Once you've decided on the content of your poster, you need to consider the way the information should be displayed. A useful starting point is to prepare an outline plan that will help you make the most effective use of the space available to you.
Banner
Your poster should include a banner at or near the top in which to include your title, author(s) and institutional affiliation. Make sure your title is large enough that others will be able to read it from several feet away (typically a font point size of 100 or more). The font size of the author(s) and institutional affiliation should be smaller than the title, but larger than the text in the body of the poster.
Below the banner, most posters are divided into three or four sections of content.
Alignment
Your headings, columns, and graphics should be aligned whenever appropriate. For posters divided into columns, the tops of the columns should be aligned with each other, and the sections in each column should be left justified so that each paragraph is exactly at the left edge of the column.
Don't forget to align your graphics as well. For example, you could align the top edge of a photo in one column with the bottom edge of a diagram in another column.
Flow
Your overall structure should be clear and logical so that the viewer's eye naturally follows the flow of information in your display. To help establish a clear sequence of information, think about planning your poster on a grid system as shown in the following diagrams
As you can see, the grids help break down the large space into convenient sized areas. Also, two main visual sequences become apparent: rows traveling across the page or columns traveling down the page. These natural 'pathways' can be used to structure your information in both panel and one-piece poster displays, guiding your reader's eye through your information in a logical and fluid way.
Using a grid system, try producing a rough sketch of your poster layout working in a reduced scale to get a feel for how you might assemble your information in the final display. Use a pencil and some scrap paper to help you think freely and experiment with different designs.
Balance and spacing
Be sure to distribute the content and images in the poster so that it looks balanced, aesthetically pleasing, and uncluttered. Include a margin of about an inch along all edges of the poster.
White space
Don't forget about leaving enough white space. If everything is jammed together it will make the poster difficult to read and less appealing. Use your best judgement to decide how much white space is enough. If the poster is too dense, delete nonessential material too allow for white space.