Science Fair Project Display Boards
Key Info
- For almost every science fair project, you need to prepare a display board to communicate your work to others. In most cases you will use a standard, three-panel display board that unfolds to be 36" tall by 48" wide. Display boards can be found at Amazon.com and other retailers.
- Organize your information like a newspaper so that your audience can quickly follow the thread of your experiment by reading from top to bottom, then left to right. Include each step of your science fair project: Abstract, question, hypothesis, variables, background research, and so on.
- Use a font size of at least 16 points for the text on your display board, so that it is easy to read from a few feet away. It's OK to use slightly smaller fonts for captions on picture and tables. For more details see: Everything You Need to Know About Fonts for Display Boards
- The title should be big and easily read from across the room. Choose one that accurately describes your work, but also grabs peoples' attention.
- A picture speaks a thousand words! Use photos or draw diagrams to present non-numerical data, to propose models that explain your results, or just to show your experimental setup. But, don't put text on top of photographs or images. It can be very difficult to read.
- Check the rules for your science fair. Here is a list of items that some science fairs allow (or even require) and some science fairs don't require (or even prohibit):
- Your name on the display board
- Pictures of yourself
- Captions that include the source for every picture or image
- Acknowledgements of people who helped you
- Your laboratory notebook (some science fairs want you to have it only during judging)
- Equipment such as your laboratory apparatus or your invention
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pick a title that is relevant to your theme but also shows your creativity. |
|
 Subject: Fossilization Try Bold, Bright lettering to make sure your title is seen from afar. |
 Subject: Neil Armstrong Keep your title vibrant and legible. |
 Subject: School Science Fair |
 Subject: States of Matter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your favorite colors may be pleasing to you, but not every color is right for poster making.  |
|
|
The above chart shows color combinations ranked from most to least visible.  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contrasting colors are the most visible on your poster. 
|
|
|
If your poster is light, try using darker colors throughout. |
If your poster is dark, try using lighter colors throughout. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Relax! It's not as hard as you think. |
|
|
|
Poster Letters (see more)
 Neon Poster Letters 
|
 Holographic Poster Letters
|
 Black & White Poster Letters
|
Poster Decorations (see more)
 Neon Jumbo Glitter Glue
|
 Classic Glitter Shakers
|
 Clear Self-Stick Gems
|
Poster Innovation (see more)
 Marquee Lights
|
 Poster Lights
|
 Poster Sound
|
Poster Board (see more)
 Trifold Board with Header
|
 Glitter Frame Poster Board
|
 5-Pack Neon Poster Boards
|
Samples
Not sure what your project display board should look like? This Science Fair Display Board Gallery is full of good examples to get you started.-
Using 3D props and eye catchers such as bursts and arrows makes your board visually intersting while also helping the reader follow the flow of information on the board. Get step-by-step instructions for this board at ArtSkills.
-
A light up geode in the center of this board makes for an amazing geology display. Get step-by-step instructions for this board at ArtSkills.
-
An eye catching border can set your board apart from the rest. Get step-by-step instructions for this board at ArtSkills.
-
Creating an interesting visual theme around your project topic is a great way to catch the attention of science fair visitors. Get step-by-step instructions for this board at ArtSkills.
-
This display board uses themed images as backgrounds for the headers, plus a light up title to draw passers by to this aerodynamics project. Get step-by-step instructions for this board at ArtSkills.
-
Bring your poster to life with colorful letters, playful cutouts, and standout poster accessories that guide readers through results. Get step-by-step instructions for this board at ArtSkills.
-
Adding lights to a display board can emphasize the topic and make the display board more noticeable in a crowded fair. Get step-by-step instructions for this board at ArtSkills.
-
If you choose to print your display board as a full size poster, consider mounting it on a tri-fold board, as shown here, to make it easy to set up free-standing on a table (image courtesy of Kim Mullin, 2012).
-
Thematic decorations can help set your science fair display board apart from the rest as long as the decorations do not make it difficult to see and read the project information. This display board balances style with an easy to read layout and font size (image courtesy of Kim Mullin, 2012).
-
Contrasting colors, in this case yellow construction paper as the backing for text and images on a blue tri-fold display board, can help draw the attention of passer-bys (image courtesy of Kim Mullin, 2012).
-
Adding models, like these turbines, to a display board can be a great way of conveying lots of information quickly. This only works for things that can be easily mounted or displayed on the table in front of the project board (image courtesy of Kim Mullin, 2012).
-
Using large letters for your project title helps attract readers to your science project display board (image courtesy of Kim Mullin, 2012).
-
Diagrams and photographs are a good way of conveying a lot of information quickly and efficiently on a project display board, especially for complex science projects like this one (image courtesy of Kim Mullin, 2012)
-
Science fairs often have a large number of projects packed close together. Large font, good color combinations, and neatness will help your project display board stand out and be easily read.
-
An eye catching color scheme, like this alternating blue and red on a black tri-fold display board, can help your project stand out at the science fair.
-
If your experimental setup is small enough and easily transported you may want to set it up in front of your science project display board. Make sure it does not block people's view of your display board.
-
If your experimental setup is small enough and easily transported you may want to set it up in front of your science project display board. Make sure it does not block people's view of your display board.
-
Clear subheadings, like the ones for Abstract, Research etc. on this science project display board, help keep the information well organized and easy for judges to find.
-
At most science fairs, like the one shown here, the project display boards must be free-standing. This makes tri-fold display boards ideal as they can easily stand on their own.
-
Visit ArtSkills Poster Gallery for more ideas and inspiration for designing an award-winning display board.
Additional Resources
- Experienced science fair goers may also want to read up on our Advanced Display Board Design and Tips.
- Students headed to top science competitions should read about Big Display Boards for Top Fairs.
Science Fair Project Display Board Checklist
| What Makes for a Good Science Fair Project Display Board? | For a Good Science Fair Project Display Board, You Should Answer "Yes" to Every Question |
|---|---|
Does your display board include:
|
Yes / No |
| Are the sections on your display board organized like a newspaper so that they are easy to follow? | Yes / No |
| Is the text font large enough to be read easily (at least 16 points)? | Yes / No |
| Does the title catch people's attention, and is the title font large enough to be read from across the room? | Yes / No |
| Did you use pictures and diagrams to effectively convey information about your science fair project? | Yes / No |
| Have you constructed your display board as neatly as possible? | Yes / No |
| Did you proofread your display board? | Yes / No |
| Did you follow all of the rules pertaining to display boards for your particular science fair? | Yes / No |
