Poster Design Tips

Poster should read from top left to bottom right like you are reading a page
Recommended font sizes:
- Title: 72-120 pt
- Subtitle: 48-80 pt
- Section headers: 36-72 pt
- Body text: 24-48 pt
Maintain good contrast between the background color and the color of the text
Don't use red, orange, or yellow as the color of the text
Use easy to read typefaces
Include visuals
Don’t crowd your poster
Proofread your poster

Additional Resources

Better Posters
Better Posters is a blog that regularly posts about creating academic posters.
Poster Layout and Design
Poster layout and design tips from Poster Nerd.

Using PowerPoint for Poster Presentations

The computers in the Downey Learning Resource Center have PowerPoint.
All Merced College students have access to Microsoft 365 (formerly branded as Office 365), which includes PowerPoint, through student email.

"How to Make an Academic Poster in PowerPoint" (13:21) is by Karina Adcock

Recommended Books

Presentation Skills: Educate, Inspire and Engage Your Audience by Michael Weiss
Call Number: Available as an eBook
ISBN: 1606498770
Publication Date: 2015-08-03
Slide:ology by Nancy Duarte
Call Number: 658.452 DUA
ISBN: 9780596522346
Publication Date: 2008-09-16

Paper to Presentation

How to Convert your Paper into a Presentation
The Thompson Writing Program at Duke University created this guide for presenting an academic paper.

Tips for Conference Talks

Outline your presentation before creating slides
Limit the number of slides. It takes 1-2 minutes to present each slide
Use simple visuals on slides
Include a works cited list for your presentation
Practice the timing of your presentation

Additional Resources

Illinois Writers Workshop Conference Presentations
Tips for preparing for oral delivery and reducing nervousness.
Purdue OWL
Purdue OWL discusses different types of conference presentations.
University of Nebraska Tips for Presenting Your Research at Conferences
Tips on conference presentations including slide design and organization.

Professional Organizations

Participating in professional organizations is a great way to gain experience in the field, network with professionals, and present your work. View the list of some creative writing professional organizations below.

Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)
The Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides support, advocacy, resources, and community to writers, college and university creative writing programs, and writing organizations.
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Founded in 1883, the Modern Language Association of America provides opportunities for its members to share their scholarly findings and teaching experiences with colleagues and to discuss trends in the academy. MLA members host an annual convention and other meetings, work with related organizations, and sustain one of the finest publishing programs in the humanities. For more than a century, members have worked to strengthen the study and teaching of language and literature.

Participating in professional organizations is a great way to gain experience in the field, network with professionals, and present your work. View the list of some fiction writing professional organizations below.

Horror Writers Association (HWA)
The HWA’s mission is to encourage public interest in and foster an appreciation of good horror and dark fantasy literature. They sponsor or take part in occasional public readings and lectures, publish a blog and produce other materials for booksellers and librarians, facilitate readings and signings by horror writers, and maintain an official presence at the major fan-based horror and fantasy conventions, such as the World Fantasy Convention, Necronomicon, and others. They also organize their own annual convention: StokerCon.
International Women's Writing Guild (IWWG)
IWWG is a network for the personal and professional empowerment of women through writing and open to all regardless of portfolio. Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment for women to grow as writers, find outlets for their work, and experience the joy of being in a creative community. They hold a summer conference, regional events, and writing workshops.
Mystery Writers of America (MWA)
Mystery Writers of America is the premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those who are devoted to the genre. MWA is dedicated to promoting higher regard for crime writing and recognition and respect for those who write within the genre. They provide scholarships for writers, sponsor MWA Literacy programs, sponsor symposia and conferences, present the Edgar® Awards, and conduct other activities to further a better appreciation and higher regard for crime writing.
Romance Writers of America (RWA)
Romance Writers of America® (RWA) is a nonprofit trade association whose mission is to advance the professional and common business interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy and by increasing public awareness of the romance genre.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
The purpose of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association is to promote, advance, and support science fiction and fantasy writing in the United States and elsewhere, by educating and informing the general public and supporting and empowering science fiction and fantasy writers.
Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), a 501c3 nonprofit, is the preeminent membership organization for children’s book creators. We are a global community of writers, illustrators, translators, publishers, librarians, advocates, and other industry professionals working to establish a more imaginative and inclusive world through the power of children’s literature. Our mission is to support the creation of an abundance of quality children’s books, so that young people everywhere have the books they need and deserve.
Western Writers of America (WWA)
Western Writers of America Inc. (WWA) was founded in 1953 to promote the literature of the American West and to recognize the best in Western writing with the prestigious Spur Award and the Western Writers Hall of Fame. Like the Western landscape itself, WWA and the books, songs, and stories produced by its members have evolved immensely. WWA boasts historians, nonfiction authors, young adult, romance writers, songwriters, poets, and screenwriters for film and television. They all have one thing in common—their work in every medium is set in the ever-changing American West.
Women's Fiction Writer's Association (WFWA)
Women's Fiction Writers Association was founded in 2013 as a professional, enriching, supportive, and diverse international community for writers of women’s fiction.

Participating in professional organizations is a great way to gain experience in the field, network with professionals, and present your work. View the list of some nonfiction writing professional organizations below.

American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)
ASJA is dedicated to the success of freelance nonfiction writing as a career and a passion. They support the careers of members through business-building and writing programming, like client networking, virtual educational programming, and conferences.
Garden Communicators International (GardenComm)
GardenComm is the non-profit association that provides leadership and opportunities for education, recognition, career development and a forum for diverse interactions for professionals in the field of gardening communications.
National Association of Memoir Writers (NAMW)
Since 2008, NAMW has empowered writers to begin and develop their stories into a publishable memoir, whether it’s a book, a family legacy, or a blog. Members have access to over 70 audios of live member teleseminars with experts in the field of memoir writing, publishing and book design, several free eBooks, and discounts on workshops and writing products. They gather to connect with each other, and learn writing, marketing and publishing skills through our many events, teleseminars, articles and resources. Their goal is to help memoir writers feel empowered with purpose and energy to develop their stories into a publishable memoir, whether in essay form, a book, a family legacy, or a blog.
Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)
SATW is a professional organization comprised of the travel industry’s most experienced journalists, photographers, editors, broadcast/video/film producers, bloggers, website owners, public relations experts and hospitality industry representatives from the United States, Canada and beyond. Founded in 1955, SATW has more than 1,000 members. Their members are content creators that contribute to some of the most influential print, digital and broadcast platforms. Their members are also travel and hospitality brands and the public relations agencies that represent them. SATW is the premier networking organization bringing all of those professions together.

Participating in professional organizations is a great way to gain experience in the field, network with professionals, and present your work. View the list of some poetry writing professional organizations below.

Academy of American Poets
The Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting American poets. It was founded in 1934 to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry.
Poetry Society of America
The Poetry Society of America, the nation’s oldest poetry organization, was founded in 1910. Its mission is to place poetry at the crossroads of American life. The PSA transforms public spaces into sites for imaginative encounters with poems, engages diverse and often underserved communities, amplifies the voices of poets around issues of common concern, and honors their aesthetic contributions to our lives.

Participating in professional organizations is a great way to gain experience in the field, network with professionals, and present your work. View the list of some screenwriting professional organizations below.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
With a membership of over 10,500 global film industry artists and leaders, an acclaimed film museum and collection, and world-renowned awards for cinematic achievements, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the home of an expertise and reach that is unparalleled. The Academy: Recognizes and celebrates all aspects of the film industry and the diverse, talented people who make movies; Inspires young artists and creates opportunities for underrepresented communities to engage with the film world; Preserves film history and curates vital and thoughtful programs and initiatives about cinema’s past, present, and future; Connects global audiences through their shared love of cinema.
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was founded in 1946 — just one month after network television was born. It is a nonprofit organization devoted to the advancement of telecommunication arts and sciences and to fostering creative leadership in the telecommunication industry. The Television Academy, the only major organization devoted to the television and broadband screen entertainment industry, is made up of over 24,000 members, representing 31 professional peer groups, including performers, directors, producers, art directors and various other artisans, technicians and executives.
American Screenwriters Association
Their mission is to help screenwriters hone their screenwriting skills, thereby increasing their chances of selling their screenplays. We are dedicated to creating a dialog between screenwriters and industry leaders to foster mutual success.
Northwest Screenwriters Guild
The mission of the Northwest Screenwriters Guild is to promote professional screenwriting as a career across a broad range of ages, ethnic and gender identities, and experience levels in the Pacific Northwest, by providing access to industry professionals, educational programs, and mentoring.
Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW)
The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is a labor union representing the thousands of creators who write scripted series, features, news programs, and other content. Founded in 1933, the Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of their members. They are involved in a wide range of programs that advance the interests of writers, and are active in public policy and legislative matters on the local, national, and international levels.
Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE)
The Writers Guild of America, East, AFL-CIO (WGAE) is a labor union representing thousands of members who write content for motion pictures, television, news and online media. The Guild negotiates and administers contracts that protect the creative and economic rights of its members; conducts programs, seminars and events on issues of interest to writers; and presents writers’ views to various bodies of government.

Creative and Scholarly Writing: Presentations and Conference Papers

Poster Design Tips

Additional Resources

Using PowerPoint for Poster Presentations

Recommended Books

Paper to Presentation

Tips for Conference Talks

Additional Resources

Professional Organizations