Abstract and Poster Guidelines

Abstract Guidelines

1. Participants may choose one of the following two formats:

   • 1-page abstract in your own style (recommended for those not attending UKC)

   • UKC 1-page paper (recommended for those who submitted their paper to UKC)

2. You may re-use your UKC 1-page paper for this submission.

Poster Design Guidelines

1. Format (Required)

Use a single sheet of heavy-duty paper or other flexible material. Posters should measure approximately 4 ft. × 4 ft. Do not attach individual PowerPoint slides or manuscript pages to a poster board.

2. Content Simplicity (Recommended)

Clearly present the 3–4 main concepts of your project. Avoid excessive text or complex

formulas. The poster should serve as a visual summary, not a detailed report.

3. Text Layout (Recommended)

Use bullet points or concise text blocks with clear subheadings.

Recommended font sizes:

• • • 28–36 pt bold sans serif font (e.g., Arial, Helvetica) for headings

    • 18–24 pt for body text

4. Structure (Recommended)

Organize content in a column format, arranged logically from top left to bottom right. A 

three-column layout is ideal for readability.

5. Text-to-Visual Balance (Recommended)

Maintain a balance of approximately 50% text and 50% visuals (e.g., charts, photos, 

illustrations). Avoid text-heavy designs, which tend to be overlooked.

6. Clarity of Language (Recommended)

Use simple, accessible language. Avoid acronyms, abbreviations, and technical jargon 

whenever possible.

7. Design and Readability (Recommended)

• • Use light-colored backgrounds with dark text for maximum contrast.

  • Ensure graphics and visuals are high-contrast and clearly legible.

  • Stick to a simple 2–3 color palette for graphics.

  • All visuals should be at least 300 dpi and easily readable from 3 feet away.

8. Credits and Attribution (Recommended)

Include author name(s), institutional logos, and any relevant acknowledgements.