Imagine your poster as a single page which has been divided into four quadrants. For those who are accustomed to reading text from left to right, our eyes will move in a certain pattern across a page.
Reading gravity proposes that the reader’s eyes will naturally begin on the top left quadrant, moving left to right, line by line, before ending at the bottom right. This also suggests that the top left quadrant and the bottom right quadrant will receive more visual attention.
A poster is a visual communication and it is important to balance space, text and other visual elements. Aim for the ideal -
Text [20%] : White Space [40%] : Visuals [40%]
This refers to the white space between lines of text, the margins between columns and space around figures and graphics. This is sometimes referred to as negative space or white space.
Ensure that you have provided sufficient white space around and between subjects. This provide resting space for the eyes and can help reduce clutter.
What is the page orientation? Is the poster to be displayed in portrait or landscape mode? Depending on the poster requirements, you may want to use a two or three column layout.
It is recommended that you use a grid approach for layout design. The grid aids alignment and helps ensure that elements in the poster do not appear as though they were randomly placed.
You may like to sketch your poster layout first on paper, then indicate where certain elements will be placed. Organise the flow of content to help guide the reader’s eyes to move from one section to the next in an orderly manner.
Tips
Guide readers through different sections of the poster using
