How to make a Creative Poster

By Dr. Vikram Kumar

Creating a poster involves several steps, from planning the design to adding citations for your sources. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make a poster while including proper citations:

1. Determine the purpose: Identify the objective of your poster, whether it's for a presentation, event, or academic purposes. Understand the target audience and the message you want to convey.

2. Gather content: Collect the necessary information, data, images, and graphs that support your poster's theme. Make sure to include relevant citations for any external sources you use.

3. Plan the layout: Decide on the structure and layout of your poster. Divide it into sections such as introduction, methodology, results, conclusions, and references. Allocate space for visuals, text, and captions.

4. Choose a design software: Select a design software that suits your needs. Popular options include Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, or Microsoft PowerPoint. Ensure that you have access to appropriate templates, graphics, and fonts.

5. Set dimensions: Determine the size and dimensions of your poster based on the intended display area. Common sizes include 24x36 inches or A1 size (23.4x33.1 inches). Check any specific guidelines provided by the event or institution.

6. Design the poster: Create an eye-catching design that effectively communicates your message. Use contrasting colors, clear fonts, and organized visuals to enhance readability. Ensure that the text and graphics are large enough to be easily legible from a distance.

7. Organize content: Arrange the information and visuals in a logical and visually appealing manner. Maintain a clear flow from one section to another, ensuring that viewers can follow your message easily.

8. Include citations: It's crucial to acknowledge any external sources you have used. Include citations within the poster to give credit and provide references for interested viewers. There are a few ways to add citations:

           a. In-text citations: Incorporate brief citations within the content itself, similar to how you would do in an academic paper. For example, use superscript numbers or brackets to reference sources, and provide a numbered list of corresponding references at the end of the poster.

           b. Reference section: Allocate a separate section at the end of the poster to list the complete references for all the sources used. Format them according to the appropriate citation style, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago Manual of Style.

9. Proofread and revise: Review your poster for any errors in spelling, grammar, or formatting. Ensure that all elements are aligned properly and that the content is accurate and concise. Ask a colleague or mentor to provide feedback and make necessary revisions.

10. Print and present: Once you are satisfied with the final design, save your poster in the appropriate file format (e.g., PDF, JPEG). Find a reputable printing service and select the desired printing specifications. Finally, display your poster at the designated location.

Remember to comply with copyright laws and obtain permission when using copyrighted images or content. Properly cite any intellectual property that you include in your poster to avoid plagiarism and provide credit to the original creators.

Follow the following Steps:

1. Stop, Stay and Look at me

• I am a poster
• I am selfless
• I am devote and dedicate myself for the welfare of human being, society and surrounding
• I always remind you for do’s and don’t
• I can make you think over a burning issue, events and also alert you on social issues.

2. Objective for preparing poster

• Awareness
• Knowledge
• Liking
• Preference
• Conviction
• Purchase
• Linking
• Wishing 

3. Think a While

• Who will be your audience?
• What do you want your audience to know or do?
• Are you planning to focus interest on one idea or motivate the viewer to take action?
• Is your message brief and direct to the audience?
• Is the poster readable at a glance?

4. Remember

• Attention grabbing
• Brief and concrete information
• Make it neat and clean 
• Draw relevant pictures, diagram, symbol, cartoon and sketch
• Essential details e.g. date, time, venue.

In conclusion, creating a poster involves careful planning, designing, and organizing content to effectively communicate your message. It's important to consider the purpose of your poster, gather relevant information, and select a suitable design software. Set the dimensions, create an appealing design, and organize the content in a logical manner.

Additionally, it is crucial to include proper citations for any external sources used in your poster. This gives credit to the original creators and provides references for interested viewers. You can incorporate in-text citations within the content itself or allocate a separate section for a list of references. Adhere to the appropriate citation style based on the guidelines provided by your institution or event.

Once your poster is finalized, proofread it for any errors, seek feedback from others, and make necessary revisions. Save the final design in the appropriate file format and get it printed at a reputable printing service. Finally, present your poster at the designated location to showcase your work.

By following these steps, you can create a visually appealing and informative poster while ensuring that proper citations are included to acknowledge your sources.