Creating a scientific poster
As a PhD student, you will present your project and research results in poster sessions at conferences and other events throughout your PhD programme. On this page you can find all the information you need about our poster templates, as well as some helpful tips to avoid common poster pitfalls. We also offer support sessions and poster workshops, which you can book or sign up for using the links provided. We're here to help you create the best poster possible!
Useful tips
Before you start designing your poster
- Tailor your content to your audience and context.
- Modify your text and images before you start designing - avoid copying and pasting text or images directly from your manuscript or report.
- Limit and reduce the amount of text! Keep only the most important information.
- Save your images as pdf files and view them at 100% to make sure your figures are legible and your photos are sharp and of high enough quality for printing.
Make your poster legible – guidelines for headings and paragraphs
- A short title makes it easier for your audience to quickly understand your message.
- The size of the title should be approximately 100 points, to be readable at a distance.
- Running text should be approximately 36 points (equivalent to 1 cm high).
- Short and concise texts, preferably arranged in bullet points, are more readable at a distance than long and wide text paragraphs.
- Avoid long paragraphs; use a maximum of 40-50 characters per line (including spaces) and no more than 6 lines per paragraph for better legibility.
Poster support & poster templates
You can get help with designing and structuring your poster, using the templates, or get feedback on your poster layout before printing.
Ask a question or book a one-to-one session by contacting the Library & ICT Research Support Team through Library & ICT´s contact form.
Lund University has poster templates for PowerPoint and InDesign.
- The poster templates can be downloaded from Lund University's Image and Media Bank.
- The compulsory layout elements for scientific posters with Lund University as an affiliation are: a 15 mm white margin and the Lund University logo placed according to the template; the title in bronze colour with a bronze line underneath. Keep the formatting of the title as it appears in the template.
- The template has a coloured background based on Lund University's profile colours. The background colour can be changed to any of Lund University's other profile colours or to white.
- There are guidelines for using more than one logo for posters – contact us at Library & ICT´s Research Support if you have any questions.
Adobe Garamond Pro and Frutiger LT Std vs New Times Roman and Arial
Scientific posters from Lund University has two preferred choices of profile fonts: Adobe Garamond Pro and Frutiger LT Std. These fonts are not mandatory for scientific posters, but Lund University recommends their use, or alternatively Times New Roman for titles and headings and Arial for body text.
Download fonts at Lund University´s Image and Media Bank (Login with your Lucat ID).
MediaTryck is Lund University's internal printing and design agency. They can print your poster within 24 hours. You need to send your poster as a pdf.
Poster printing – MediaTryck's website
Contact
Library & ICT Research support team
Book an individual consultation or get feedback on your poster layout.
Contact us through Library & ICT´s contact form.