Occupational Science/Occupational Therapy Resources: Poster Design

Poster design resources for OCCT 992

Sample OCCT992 Student Posters

• See sample OCCT992 student posters (2012-2019) on the Occupation Matters Exhibit blog
• See sample OCCT992 student posters (2016-2019) in the Carolina Digital Repository

A few examples:

Michelle A. Krieger Blog (example, posts follow an APA convention poster experience with qualitative posters):

"Oldies but goodies":

A few additional resources:



Poster Templates

• WIDESCREEN Poster Template (31.5" x 56") to refer to in creating e-posters (.PDF version)
• WIDESCREEN Poster Template (31.5" x 56") for e-poster (.PPT usable for drafting a poster)

 Design Resources

• Finding Medical & Health Films/Images (includes understanding copyright and find open images)
• 9 Ways to Make Your Presentation Accessible (PDF download from Microsoft)

A Selection of Key HSL Media Design Resources including these:

• Designing Effective Posters (tutorial about the design process, including instructions and screenshots for PowerPoint and InDesign)
• Poster Design & Images Resources (addresses design and creation, presenting posters, finding open images, and copyright issues)
• Finding Medical & Health Images/Films (includes copyright information and open image resources) 

Additional Resources

• Creating Effective Scientific Posters (with downloadable quick reference tip sheet from NCSU. Version 4; 2014)
• Design Lab - UNC Libraries (with Design Guides)
• ​Tips for proofing your PDF file after conversion (from PhDPosters.com)
• Image Resolution and Print Size Tutorial (UNC HSL) One question we are frequently asked is how to ensure that images won't end up pixelated when printed. In this concise video tutorial, Bob Ladd will show you how to tell if an image is suitable for poster printing.

Exporting PowerPoint (Office 365) files in .pdf format

• ​File > Save as Adobe PDF > [select options, as needed] > Save
  • an option to consider adding is conversion of speaker notes, which creates a small, clickable comment bubble for each slide with speaker notes, allowing the reader to click and see the notes]

Exporting PowerPoint 2016/2019 files in .pdf format

• Windows/PC
  • ​File > Export > Create PDF/XPS > optimize for Standard (publishing online or printing) > Publish
  • File > Save as Adobe PDF
• Mac
  • File > Export > Create PDF/XPS Document > Create PDF/XPS > Publish

AOTA/American Occupational Therapy Association poster resources (updated 3/16/2023):

• Poster Presentation Guidelines (January 2023)
• Guidelines for Creating Accessible Printed Posters (2007)

Sample AOTA/American Occupational Therapy Association posters:

Tips for Creating a Poster in PowerPoint 2019 and Office 365

• PowerPoint Versions
  • PowerPoint for Windows Office 365 and 2019 are based on the same original software, although Office 365 is continually updated with the latest features and updates. Office 2019 and Office 365 can be installed on both Macs and PCs.
  • See the Designing Effective Posters guide for additional information and features (for Macs and PCs). 
• Poster Size (if you’re printing the poster for display)
  • A PowerPoint slide cannot be larger than 56” by 56”. The largest possible slide with a 4:3 aspect ration is 56" by 42"; for widescreen (16:9) formats, set to 56" by 31.5".
  • If you want your poster to be larger than that, you will need to set your slide to be half-size and print the poster at 200%. 
• Aligning Objects
  • To align two or more objects, select the objects and then click Arrange > Align on the Home tab.
  • You can align objects by their centers, left or right sides, middles, or top and bottom sides.
• Distributing Objects Evenly
  • To space 3 or more objects evenly, select them and go to the Home tab and click Arrange > Align > Distribute Horizontally or Distribute Vertically.
• Grouping Objects
  • To move 2 or more objects together, you can group them.
  • Select the objects, go to the Home tab and click Arrange > Group. The objects you grouped will now behave as though they were one object.
  • To separate objects you’ve grouped, select the grouped object and click Arrange > Ungroup on the Home tab.
• Sending to Front/Send to Back
  • To see an object that’s now behind another one, select the first object and click Arrange > Send to Front on the Home tab.
  • To hide an object that’s now in front of another one, select the first object and click Arrange > Send to Back on the Home tab.
• Making a Perfect Square or Circle, or a Perfectly Straight Line (resize keeping proportion/aspect ratio)
  • Hold down the Shift key as you’re drawing them.
• Checking Images for Pixelation
  • Zoom your view to 100%.

Need an extra pair of eyes? Contact us: Ask Us!

School of Medicine Logos / Branding web page
Blue, black, or white logos in various file formats. Use the approved image in your posters presentations, reports, or publications.

To use this JPEG image in your poster, open and right click on the image, select "Save image as". In PowerPoint, select Insert then Picture.