Skip to Main Content

Nursing

This LibGuide connects you to library resources and information to increase your skills, confidence, and knowledge in various components of nursing research, evidence-based practice, and scholarly communication.

UToledo Research Poster Template

Click here to download the official UToledo Research Poster Template. This template takes the guesswork out of creating a professional-looking poster. You can resize the poster size in PowerPoint to fit your needed dimensions. 

Questions?

  • Research Assistance: Nursing Librarian Jodi Jameson (jodi.jameson@utoledo.edu / 419.383.5152)
  • Printing: Marc Miller in Academic Computing (marc.miller@utoledo.edu / 419.383.5803)

For additional guidance on creating a poster in PowerPoint, consult the resources and information below. 

Poster Design Guidance

Getting Started

                                                             

Design Principles

  • Size and Layout
    • A typical conference poster has a horizontal layout and is often 48 x 36 inches but may vary depending on the conference requirements. To edit the dimensions of your poster in PowerPoint, click on the Design tab. 
    • It is recommended to keep your poster to 3 or 4 columns of content
    • Columns do not need to be the exact same size, yet they should look consistent and evenly spaced.  For example, you might have a larger width column in the middle of your poster, and the two side columns will be smaller but the same size. 
  • Balance
    • Well-designed posters are typically 20-25% text, 40-45% graphics (tables, figures, or images), and 30-40% white space.
    • Think of your poster as a visual abstract that illustrates the essential components of your EBP Project.
    • Do not underestimate the importance of graphics and white space. Too much text in a small font size can be very difficult for viewers when reading your poster. Brevity and synthesis are key when it comes to effective poster design.  
  • Font Sizes (Approximations) 
    • Title: 80 pt
    • Author(s): 60 pt
    • Headings: 44 pt
    • Main Text: 32 pt
    • Captions: 28 pt
  • Visual Appeal
    • You do not need to be a professional artist to create a stunning poster! 
    • Keep it simple, remember that brevity is key, and do not be overly wordy
    • Remember that your poster is a visual representation and a synthesis of the "greatest hits" of your EBP Project
    • Use high-resolution images and attribute them correctly (see the UToledo Images LibGuide) 
    • Choose a consistent and complementary color palette (see the UToledo Brand Guide information on Palettes)

Dos and Don'ts of Poster Design

Do...

  • Type your text in MS Word first, then copy and paste into the PowerPoint template
  • Use a non-serif font (i.e. Arial, Helvetica) for title and headings
  • Use a serif font (i.e. Times New Roman, Palatino) for body text
  • Use high-resolution images
  • Consider copyright when using images
  • Cite and reference your sources in APA 7th Edition Style (if you cannot fit your reference list on your poster, you may include a supplementary handout or provide a QR Code on your poster linking viewers to your references)
  • Share your poster with trusted peers or classmates for review and constructive criticism prior to having it printed
 
Don't...
  • Use dark backgrounds
  • Switch from PC to Mac and Mac to PC when designing in PowerPoint
  • Be too wordy (limit word count to 800-1000)
  • Use colors that make your poster unintelligible or difficult to read
  • Use “cute” clip art

Additional Resources

Video Tutorials

Websites