{"id":2983286,"date":"2026-10-05T10:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T17:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=2983286"},"modified":"2026-10-05T10:26:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T17:26:49","slug":"designing-research-posters","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/designing-research-posters","title":{"rendered":"Five storytelling principles to make your research poster sing"},"author":7231,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[22941],"tags":[42181,27981,770892,27881],"industry":[],"product":[36561],"class_list":["post-2983286","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mapping","tag-arcgis-pro","tag-layout","tag-science-communication","tag-storytelling","product-arcgis-pro"],"acf":{"authors":[{"ID":7231,"user_firstname":"Cooper","user_lastname":"Thomas","nickname":"Cooper Thomas","user_nicename":"cooper_thomas","display_name":"Cooper Thomas","user_email":"Cooper_Thomas@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/cooper-thomas.com\/","user_registered":"2018-03-02 00:19:29","user_description":"Cooper is a cartographer on Esri\u2019s StoryMaps team. His maps have found their way onto the @Esrigram Instagram feed, the front page of Reddit, and his parents\u2019 fridge. In his spare time, Cooper enjoys playing Mozart to his houseplants so that they someday grow tall and strong.","user_avatar":"<img data-del=\"avatar\" src='https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/CooperThomas-465x465.jpg' class='avatar pp-user-avatar avatar-96 photo ' height='96' width='96'\/>"},{"ID":129801,"user_firstname":"Warren","user_lastname":"Davison","nickname":"Warren Davison","user_nicename":"wdavison","display_name":"Warren Davison","user_email":"wdavison@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/warrenrdavison.wixsite.com\/maps","user_registered":"2020-11-18 21:21:08","user_description":"I specialize in creating engaging maps and graphics that tell immersive, place-based stories. Based in Kitchener, Canada, I work with Esri\u2019s ArcGIS Storytelling team, where I enjoy sharing the creative process behind each project. When I'm not exploring vectors and pixels, you\u2019ll likely find me cycling around town with my kids along for the ride.","user_avatar":"<img data-del=\"avatar\" src='https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Profile-465x465.jpg' class='avatar pp-user-avatar avatar-96 photo ' height='96' width='96'\/>"}],"short_description":"Visually communicating scientific research is hard. These five design principles can make the job slightly easier.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visually communicating scientific research can be a daunting task. A good research poster needs to distill a potentially complicated study into accessible language, compelling graphics, and a layout that can be understood at a glance (often from arm&#8217;s length). Accommodating maps, charts, explanatory text, references, and other supporting information into a relatively small space often requires some design gymnastics.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Fortunately, we can refer to several principles of geographic storytelling to solve (or at least mitigate) these conceptual and design challenges. By combining a few basic ideas about hierarchy, composition, consistency, and visual storytelling with some clever workflows in ArcGIS Pro\u2019s layout view, it\u2019s possible to transform a complex scientific study into a communication product that is clear, engaging, elegant, and memorable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Whether you\u2019re presenting your research at a conference or simply printing a poster to adorn your fridge, the following principles can serve as useful guides, and the associated tools in ArcGIS Pro can aid in implementation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\"> Click the links below to jump to the corresponding sections.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#hierarchy\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hierarchy<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#composition\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Compositional balance<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cohesion\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Visual consistency and cohesion<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#accessibility\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Accessibility and engagement<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#next-step\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Providing a next step<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To demonstrate these principles in action, we\u2019ve prepared two example posters derived from open-access scientific studies. If you&#8217;d like to deconstruct these posters, you can download the ArcGIS Pro projects at the links below<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/arcgis.com\/home\/item.html?id=c85bb546e81e4188bf036d636153e132\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Habitat overlap of Asiatic black bear and red panda<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/arcgis.com\/home\/item.html?id=958e539bcc914919a4a274dc70a4c671\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Coffee and tea dynamics in urban China<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2983595,"id":2983595,"title":"Blog_1_Posters","filename":"Blog_1_Posters.png","filesize":1744962,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/designing-research-posters\/blog_1_posters-2","alt":"Two map-centric scientific research posters presented side-by-side. The poster on the left features two large, gridded urban maps of tea and coffee consumption patterns, while the poster on the right is centered on a large habitat\/species range map.","author":"7231","description":"","caption":"Two examples of scientific research posters designed with foundational storytelling principles in mind","name":"blog_1_posters-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2983286,"date":"2026-09-30 20:23:25","modified":"2026-10-01 17:54:03","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1846,"height":971,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":244,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":404,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters.png","large-width":1846,"large-height":971,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters-1536x808.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":808,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters.png","2048x2048-width":1846,"2048x2048-height":971,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters-826x434.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":434,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_1_Posters.png","wide_image-width":1846,"wide_image-height":971}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<hr \/>\n<h1 id=\"hierarchy\">1. Establish a clear hierarchy<\/h1>\n<p>Just as a story or film script needs a compelling narrative arc, a scientific poster should have a visual order that guides readers through the research. Research papers typically follow a familiar progression from Introduction \u2192 Methods \u2192 Analysis \u2192 Results \u2192 Discussion, moving from the problem being investigated to the evidence and conclusions. A successful poster should make that story easy to follow through thoughtful layout design.<\/p>\n<p>Not every element is equally important, so your layout and design should reflect the relative importance of the information being presented. It\u2019s helpful to start by identifying the information or elements that you most want your readers to notice. Your title and primary findings \u2014 including maps \u2014 should be visually prominent, while supporting information such as methods, references, and credits can probably assume a less prominent role. Within each section, differences in size, weight, position, and color can establish or reinforce relationships between elements and indicate where readers should look next.<\/p>\n<p>While research articles often follow a prescribed structure, that sequence may not always be the structure that\u2019s easiest for an audience to follow. Don\u2019t be afraid to reorganize and adapt your poster to focus on the central thesis or question to draw readers in.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2983596,"id":2983596,"title":"Blog_2_Hierarchy","filename":"Blog_2_Hierarchy-1.jpg","filesize":696360,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/designing-research-posters\/blog_2_hierarchy-2","alt":"A map-focused scientific research poster, with stylized text annotations highlighting elements that relate to visual hierarchy","author":"7231","description":"","caption":"The content of your poster should be arranged and designed to establish a clear, intuitive progression from beginning to end","name":"blog_2_hierarchy-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2983286,"date":"2026-09-30 20:23:39","modified":"2026-10-01 17:53:19","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1444,"height":971,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1.jpg","medium-width":388,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":516,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1.jpg","large-width":1444,"large-height":971,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1.jpg","1536x1536-width":1444,"1536x1536-height":971,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1.jpg","2048x2048-width":1444,"2048x2048-height":971,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1-692x465.jpg","card_image-width":692,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_2_Hierarchy-1.jpg","wide_image-width":1444,"wide_image-height":971}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">ArcGIS Pro tip<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doc.esri.com\/en\/arcgis-pro\/latest\/help\/mapping\/text\/text-formatting-tags.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Text formatting tags<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> such as &lt;CLR&gt; (color), &lt;FNT&gt; (font), and &lt;BGD&gt; (background) can help establish hierarchy within running text. You can use these tags to create headings, highlight key words or numbers, or even design mini legends, without having to manage an unwieldy number of individual text elements.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1 id=\"composition\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">2. Create a balanced composition <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you know what information needs to be emphasized, consider how the individual elements in your poster should work together as a whole. A well-designed poster should feel visually balanced, with maps, text, charts, and other elements distributed in a way that keeps the composition from feeling heavier on one side or the other. One way to think about this is to imagine holding the poster from the bottom like a lunch tray: You don\u2019t want all the weight concentrated on one side, causing the whole thing to tip.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Of course, balance doesn\u2019t mean that everything needs to be symmetrical or evenly distributed; in fact, asymmetry can make a composition feel more dynamic, and can help reinforce a visual hierarchy. What matters is the overall visual weight of the composition, and how that weight directs the reader&#8217;s attention.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2983922,"id":2983922,"title":"Blog_3_Composition","filename":"Blog_3_Composition-1.png","filesize":2007069,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/designing-research-posters\/blog_3_composition-3","alt":"A side-by-side comparison of two map-focused scientific research posters, with one labeled \"balanced\" and one labeled \"unbalanced.\" Both posters feature stylized text annotations and illustrations highlighting elements of the poster that relate to content composition and balance.","author":"7231","description":"","caption":"A visually balanced layout doesn't just look good \u2014 it also helps reinforce your content hierarchy","name":"blog_3_composition-3","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2983286,"date":"2026-10-02 16:29:02","modified":"2026-10-02 16:30:26","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1579,"height":951,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1.png","medium-width":433,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":463,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1.png","large-width":1579,"large-height":951,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1-1536x925.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":925,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1.png","2048x2048-width":1579,"2048x2048-height":951,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1-772x465.png","card_image-width":772,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_3_Composition-1.png","wide_image-width":1579,"wide_image-height":951}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<hr \/>\n<h1 id=\"cohesion\">3. Ensure visual consistency and cohesion<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your poster will likely contain many different types of information, but they should still feel like parts of the same story. Consistent colors, typefaces, spacing, and layout conventions help ensure visual cohesion.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Choose a limited color palette and use it deliberately. Similarly, establish a small set of type styles for titles, headings, body text, and other recurring elements, rather than designing each element individually. You don&#8217;t need a large collection of fonts or decorative styles to make a poster interesting \u2014 in most cases, one or two typefaces, combined with differences in size and weight, are enough to create the variety needed to establish a visual hierarchy while still feeling cohesive.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can also reinforce a sense of cohesion by allowing elements to interact with one another, rather than treating every map, text box, and graphic as an isolated object. Borders and neatlines can help organize information, but too many boxes can make a poster feel fragmented. Allowing elements to overlap, wrap around one another, or extend beyond conventional boundaries can transform a collection of discrete elements into a unified design.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2983598,"id":2983598,"title":"Blog_4_Consistency","filename":"Blog_4_Consistency.png","filesize":1757808,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/designing-research-posters\/blog_4_consistency","alt":"A map-focused scientific research poster, with stylized text annotations and illustrations highlighting elements that relate to visual consistency and cohesion, such as text styles and colors","author":"7231","description":"","caption":"Consistent application of colors, text styles, and content spacing will help the content of your poster visually cohere","name":"blog_4_consistency","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2983286,"date":"2026-09-30 20:24:03","modified":"2026-10-01 17:50:26","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1921,"height":887,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":214,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":355,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":887,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency-1536x709.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":709,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency.png","2048x2048-width":1921,"2048x2048-height":887,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency-826x381.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":381,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_4_Consistency.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":887}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">ArcGIS Pro tip<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doc.esri.com\/en\/arcgis-pro\/latest\/help\/projects\/save-items-to-a-style.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Styles<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> can help you establish and reuse consistent symbols, colors, text formatting, and other design elements throughout a project.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">ArcGIS Pro tip<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doc.esri.com\/en\/arcgis-pro\/latest\/help\/layouts\/modify-graphics-and-text.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">edit the vertices<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> of map frames, text boxes, and other layout elements to create more organic shapes. This can help create a composition that feels less constrained by a traditional grid. If you ever want to return the element to a more regular form, the <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Reshape<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> tool provides an easy way to replace the shape of your element while keeping its content.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1 id=\"accessibility\">4. Make the research accessible and engaging<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scientific research can be complicated \u2014 in fact, that\u2019s often the point \u2014 but your poster can clarify key insights. Use language that is appropriate for your audience, and be deliberate about how much information you include. A poster isn\u2019t a research paper pasted onto a big sheet of paper \u2014 it\u2019s a distillation of research that elevates important takeaways. Readers will likely encounter your poster while standing at a distance, often alongside many other posters, so they should be able to understand the basic premise and major findings without having to read every word.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This also means paying attention to text size. If readers need to squint to read your poster, the text is probably too small. Prioritize the information that readers actually need, and remove or reduce anything that doesn&#8217;t contribute to the story.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Of course, it can be difficult to recognize when your own writing is too technical or dense for a general audience. Before printing your poster, ask a colleague who is unfamiliar with the research for a quick review. If they can\u2019t explain the basic idea after looking at it for a few minutes, that can be a useful clue that the content or visual hierarchy needs another pass.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Accessibility also applies to maps and graphics. Use color combinations that are distinguishable and provide sufficient contrast, and avoid relying on color alone to communicate important information.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2983599,"id":2983599,"title":"Blog_5_Accessibility","filename":"Blog_5_Accessibility.png","filesize":1171995,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/designing-research-posters\/blog_5_accessibility-2","alt":"A collage made up of excerpts from two scientific research posters, with stylized text annotations and illustrations highlighting elements that relate to content accessibility and engagement, such as text reading level and graphics","author":"7231","description":"","caption":"Graphics, photos, and text annotations can enliven an otherwise visually sterile presentation","name":"blog_5_accessibility-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2983286,"date":"2026-09-30 20:24:16","modified":"2026-10-01 17:49:18","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1859,"height":1081,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility.png","medium-width":449,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":447,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility.png","large-width":1857,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility-1536x893.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":893,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility.png","2048x2048-width":1859,"2048x2048-height":1081,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility-800x465.png","card_image-width":800,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_5_Accessibility-1857x1080.png","wide_image-width":1857,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">ArcGIS Pro tip<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doc.esri.com\/en\/arcgis-pro\/latest\/get-started\/color-vision-deficiency-simulator.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">color vision deficiency simulator tools (CVS<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">) built into ArcGIS Pro can simulate a poster\u2019s appearance for readers of all abilities.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">ArcGIS Pro tip<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Map frames can be created from the same source map and configured with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/announcements\/one-map-many-views-override-layer-visibility-in-arcgis-pro\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Map Frame Layer visibility overrides<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0 This allows a complex map to be broken into a series of smaller, more focused views that highlight individual themes, variables, or intermediate results without duplicating data. Combined with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/map-frames-and-the-magic-of-map-frame-constraints\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">map frame constraints<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, these maps can remain synchronized to the same geographic extent, helping readers understand one concept at a time while building toward the larger story and conclusions of the analysis.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-contrast=\"none\">ArcGIS Pro tip<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Consider incorporating photos, illustrations, or other supporting graphics that reinforce the story. Strong visuals help capture attention and create an immediate connection between the audience and the subject of the research. These visuals can help readers understand what or who the research is about, making the science more approachable and memorable.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h1 id=\"next-step\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">5. Give readers a next step<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:360,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your poster probably won\u2019t tell the whole story \u2014 and that\u2019s okay \u2014 but you shouldn\u2019t leave readers wondering. Think of your poster as an entry point into the research, rather than its final destination, and provide readers with an opportunity to learn more. A QR code can link to the full paper, an interactive map, or additional documentation. You can also include a short URL or other relevant resources. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The important thing is to make the next step obvious and easy to follow. Someone who has just spent several minutes exploring your poster should know where they can go if they want to dig deeper.<\/span><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2983600,"id":2983600,"title":"Blog_6_Next_Step","filename":"Blog_6_Next_Step.png","filesize":1156307,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/designing-research-posters\/blog_6_next_step-2","alt":"A collage made up of excerpts from two scientific research posters, with stylized text annotations and illustrations highlighting elements that relate to further reading, such as QR codes and article citations","author":"7231","description":"","caption":"Including a QR code is a great way to guide curious readers to additional context or information that's beyond the scope of the poster","name":"blog_6_next_step-2","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2983286,"date":"2026-09-30 20:24:29","modified":"2026-10-01 17:48:33","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1921,"height":899,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":217,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":359,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":899,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step-1536x719.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":719,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step.png","2048x2048-width":1921,"2048x2048-height":899,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step-826x387.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":387,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog_6_Next_Step.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":899}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<hr \/>\n<h1>Putting the pieces together<\/h1>\n<p>The storytelling principles discussed in this article aren&#8217;t limited to scientific posters; hierarchy, composition, consistency, and accessibility can strengthen almost <em>any<\/em> form of science communication, from maps and reports to presentations, websites, and \u2014 of course \u2014 interactive geographic stories. Furthermore, you don&#8217;t need to be a professional designer or cartographer to put these principles into practice. Whether you&#8217;re creating your first research poster or your hundredth, thinking deliberately about how your audience will encounter and interpret your work can make the final product more effective, irrespective of your technical proficiency.<\/p>\n<p>For more guidance on working with maps in ArcGIS Pro, check out the related articles posts below.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n"}],"related_articles":[{"ID":2490092,"post_author":"6971","post_date":"2024-09-16 12:57:35","post_date_gmt":"2024-09-16 19:57:35","post_content":"","post_title":"Add Multiple Maps to One Layout","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"add-multiple-maps-to-one-layout","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-09-16 12:57:35","post_modified_gmt":"2024-09-16 19:57:35","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=2490092","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2953332,"post_author":"6971","post_date":"2026-01-07 10:05:56","post_date_gmt":"2026-01-07 18:05:56","post_content":"","post_title":"Layout advice bonanza: Lessons for creating a great composition in ArcGIS Pro","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"layout-advice-bonanza-lessons-for-creating-a-great-composition-in-arcgis-pro","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-01-07 10:05:56","post_modified_gmt":"2026-01-07 18:05:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=2953332","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":2965938,"post_author":"6971","post_date":"2026-05-14 08:07:35","post_date_gmt":"2026-05-14 15:07:35","post_content":"","post_title":"ArcGIS Pro Layout Redesign volume 2","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"arcgis-pro-layout-redesign-volume-2","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2026-05-14 10:42:12","post_modified_gmt":"2026-05-14 17:42:12","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=2965938","menu_order":0,"post_type":"blog","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"show_article_image":false,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Blog-Card-Image-1.png","wide_image":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.9 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Five storytelling principles to make your research poster sing<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/designing-research-posters\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Five 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