This course teaches scientists visual literacy and the basic design principles required to excel at creating impactful scientific visuals that inform, engage & inspire.

Time: 24th - 25th April 2025, at 09:00-13:00 on both days

REGISTER HERE!

Registration deadline: 10th April

This workshop enhances scientists’ ability to create impactful visual communications. The course covers graphic design principles tailored for scientific contexts, including visual science communication, color theory, typography, and practical applications like designing figures, presentations, and posters. Participants will learn about visual storytelling, chart selection, and making data accessible.

Workshop content

1. Welcoming Introduction
2. Introduction to Visual Science Communication: Explore the types, mindset, and essential tools for impactful science visuals
3. Design Principles in Science: Learn core design concepts like Gestalt principles, color theory, and typography.
4. Perception, Memory & Thought: Understand how storytelling and design resonate with the human mind.
5. Data to Design, Visualizing Results: Master chart selection, data accessibility, and figure panel layout.
6. Creating Elegant & Informative Figures: Design clear, visually appealing figures that effectively communicate complex data.
7. Illustrations for Presentations: Design presentation visuals with balance, hierarchy, and a designer’s mindset.
8. The Art of Poster Design: Create effective conference posters with optimal layout and etiquette.
9. Closing Discussion & Feedback

Key takeaways

1. Principles of Effective Design: Understanding the fundamentals of good graphic design.
2. Mastering different formats: Awareness for the peculiarities of different scientific formats.
3. Actionable advice for designing impactful visuals: Practical tips for design that works.
4. Developing visual literacy: Develop as sense for design & implementing it in academia

Participants need to have a Laptop and an active subscription to ChatGPT, CoPilot or Claude. Details regarding the model will be discussed one month prior to the workshop as the landscape here is rapidly changing.

Course lecturer

The workshop will be led by Dr Philipp Dexheimer, a molecular scientist and artist. Philipp has a background in molecular biology and biochemistry and holds a doctorate in genetics. Combining his scientific expertise with a passion for art, Philipp creates visuals that communicate complex scientific concepts to a broader audience. With over seven years of experience collaborating with researchers and biomedical companies, he excels at transforming research into captivating graphics that engage both experts and the public.

Contact

Rosalie Zwiggelaar