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Academic and Internship Posters: Overview

Graphic design resources to create high-quality posters.

Examples

Introduction

An academic or internship poster is a concise, visually engaging summary of a research project or experiential learning experience. Posters are commonly used at academic conferences, symposiums, and internship showcases to communicate key findings, demonstrate professional growth, and spark meaningful discussion.

Purpose of a Poster

Summarize your work clearly and concisely

Attract and inform a diverse audience

Engage viewers in conversation

Visually represent data and key outcomes

Demonstrate communication and design skills

Types of Posters

Research Posters: Present a summary of scholarly work including hypotheses, methods, data, results, and conclusions. These are commonly used in STEM, social sciences, and humanities to visually communicate research to an academic audience.

Internship Posters: Reflect on internship experiences, including site information, learning objectives, major responsibilities, key takeaways, and personal or professional growth. Often presented at career fairs, internship showcases, or capstone events.

Getting Started Checklist

✔ Understand your audience and event requirements

✔ Identify your core message

✔ Determine poster size and layout requirements

✔ Gather your content: text, data, visuals, and citations

✔ Choose your design software (PowerPoint, Canva, etc.)

✔ Sketch a layout before jumping into design