Graphical Abstract Design for Scientists & Researchers
A practical skills session to help researchers create clear, relevant visual summaries of their research for journals, posters, and more.
In this focused online session, researchers will learn how to design effective graphical abstracts for journal submissions, social media, and research visibility. This practical, interactive training covers what graphical abstracts are, why they matter, and how to create a single-panel visual that explains a research story clearly and compellingly.
Scientists, researchers, and students will learn how to distill complex research into a visual format that meets journal requirements and engages audiences across platforms.
Approach: Interactive skill-building with examples from relevant journals and disciplines, best practice analysis, storytelling frameworks, time for individual design (sketch/draft), and peer sharing
Practical component: Participants work through a structured process to conceptually plan their own graphical abstract. If time allows, they sketch or draft their visual approach. Everyone works at their own pace and comfort level, then shares in small groups.
Delivery: 2 hours online (Zoom or your preferred platform)
Group size: up 100 participants
What we cover in 2 hours:
- What graphical abstracts are and where they’re used: journal requirements, social media, conference materials, research websites
- Why graphical abstracts matter: increasing research visibility, meeting publication requirements, engaging broader audiences
- Examples from relevant disciplines: graphical abstracts from participants’ field(s) (or a variety of disciplines for mixed groups), showing different visual styles and approaches
- Best practice principles: clarity, simplicity, visual hierarchy, accessibility across journal requirements
- Using storytelling structures to design graphical abstracts: organising your visual around a clear narrative that communicates context, problem, and contribution
- Step-by-step design process: from research narrative to visual concept to planning a design
- Recommended tools and resources: options including BioRender, icon libraries, and useful software tools (Open Source, Freemium and free, and commercial).
Practical work: Participants conceptually plan their own graphical abstract, mapping out the key elements and visual flow. If time allows, they sketch or draft their approach. Everyone works at their own pace, then shares plans in small groups for feedback.
Interaction in this Skills Session is designed around guided individual exercises, chat-based reflection, and selected plenary discussion, rather than small-group coaching or personalised feedback.
Tools: This session is software-agnostic. We focus on using pen and paper for planning and sketching, offering suggestions for image libraries and software for participants to explore in their own time.
What this session does NOT cover:
This session focuses on planning and designing graphical abstracts, not comprehensive data visualisation or time to create a polished, completed visual. We don’t cover:
- Software tutorials or technical illustration techniques
- Creating finished graphical abstracts during the session
- Comprehensive data visualisation strategies
- In-depth principles of visual communication (we cover the basics)
- Detailed requirements for every specific journal
Get more from this session: If you want researchers to have a solid grounding in visual design principles before this skills sessions, they will benefit from completing our Visual Design Principles for Researchers first to build foundational design skills.
Looking for comprehensive visual training? Our Visual Communication & Applied Design Principles training is a full-day workshop covering design principles, data visualization, and multiple visual formats with hands-on practice.
Perfect for
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PhD programmes preparing students for publication and research dissemination
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Research groups where scientists need to create graphical abstracts for journal submissions
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Graduate schools building visual communication skills for academic publishing
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Institutions supporting researchers in increasing research visibility and impact
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Early-career researchers learning to meet journal requirements and promote their work
This session works well as focused training before manuscript submission or as part of broader visual communication skills development.
Looking for related skills sessions or longer-format training?
Strengthen your researchers’ visual communication toolkit with other SciComm Skills Sessions like:
- Visual Design Principles for Researchers (foundational design principles)
- Effective Research Poster Design
- Scientific Slide Design Best Practices
For more comprehensive training, consider our Visual Communication & Applied Design Principles training. or Scientific Presentation Skills taining.
Explore all training topics
Not sure which format or topic you need? Browse our complete catalogue of communication training, organised by category.
Ready to help your researchers create effective graphical abstracts and visual summaries?
We’d love to help you design the right training approach for your researchers or group.
This 2-hour session can be delivered as:
- A standalone workshop for your researchers, scientists, or staff
- Part of a doctoral training programme
- A mini-workshop or interactive session for a conference
- A component of a custom skills-building series
Curious? Get in touch.
