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Information Literacy & Library Research: Pro Tips for Creating Good Posters

Information literacy is the ability to know when information is needed and to be able to identify, locate and evaluate, and then legally and responsibly use and share that information.

Pro Tips for Creating Good Posters

 

A research poster is a way to visually show the results of your research at a quick glance. Posters are typically full of visuals such as images, tables, and graphs. They cover the main points of the research in brief summaries and bullet points. It’s the quick pitch of research dissemination.

 

an example of a poster template found on Canva.com.

An example of a Research Poster Template from Canva.com

 

Typically, posters are displayed at conferences in “poster sessions” aimed to share new research efficiently. Because posters are mostly viewed in passing, the font should be large enough to be read from several feet away and catch the interest of the reader quickly. This is generally done through:

  • Short title that draws attention
  • Consistent and clean layouts
  • Effective use of graphics
  • Clear font and text
  • Good use of bullet points and headers
    • Try to keep text to one line
    • Avoid paragraphs of text (a poster isn’t a paper)
  • Consistent, clear layout
  • Effective use of white space
  • Full list of citations, acknowledgements, etc.

 

The following guide on how to design a research poster has excellent tips: https://guides.nyu.edu/ld.php?content_id=82268972

Another good resource on academic posters is: https://guides.library.yale.edu/academic-poster-resources/basics