• Title length is concise, and uses language that your target audience can understand.
• Text is 'to the point'
• Word count of between 500 to 800 words (or less)
• Width of text boxes should be about 40 characters (11 words per line)
• Use of bullets and numbering lists makes the content easier to read
• Effective use of graphics, color and fonts
• Consistent and clean layout
• List of references
• Include any acknowledgments, plus your name and institutional affiliation

Additional Tips for Designing a Great Poster 

Step 1: Planning

1. Audience - Who will view your poster? Who will be looking at your poster, and what story would you like to tell them?
2. Ensure that you have and are following the design specifications from the organizers. Look at examples from previous years if provided.
3. Keep it simple: List the points you want to get across and organize them in order of importance – try sticking to three points max. Ask yourself – what is the one thing that a viewer should remember?
4. Limit text and focus on strong images.
5. Develop an outline that allows you to develop an information hierarchy
6. Sketch out a poster – what do you want to include; what do you want to add or eliminate?

Step 2: Developing a Layout

1. Mock up your poster – mark off the correct size of your poster on a table. Print off your content in 24 point font. Add a title. Make sure that you include the most important content first. Title is usually top centre. Include an overview or introduction in the upper left. Include supporting information (including visual information). Your conclusions come last.
2. Use a grid in order to organize content into neat columns.
3. Use a text hierarchy by keeping the same font size for same importance/emphasis level.
4. Use columns (although this is not absolutely necessary).
5. It is recommended that 40% of the poster area be white space, as it is actually inviting to readers.
6. Do not default to using boxes – you can use white space instead!
7. Put related items together.

Step 3: Other Elements of Design

1. Fonts: use serif fonts that are familiar as it is easier for your audience to read them.
2. Sans serif is alright for titles, headlines, labels.
3. Do not use more than three fonts on your poster.
4. Do not capitalize everything as this is actually more challenging to read.
5. Make sure that text can be read from five feet away.
6. Use highly contrasting colours for text – black on white is best.

Step 4: Colour and Image

1. Choose a colour that might naturally correspond to your topic.
2. Use a colour scheme and be consistent.
3. Look at a standard colour wheel. Any three neighboring colours will usually work well together.
4. Keep your background subtle, as it will help you to emphasize your content in amore meaningful way.
5. Select images that convey information. Edit images or composition accordingly, and label your images.

Adapted from "Designing Communications for a Poster Fair," by Penn State 

Clear Print Guide (Canadian National Institute for the Blind): 

Guidelines for Creating Accessible Printed Posters (PDF, Association of University Centres on Disabilities)