Congratulations on completing your STEM project! Now it’s time to share your hard work with others through an eye-catching and informative display. A well-designed project display board is crucial for communicating your research and findings effectively at science fairs and presentations.

The Purpose of Your Display

Your STEM project display serves two important functions:

1. It supports your presentation by providing visual aids and key information when you’re explaining your project to judges, teachers, and visitors
2. It communicates your work independently when people view your display while you’re not present

A successful display board tells the story of your project in a clear, visually appealing way that captures attention and makes your main findings immediately understandable.

Planning Your Display

Before You Start Designing

• Know your audience: Consider who will be viewing your display (judges, teachers, peers, general public)
• Understand the rules: Check if your science fair has specific size requirements or prohibited materials
• Gather your materials: Decide if you’ll use a traditional tri-fold board or digital format
• Select your content: Choose only the most important information, images, and data to include

The Essential Elements

A complete STEM project display typically includes:

• Title: Clear, concise, and descriptive of your project
• Takeaway statement: A one-sentence summary of your most important finding
• Research question/problem: What you set out to investigate
• Hypothesis: Your prediction based on research
• Materials and methods: How you conducted your investigation
• Results: What you found (using graphs and visual representations)
• Conclusion: What your results mean and why they matter
• Future directions: How your work could be extended
• Acknowledgments: People who helped you
• References: Sources you consulted

Design Best Practices

DO:

• Use the template: Get started with the STEM project display templates below
• Keep text minimal: Follow the word limits in the template
• Tell a clear story: Guide viewers through your project journey
• Use large, readable text: Make your takeaway statement the largest text
• Include high-quality visuals: Select only the most important graphs and images that support your findings
• Label everything: Every figure, table, and image should have a clear caption (e.g., “Figure 1: Growth rate comparison”)
• Acknowledge help: Thank those who assisted with your project
• Cite your sources: List references in a smaller font at the bottom
• Get feedback: Ask others to review your display before finalizing it
• Make it your own: Customize colors and layout to reflect your project while maintaining professionalism

DON’T:

• Overcrowd with text: Walls of text are intimidating and hard to read
• Include raw data: Transform data into graphs or charts that show patterns
• Use unreferenced images: Always credit images you didn’t create
• Skip proofreading: Spelling and grammar errors distract from your content
• Use tiny fonts: If viewers have to squint, your text is too small

Visual Design Tips

Organization

• Follow the “Z” pattern: Arrange content to follow how Western readers naturally scan (top left to right, then diagonally down left, then across right)
• Use white space: Give content room to breathe instead of cramming everything together
• Create a clear hierarchy: Use size, color, and positioning to guide viewers to the most important information first

Color and Typography

• Choose 2-3 complementary colors: Limit your color palette for a professional look
• Ensure contrast: Dark text on light backgrounds or vice versa for readability
• Select readable fonts: Stick to 1-2 font families (one serif, one sans-serif)
• Size appropriately: Titles (72-90pt), headings (48-60pt), body text (24-36pt), captions (18-24pt)

Visual Elements

• Graphs and charts: Make them large enough to read easily from 3 feet away
• Photos: Use high-resolution images that clearly show what you’re describing
• Diagrams: Include simple illustrations that explain complex concepts
• Icons: Use consistent style icons to guide viewers through sections

Free Resources for Visual Elements

Need images or diagrams for your display? Check out these free resources:

• Biological diagrams: BioRender.com
• Chemical diagrams: MolView.org
• Lab tool diagrams: Chemix.org
• Icons: TheNounProject.com
• Photos: Pixabay.com

No matter where you source your images, don’t forget to properly reference them!

Project Display Templates

• STEM Project Display Template – A PowerPoint template to help you design your project display

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a strong takeaway statement?

Your takeaway statement should capture your most significant finding in one clear sentence. Ask yourself: “What is the single most important thing someone should learn from my project in five seconds?” This statement should be large, bold, and prominently displayed.

How do I decide what to include and what to leave out?

For each element you’re considering, ask: “Does this help tell the story of my project? Does it explain an essential component or finding?” If the answer is “yes,” include it. If “no,” keep it in your logbook instead. Remember that judges can always ask to see additional information during your presentation.

Should my display include my actual experiment/prototype?

If your science fair allows physical objects and your experiment is small, portable, and safe, including it can enhance your display. However, this is optional—high-quality photos often work just as well. Check your fair’s rules about what can be displayed.

How can I make my display stand out from others?

Rather than using flashy gimmicks, make your display stand out through:

• Crystal-clear organization
• Professional design
• Compelling visuals
• A strong takeaway statement
• Evidence of thorough research

Remember

The best displays make complex information accessible and interesting. Your goal is to communicate your scientific journey and findings in a way that’s engaging and easy to understand—both when you’re there to explain and when you’re not.

Want to see examples of successful STEM project displays? Check out some of the projects from the Canada-Wide Science Fair or watch the Better STEM Project Displays video tutorial on creating an awesome STEM project display!