Non-Designer's Guide to Your Scientific or Academic Poster

How to Prepare Your Scientific or Academic Poster Without Being a Designer That Will Engage Your Audience.

Created byGilberto Velazquez

Last updated 3/2026

English

What you'll learn

Be more confident in creating research or academic posters at conferences without being overwhelmed.
Learn how to best prepare for your research/academic poster presentation at conferences.
Learn that you do not need to be a designer to achieve a result that will showcase your research and message.
Learn key design principles for structuring your research or academic presentation.
Gain insight into how to use your research poster to engage your audience during and after your presentation to grow your professional network.

Course content

6 sections • 17 lectures • 58m total length

Welcome and Introduction2:55
Here, your instructor, Gilberto Velazquez, Creative Director and Health Literacy Design Specialist at GV CERV Communications, Inc., will help you engage your audience and develop the best possible visual presentation. guide you through the course. He will provide items you need to consider before designing your research poster.

What can you expect to learn from this course1:53
In this lesson, we will go over the key benefits of this course to help guide you as you begin designing your research poster as a non-designer.
Your Mindset Before Your Start Your Research Poster2:02
This lesson aims to get you in the right frame of mind before you start putting together your research poster by addressing the common frustrations a presenter can feel when asked to develop a research poster.
Understanding the difference between Topical versus Evergreen content1:23
This lesson will help you determine if your research poster's content is topical or evergreen.

An overview of the seven key design principles to consider.0:57
Structure4:10
In this lesson, we will cover the approach to your structure, including key sections, and how to best organize, treat, and layout your research poster. Topics covered will be key segments, columns, spacing, and identifying graphic needs.
Typography4:08
In this lesson, we will review the most critical component of your research poster and avoid some of the most common culprits that can make or break your poster presentation.
Color3:16
Here we will review key points to consider when choosing and using color in your research poster.
Graphics6:37
In this lesson on graphics, we will review how to develop the best treatment and work with either clinical data or graphics in the pictorial form within your research poster.
Infographics5:33
In this lesson, we will cover the 5 types of infographics. Infographics should be considered for data, concepts, processes, or timeline-related information that can be condensed and presented graphically. An infographic can enhance your poster presentation.
Highlighted Content0:35
In this short lesson, we will suggest how to approach content in the text form that requires a highlighted treatment.
Tables2:20
In this lesson, we will review the design considerations when creating tables within your research poster.

Testing your poster before presenting.2:30
Testing your design should be done as you progress through the poster design process. Here we will review the steps.
Audio and video considerations for your research poster presentation.6:54
In this lesson, we will cover how to add either an audio and/or video component to your research poster presentation.
Follow-up Tools and Lead Magnets4:00
In this lesson, we will explore ways in which you can enhance your professional exposure after you have given your research poster presentation.

Requirements

PowerPoint, Canva
You are under a deadline to prepare a scientific or research poster for a conference or event.

Description

This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.

The content of this course was written by your instructor, Gilberto Velazquez.

You have written and prepared your research; the next step for you is to create a finished research poster that will help you engage your audience and deliver the best possible visual presentation. You have put a lot of effort into your research, but you are a researcher, not a designer. That is where this course guides and inspires you to create scientific research posters that grab attention. Taking this course will remove the common frustrations and pitfalls I have seen, which truly detract from your hard work. Now is the course guide that draws on my experience to make the process smoother and more inspiring.

We will explore the following:

How to best prepare your mindset and approach when starting to develop your research poster.
Understanding the approach of your messaging
Your design tool options range from traditional to using AI.
Learn the 7 Core Design Principles (structure, typography, color, graphics, infographics, highlighted content, and tables) that apply to developing your finished research poster.
How to test the delivery before you present
The use of audio and or video as part of your presentation
Applying network recommendations that further enhance your research poster’s content

Once you complete the course, you will be inspired to see that your research poster is a viable networking tool to help you grow your professional connections, audience, and the exposure of your research.

Who this course is for:

Professionals in academia, healthcare, and scientific fields who need to communicate data, research findings, and clinical cases at conferences or institutional meetings.
Academic Faculty & Researchers, Graduate & Undergraduate Students, Healthcare Professionals (Physicians, Nurses, Residents), Scientists & Lab Staff, Public Health Experts & Field Researchers, and Corporate R&D Specialists.

Non-Designer's Guide to Your Scientific or Academic Poster

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction1 lecture • 3min

Understanding the foundation/approach to your research poster before you start.3 lectures • 5min

The Software Design Tool Options You Need to Understand.1 lecture • 8min

The 7 Design Principles for you to understand when creating your research poster8 lectures • 28min

Things to Consider During and After You Have Completed Your Research Poster.3 lectures • 13min

Recap and Conclusions1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: