create your first text box with the desired style, then copy and paste it to maintain consistent formatting.
Insert pictures as objects, and use Format Picture to reduce file size after the poster is complete.
Copy and paste or drag and drop graphs from Excel, but check them carefully, as preset styles may change their size or colors.