Review Writing in Health and Medicine

Color Use

Color plays a key role in how your poster is perceived. It can guide attention, improve readability, and reinforce your message. The following tips can help you chose color wisely:

Choose a Simple Color Scheme

• Stick to 2-3 main colors to keep your design clean and cohesive.
• Use tools like Coolors, Adobe Color, ImageColorPicker, or Paletton to find harmonious palettes.

Ensure Good Contrast

• Make sure there is enough contrast between text and background for readability.
• Use dark text on light backgrounds or light text on dark backgrounds.

Use Color to Organize

• Apply consistent colors to headings, sections, or data visuals to help guide the viewer's eye.
• Avoid using too many colors, which can be distracting.

Be Mindful of Accessibility

• Avoid color combinations that are hard to distinguish for people with color vision deficiencies (e.g., red/green).
• Use tools like Color Contrast Checker, WebAIM Contrast Checker, or WCAG Color Contrast Checker to test accessibility.
• These color wheels illustrate how color perception varies across different types of color vision. It compares normal color vision (trichromacy) with several forms of color blindness, including:
  • Deuteranopia - red-green color blindness
  • Protanopia - another form of red-green color blindness
  • Tritanopia - blue-yellow color blindness
  • Monochromacy - complete color blindness

  

  Hawesthoughts, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Font & Text

Font

Using multiple font styles can enhance the visual appeal of your poster and help it look polished and professional. When done thoughtfully, font combinations can guide the reader’s eye, emphasize key points, and improve readability.

To get started:

• Choose fonts with contrast - for example, pair a bold sans-serif heading (like Arial Black) with a clean serif body font (like Georgia).
• Limit your font choices - stick to 2–3 fonts to maintain consistency.
• Avoid overly decorative fonts - they can be hard to read and distract from your message.
• Use hierarchy - vary font size and weight to distinguish headings, subheadings, and body text.

Consult the infographic below to learn more about font styles, which combinations work well together, and which fonts to avoid.

Text

Thoughtful text layout helps your poster communicate clearly and efficiently. Well-structured content improves readability and guides your audience through your message.

To get started:

• Keep it brief - Use bullet points and short sentences to make content easy to scan.
• Use hierarchy - Organize with headings, subheadings, and body text. Vary size and weight to show importance.
• Align consistently - Left-aligned text is easiest to read and looks clean.
• Avoid clutter - Focus on key points and use visuals to reduce text load.
• Proofread - Check for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors before printing.

Graphics & Images

Well-chosen visuals can enhance your poster's impact and help communicate complex ideas clearly. Use them thoughtfully to support, not distract from, your message.

To get started:

• Use relevant visuals - Choose images, charts, graphs, and diagrams that directly support your content.
• Maintain a consistent style - Stick to similar colors, resolution, and design elements across all graphics..
• Label clearly - Add concise captions and ensure axes, legends, and units are easy to read.
• Use icons sparingly - Icons can guide the eye, but too many can clutter your design.
• Check permissions - Only use images you have rights to; refer to the copyright section for guidance.
• Avoid pixelation - Use high-resolution images and set your poster size before you begin designing.

Tips to Avoid Pixelation

• Set your poster size before you begin designing. Changing the size later can distort images and text.
• Use high-resolution images. Aim for at least 300 DPI (dots per inch) for print quality.
• Avoid stretching images. Resize proportionally and use original image dimensions when possible.
• Use vector graphics when available. These scale cleanly without losing quality (e.g., logos in SVG or EPS format).
• Preview at full size. Zoom in to 100% to check clarity before exporting or printing.

Copyright

When using images from other sources, make sure you’re respecting copyright laws. You can either request permission from the original source or use images that are licensed under Creative Commons, which are typically free to use with proper attribution. Additionally, many images from U.S. government websites are in the public domain and can be used freely. Although images may be free to use, you still need to cite them.

Refer to the USD Copyright LibGuide for additional information.

Image Resources

University Policies: Accessibility & Branding

When preparing a poster presentation it is important to ensure your materials reflect the USD's commitment to accessibility and brand consistency. This not only supports inclusive communication but also strengthens the professional appearance of your work.

Accessibility

All posters should be designed with accessibility in mind, including considerations for font size, color contrast, and readability. USD provides guidance and resources to help ensure your materials are accessible to all audiences.

USD's Accessibility Resources:

• Digital Accessibility LibGuide
• USD Center for Teaching and Learning's Digital Accessibility Resource Guide 
• USD Office of Accessibility

Branding

Posters representing USD should follow the university's official branding guidelines. This includes using approved logos, colors, and fonts to maintain a consistent and recognizable visual identity.

• University Marketing Communications & University Relations' University Brand Toolkit.