Poster Guidelines
December 2–5, 2026 · Crystal City, VA
The following guidelines will help you create a clear, professional, and easy-to-read poster.
Poster Size
- Maximum width: 48 inches (4 feet). We will not allow posters wider than 48”
- Your poster may be up to 48 inches wide. A smaller poster is fine.
- It can be longer than 48” but there are only a few feet below the poster to accommodate so it is recommended that square or horizontal posters be printed.
- Check your poster dimensions before sending it to print.
What Should Be on Your Poster?
Your poster should give viewers a clear understanding of your research without requiring you to explain every detail.
At a minimum, include:
1. Title
Make your title clear and specific. It should tell readers what your research is about.
Include:
- Title of your research
- Author name(s)
- Institution or organization
- Any relevant department, laboratory, or program
2. Introduction / Background
Briefly explain:
- What problem or question are you addressing?
- Why is the research important?
- What is already known about the topic?
Keep this section concise. You do not need to include everything from your literature review.
3. Research Question, Objective, or Hypothesis
Clearly state what you set out to investigate.
For example:
- Research Question: How does X affect Y?
- Objective: To determine whether…
- Hypothesis: We hypothesized that…
4. Methods
Explain how you conducted the research.
Depending on your project, this might include:
- Experimental design
- Study population or samples
- Equipment or materials
- Data collection
- Procedures
- Analysis methods
Use a diagram, flowchart, or other visual when it can explain your methods more efficiently than text.
5. Results
This is one of the most important parts of your poster.
Present your findings using:
- Graphs
- Charts
- Tables
- Images
- Diagrams
- Other relevant figures
Whenever possible, show your results visually rather than describing them in large blocks of text.
Make sure every graph or figure has:
- A clear title or caption
- Labeled axes
- Units of measurement, when applicable
- A legend, when needed
6. Discussion / Conclusions
Explain what your results mean.
Consider addressing:
- What did you learn?
- Did your results support your hypothesis?
- Why are the findings important?
- What are the limitations of the study?
- What should be investigated next?
7. References
Include citations for important sources used in your research. You do not need to include a full bibliography if it would take up valuable poster space, but readers should be able to identify and locate your key sources.
8. Acknowledgments
Acknowledge people, laboratories, institutions, or programs that supported your work.
Be sure to include your funding acknowledgment if your research was supported by a grant or other funding source.
Poster Design & Formatting
Keep It Easy to Read
Remember that people will be viewing your poster while standing several feet away.
- Use large, readable text. When in doubt, make it bigger. A poster that looks readable on your laptop may be difficult to read when printed.
- Use a simple, professional font.
- Use headings to clearly separate sections.
- Keep paragraphs short.
- Use bullet points when appropriate.
- Leave enough white space between sections.
- Avoid filling every available inch of the poster.
Use Visuals
A good poster is more than a paper printed on a large sheet.
Whenever possible:
- Replace lengthy explanations with diagrams or figures.
- Use graphs to show data.
- Use images when they help explain your research.
- Keep charts and figures large enough to read easily.
- Use consistent formatting throughout the poster.
Organize Your Poster
Arrange the information so that viewers can easily follow your research from beginning to end.
A common layout is:
Introduction → Objective → Methods → Results → Discussion/Conclusion
You can use columns, boxes, headings, lines, or subtle visual elements to guide readers through the poster.
Keep Your Design Consistent
Choose a limited number of:
- Fonts
- Font sizes
- Colors
- Heading styles
Avoid excessive decorative elements. Your design should support your research rather than compete with it.
Check Your Poster Before Printing
Before sending your poster to the printer:
- Check the final dimensions.
- Proofread all text.
- Make sure figures and images are high resolution.
- Check that graphs, tables, and images are large enough to read.
- Verify author names and institutional affiliations.
- Confirm that funding acknowledgments are included.
- Make sure nothing is cut off at the edges.
- Ask someone unfamiliar with your research to look at the poster. Can they understand the basic story without you explaining it?
A Few Tips for a Successful Poster
Think “conversation starter,” not “research paper.”
Your poster should give attendees enough information to understand your research and ask questions, while leaving you room to explain the interesting details during your conversation.
Don’t try to put everything on the poster. If a section requires several paragraphs to explain, consider whether some of that information could be presented as a figure, shortened, or saved for your conversation with attendees.
Practice a short explanation of your research. Be prepared to summarize your project in 30 seconds to a few minutes, depending on the attendee’s interest.
Your poster does not have to look like everyone else’s. Research projects vary widely, and there is no single correct poster layout. Focus on making your research clear, readable, and visually understandable.