This document provides a template for creating scientific posters. It includes suggestions for formatting, design principles, and sections like the title, abstract, methods, results, and conclusions. The template is meant to simplify poster creation and emphasize key points for viewers through techniques like italics, boldface, and effective use of space. Proper formatting of images, tables, and graphs is also discussed. The goal is to design posters that are easy to understand and focused on the needs of the audience.

1. Study title written out in sentence case, which
means that only the first letter of the first word is capitalized. This make the title
more readable. (Never use all capitals.)
Author Names Author Names Author Names Author Names Author Names Author Names Author
Names Author Names
Abstract Methods Results Conclusions
 Emphasize points with italics or in boldface.
 When writing for a poster, simplify everything  Note that we suggest that the
 Background. This poster template will scale up  Underlining is less attractive and can be
and avoid over-writing. Abstract, Methods, Results, and Conclusion
to 42 inches by 66 inches. 42 inches is the distracting.
 The best posters are designed with empathy: sections line up at the heads of the four
widest we can print. (Longer formats are  Less is often more. Make effective use of negative
Put yourself in the position of the audience and columns.
possible, but the template needs adjustment.) space.
think about what they will want to know.  Although potentially constraining, this design
 Objectives. To use this template, simply  When writing for a poster, simplify everything and
 Do not start from the perspective of what you introduces some organizational discipline that
replace the text in these sections. avoid over-writing.
want to tell people. That perspective leads may be useful to viewers.
 Methods. Download template and insert your  The best posters are designed with empathy: Put
people to make posters that are too busy and  More research is warranted
content. yourself in the position of the audience and think
 Results. Send to Megan Pellegrino have too much information. about what they will want to know.
(meganpel@wharton.upenn.edu), who will  Do not start from the perspective of what you
work with you to print the poster. This often want to tell people. That perspective leads people
takes some back and forth discussion. to make posters that are too busy and have too
Table 1: Sample Table
 Conclusions. Contact us a few weeks in much information. Policy Implications
advance or we may not be able to help you. Intervention Control P 100
Don’t assume we can meet a deadline unless 80
Satisfaction
 A few take-aways or next steps can help
you have communicated with us about it first. Age (sd) 52 (6.8) 53 (7.0) 0.23 Wealth
60 position your presentation or make
Mortality
% Male 34 33 0.32 your points more enduring.
Background 40
 Depending upon your goals, you might
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 We recommend the white background for F 72 70 0.54 them to your poster in the bottom right
clarity and simplicity, but a blue background is  Imported figures and photographs often work well or make them available in other ways.
also available. if saved in jpeg format. A grey border can soften a  If you have suggestions for improving
 Avoid images from the web. They are low
photograph’s visual impression in the poster. this template or this process, please let
resolution and become “pixilated” on
 Follow principles of Edward Tufte and avoid “chart us know.
enlargement.
Objectives junk” and unnecessary ink in creating charts.
 Figures can be produced directly in PowerPoint
 For example, avoid three dimensional bar graphs
or imported from other programs, like Excel..
1. Note that for small text, a serifed font is or pie charts when presenting two dimensional
 Graphs produced in scientific graphic programs
easier to read. data.
should be saved in jpeg or tiff format before
 Avoid harsh contrasting colors that create visual Additional logo
inserting.
vibration. here, if desired