(Information adapted from https://inspire.aota.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2022-Poster-Presenter-Handbook.pdf)

What size should my poster be?

We recommend printing at a 36” (height) x 48” (height) size

What considerations should I be thinking of when creating my poster?

Many posters can be designed using a PowerPoint slide template.
Posters should be well laid out and formatter, visually appealing with the use of color, and present a professional image. We do not recommend laminating the poster because of potential glare from overhead lights.
Keep in mind that your information must be concise; focus on summarizing the information of your presentation.
Select the most notable aspects of your research because not all the information can be presented. For presentations on research, usually the Results and Discussion sections are the emphasis of the poster presentation. Next in emphasis would usually be the Conclusion, Methodology, Abstract, and Literature Review.
Because this is a formal and professional presentation, posters should not contain arts and craft items such as glitter, handwritten or hand-colored items, pictures cut out of a magazine, and so forth.
Leave about 4 to 8 inches between the columns of your poster.
Ideally you should stand near the last column so that readers can ask you a question after viewing all the poster sections.
The most natural way for a reader to proceed is left to right, so begin your abstract in the upper left corner and end with your Conclusions or Summary in the lower right corner.
Arrange your material in columns that can be read top to bottom. Thus, a viewer can read the far-left column, and then step to the right to read the next section, which will allow another viewer to start reading the first column. Leave a reasonable amount of space between columns.
Don’t put key information (e.g., a photo or table of results) at the very bottom of a column so that a read must squat down to see the information clearly.
Define different sections clearly. Use headings of reasonable size (larger than the text) to identify the start of each major section. Use colored backgrounds to delineate sections.

What size font should be used? (general recommendations)

Titles = 135 to 210 point (should be readable from about 20 ft away)
Author’s names = 72 to 150 point (should be readable from about 10 feet away)
Headings of each section = 48 to 60 point (should be readable from 4 feet away)
General body text = 24 to 36 point (double or 1.5 spaced)

What should my poster look like?

See three possible examples of layouts below although you should note these are by no means the only or required layouts for the poster

Poster Presentation FAQ