In this step, you will find a step-by-step guide on how to professionally design a poster using PowerPoint.

The following guide largely corresponds to the video tutorials from the previous step. It is primarily intended for those who prefer to follow a written guide. In addition, it is occasionally more detailed and delves deeper into certain points from the videos.

Templates (in A0 format) are also attached to this step, which you can download and customize to your liking. This will save you some steps. If you still want to design your poster from scratch, the following guide will lead you through the process step by step.

TIP: Define fonts and font sizes (steps 1 to 3) before moving on to the further design. This will prevent you from having to adjust font sizes for the content and ensure that your poster remains easily readable.

1. Format

For a scientific poster, you will likely need the A0 format (84.1x118.9 cm) in portrait or landscape format. The landscape format has certain advantages in terms of content and design: the columns are wider there and you can therefore also display images and diagrams larger. However, always clarify what requirements there are and whether a landscape format is even possible.

2. Fonts

When it comes to fonts, you have two suitable options for design. (I) Simply choose one font for the entire poster. This creates a calm effect. (II) Alternatively, you can choose one font for the main title and subheadings and another for the body text. It is important that the font is simple and easy to read. It should also be available in different font styles, such as Normal, Bold, Italic, and Light. In our attached example, we use Arial, which is available on all devices and corresponds to the Corporate Identity (CI) of the University of Basel. The Univers font is also possible, but unlike Arial, it is not available on every computer.

Line spacing is also important for the readability of your poster. Of the common default settings, 1 is a little too tight and 1.5 is too much for body text. Test different values: under the line spacing options, select “Exactly” and enter the value. In our example, we have set a spacing of 42 pt in the body text. Tip: Print out a text excerpt in different sizes and line spacings to check the readability from a distance of one to two meters.

3. Font Hierarchy

The font hierarchy makes the different functions of text on your poster visible, such as headings and body text. The text types should also visually differ through different font sizes. First, define the size of the body text and then determine the other font sizes based on that. Depending on the content, you need more or less different sizes. But as a general rule: less is more!

In our example, we use five font sizes and two font styles for the font hierarchy with the following settings:

Font Hierarchy	Size and Style
H1: Main Title (of the Poster)	106 pt, bold, Line spacing: 122 pt
H2: Subheading (of Chapters/Sections)	44 pt, bold
H3: Lead	32 pt, bold
H4: Body Text	32 pt, Standard, Line spacing: 42 pt
H5: Legends, Header and Footer, Sources, Contact Information	22 pt, Standard resp. bold for title, Line spacing: 29 pt

The larger the format of the poster, the larger the difference between the font sizes should be.

4. Colors

Choose one or two main colors and an accent color for your poster. Make sure that the colors match the content and harmonize. In our example poster, we use the following colors, for example:

• The font color should be easy to read. Therefore, we use black here (dark gray also corresponds to the CI of the University of Basel, but black is easier to read on a poster).
• The main color should be rather understated, such as the mint according to the CI of the University of Basel.
• The accent color may stand out, such as the bright red from the CI of the University of Basel. You can also use these colors in shades, for example, for diagrams.

COLOR SCALE IMAGE

You can easily color texts or objects with a simple click. - Text: Select the corresponding text and choose the color via the menu bar at the top. - Object: Right-click on the object, go to “Format Shape” and select the desired color there.

5. Design Grid

A design grid gives your poster an appealing and suitable form. For this, you work with guide lines. To see these lines, check the box under “View” and “Gridlines” in the menu.

We also recommend that you create the grid in the so-called slide master. To do this, select the slide master under “View” and “Master.” What you design in this mode remains fixed in the further design process and cannot be accidentally moved or changed. (Fixed elements, such as the university logo, can also be fixed in terms of design in the slide master.)

You can easily place margins and grid lines in the slide master: click on an existing guide line while holding down the Alt key (or Option key on a Mac) to duplicate it, and then drag it to the desired position.

Once you are finished designing the grid, you can click on “Close Master View” at the top right of the menu bar to exit the mode.

Margins: As described above, it is best to create the margins in the slide master as guide lines. You can be generous with the margins! They should be wider than the column spacing. For our example, we have chosen the following settings:

• laterally 3.94 cm
• top 2.54 cm
• bottom 5.04 cm, because there is a lot of empty space at the top due to the university logo and the overall picture is more balanced with more space at the bottom.
• Column spacing: 3.3 cm

Columns: The recommended number of columns depends on the format of the poster. Portrait formats can be well divided into two, landscape formats into three columns. You can also add an additional column, but this risks narrower columns and smaller images. It is best to create the columns, just like the margins, in the slide master.

6. Images and Graphics

Place images within the grid. The columns determine the maximum width of your image. The image height results proportionally from the width. Make sure to maintain the original proportions to avoid distortion.

Images for printing should have a resolution of 300 dpi. Only enlarge images by up to 130% if the quality is good. And very importantly: Pay attention to copyright.

Use the same fonts and colors in diagrams and similar graphics as in the poster itself. This creates a harmonious overall picture.

7. General Layout Tips

Stick to the Grid Grids help readers find their way around your poster. A clear grid conveys order and calm. It facilitates the hierarchy of content: where are the key messages, where are the explanations?

What belongs together? Content with a similar function should be designed in the same way. What belongs together should be visually closer together. The title should be closer to the corresponding text passage than to the section that precedes it. If you adjust the font size later, always do so uniformly for the respective text hierarchy throughout the poster. For example, if you reduce the size of individual subheadings, this looks inconsistent. Instead, reduce the size of all subheadings.

Keep it short! And remember: less is more. Do not overload your poster.

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