inter-faceted

4, 7 and 14 November 2024 | 9-12h

Elevate your research
with graphical abstracts

Make sure your groundbreaking findings and results stand out from the crowd so you get noticed.

Workshop
objectives

  • Improve your visualisation skills
  • Help audiences see and understand your hard work
  • Increase your visibility during workshops, conferences or on social media
  • Become better at identifying your key messages and at selling your projects

Why should I care about graphical abstracts?

Graphical abstracts, also called visual summaries or conceptual figures, highlight the main findings and the importance of your research.

The skillset underpinning their development are easily transferrable across many scientific communication activities, like posters, presentations and publications.

Posters

Presentations

Publications

Conveying scientific information visually has also many demonstrated advantages.1,2

Click here to read more about the science behind visual storytelling.

Master the art of graphical abstracts

A hands-on workshop designed for graduate students and post-graduate fellows

You will improve your ability to synthesize complex scientific findings into simple, engaging visualisations.

You will get better at identifying your key messages, prioritising your ideas and selling your projects. This way, your audience will understand your hard work right away!

This collaborative workshop incorporates peer feedback and iterative design. It helps to achieve the best outcome fast.

Throughout the day, you will produce a graphical abstract about your own reserach that you can use for posters, presentations, publications and social media.

Here’s how
it works

1. Outline

2. Sketch

3. Visualise

We’ll practice a trialled-and-tested methodology used by experts in leading scientific communication agencies.

AGENDA

Part 1. Overview, Prioritising & Outlining (Day 1)

Overview of the many types of graphical abstracts

Choosing a graphical abstract core objective and setting an effective process

Identifying your key messages

EXERCISE: Outline your key messages

Part 2. Sketching (Day 2)

Establishing the boundaries of your graphical abstract (e.g. size, orientation)

Sketching your graphical abstract quickly and mapping relationships

Leveraging peer feedback to improve your sketch

EXERCISE: Sketch, discuss and iterate your draft graphical abstract on paper

Part 3. Visualising (Day 3)

Key design principles to maximise understanding

Using design and aesthetics to grab attention

Best practice checklist to assess your work

EXERCISE: Visualise, assess and refine your graphical abstract in PowerPoint

Big reveal, discussion and Q&A (Day 3)

Discuss and showcase your work!

References

  1. Karen J. Murchie & Dylan Diomede. Fundamentals of graphic design—essential tools for effective visual science communication. FACETS 2020 5(1): 409-422
  2. Vandemeulebroecke M. et al. Effective Visual Communication for the Quantitative Scientist. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst. Pharmaco 2019 8(10): 705-719