Designing Effective Scientific Posters

From cluttered to clear — posters that communicate and connect

Our poster design training helps participants design research posters that are visually engaging, clearly structured, and tailored to their intended audience. Using a blend of visual communication principles, strategic planning, and hands-on exercises, scientists and researchers learn how to communicate complex information in a format that’s both effective and memorable.

Whether your participants are preparing for their first conference or looking to refresh their approach to poster design, our training formats offer practical tools, expert guidance, and a supportive environment to develop posters they can be proud to present.

Each format is lightly tailored to your group, using examples and language adapted to the group’s discipline, experience level, and communication goals.

Researchers presenting scientific posters at a conference after participating in poster design training and workshops.

Delivery options & formats

1-day workshop (in person or online – two 3-hour sessions)

Covers visual communication basics, poster planning, layout, design, and delivery. Participants sketch a first draft using pen & paper and receive peer feedback.

→ Most popular format

2-day intensive (in person or online)

Combines everything in day 1 with hands-on design work in PowerPoint. Includes individual poster critique, peer feedback, delivery coaching, and guidance on poster presentation promotion.

→ Ideal for groups preparing real posters for submission

Half-day foundations workshop

A focused introduction to visual communication and core poster principles.

→ Great for beginners and short programmes

Add-on: Poster Critique Lab (2.5 hours)

A live, feedback-focused session where participants present their draft or finished posters for expert feedback on design and layout, and review and input from peers.

→ Available as a follow-up session or standalone event

Add-on: Poster Pitch Practice (2.5 hours)

A chance to practise delivering poster pitches and answering questions, with live coaching and feedback from peers, trainer and (optionally) experts from your organisation.

→ Great for pre-conference preparation or research communication training

Perfect for:

  • BA, MA, or PhD students preparing for conferences
  • Early-career researchers wanting to refresh or up-skill
  • Interdisciplinary summer/winter schools
  • Groups unfamiliar with scientific poster design
  • Research communication or transferable skills programmes

Delivery locations

We run these workshops online for institutions worldwide, and in person across Europe.

(If we can get there by public transport, we’re happy to travel!)

Request more information and pricing

Want to bring a poster design workshop or training session to your team, research group, students, faculty, or science and research communication programme?

Send us a quick note using our short form, and we’ll send you a detailed 2-page overview with format options, pricing, and information about customisation.

If you like what we’re suggestion, we can schedule a call to discuss details and answer your questions.

Prefer to speak?

Intrigued? Let’s chat.

hello@scicommsuccess.com

+43 660 378 2939