In true KISS style, you can Keep It Simple by forgoing creating your own design and using the resources and templates provided to you for posters and graphic design.
The most important thing to consider when designing your poster is accessibility. Accessible posters not only ensure that people with disabilities can engage with your research but they also tend to make your research more engaging and impactful for everyone.
The Yale University Guide "Academic Poster Resources; Accessibility" provides excellent resources on how to ensure your poster meets accessibility guide lines.
Things to consider before choosing a size for your text:
Here are some general guidelines for text size based on a 36 x 46 poster size:
Title: 85 pt
Authors: 56pt
Headings: 36 pt
Body Text: 24 pt
Captions: 18 pt
Use font hierarchy. Title is the largest, headers are mid sized, and body text is the smallest. This helps the readers understand the flow of your research narrative and it looks professional.
Title
Heading 1
Heading 2
Heading 3
Body Text
Captions
You have to hit the right balance when it comes to the amount of space and content that appear on your poster. Too much content is a common issue, and it makes it hard for people to engage with your research. Too little (a rarity in research posters) can do your research a disservice. In general, there are two rules of thumb to follow:
Adhere to a typical layout so readers can easily follow the “flow” of your narrative. Please do not choose the layout as the place you “get funky with it”.