Design Principles 101: Top Figure-Making Tips to Boost Science Communication

Presenters: Shiz Aoki and Joseph Zeppa
Effective visuals are critical in advancing scientific discovery, for peer-to-peer communication, and are becoming ever-more imperative to communicating with the public given the eroding distrust in science. However, with limited resources and tools, visually communicating scientific concepts is challenging (ie: hours trying to illustrate in PowerPoint!). This workshop will cover learn easy-to-implement design principles including tricks to optimize information flow, effective use of color, font choice, space-saving tips, and much more. We’ll also touch on top trends in visual science communication including free software and resources. The design tips taught will be universally applicable regardless of software of choice.

This workshop was held virtually during the 2021 AAAS Annual Meeting.