Poster Competition

Step 1

To register your intention to display a poster at the Summer Showcase please complete the brief online submission form by 11:45pm on Friday 26 May 2025.

Step 2

Physical Poster: If selected, you'll have the exciting opportunity to display a physical copy of your poster at the event. Bring your printed poster to the venue between 09:00-09:30. All poster entrants will stand by their posters for a 1-hour period between 11:00-12:00, ready to engage with delegates and answer questions about your research.

Digital Poster: Ahead of the event, share a digital copy of your poster for our online gallery. Submit a PDF by 12:00pm (noon) on 12 June 2025. This will allow us to create an online gallery for those unable to attend in person.

Competitions: Get ready for some friendly competition! Formal judging will begin online prior to the event, and during the event, delegates can vote for their favourite poster. Plus, join the LinkedIn competition by posting an image of your poster on the morning of the Summer Showcase using the hashtag #LboroDRShowcase. The poster with the most 'likes' by 1:00pm will be the winner!

Creating an Effective Poster: To make your poster impactful, design it with a non-specialist audience in mind. Avoid technical jargon to ensure that individuals from different disciplines can understand and engage with your research. Check out the 'conference poster guidelines' below for more tips on creating an outstanding poster.

1. Posters size should be either A1 (portrait/landscape) or A0 (portrait only).   
2. Posters should be able to clearly communicate research without the author present.   
3. Posters should include:  
   • A short, catchy title  
   • Names of authors and their affiliated institutions.  
   • Funding attributions (if applicable).  
   • High resolution logos (as appropriate).   
4. Posters should be designed with a non-specialist audience in mind. Avoid using technical jargon to allow those from different disciplines to understand and engage with your research.   
5. Content on posters should be easily understood without the author present.  
6. Posters should take no longer than 5 minutes for someone to read. Posters are not journal articles. Keep text concise and avoid lengthy paragraphs.   
7. Posters should have a logical flow of information to allow the reader to navigate content with ease. Use headings/numbers/arrows etc. as visual aids.   
8. Posters should be visual appealing. Use colour, font and images appropriately and ensure a balance of text, figures and space.   
9. Posters should be clear and easy to read. Font size must be readable from approximately 1 metre away and there should be a high contrast between text and background.   
10. Figures (if used) should be easily interpretable, clearly labelled and of high resolution.   
11. Images (if used) should complement the subject matter, be of high resolution and free to use. If you don’t own an image, check the exclusive rights to its use and distribution - guidance on Copyright is provided by the Library 
12. Consider who may view your poster; is the content, design and language, inclusive, accessible and sensitive?   
13. References should be used sparingly. Cite key concepts and not details.  
    Check out the University's Visual Identity guidance, provided by Marketing and Advancement 
14. Ask your those not connected to your research to provide you with constructive feedback - do they understand your work as a non-specialist?