IN-PERSON / LIVE ONLINE WORKSHOP

Scientific Figure Design Workshop

One hour workshop

  • Learn the four rules of good scientific design
  • Get expert tips on what types of graphs and data visualizations are best for different scientific questions
  • Explore tools that can help you design good data visualizations for graphs, scientific figures, and scientific illustrations.
  • Practice drafting your own science figure using a guided worksheet exercise
Scientific Figure Workshop outline

Workshop Highlights

Data presentation design workshop introduction slide

Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

 • Prepare engaging introductions for data-focused presentations


• Create quick and effective presentation outlines that identify and highlight the main point


• Use essential tools such as space, color, contrast, text and animations within Excel and PowerPoint to create clear data visualizations 


• Design presentations that enhance audience attention and comprehension

 

Excel graph optimization example from the workshop

Workshop Overview

Part 1. Engage your audience: Learn scientifically proven methods to earn your audience's attention and improve their comprehension.


Part 2. Identify and Illustrate Your Main Point 

Guided exercises to design an engaging data presentation that effectively communicates the main point that you want the audience to adapt.


Part 3. Data Visualization and Slide Design

  • Space, contrast, color, text, images, animations, and data visualizations.
  • Excel and PowerPoint tips and tricks: shortcuts, templates, alignment, groups, arrangement, crops and shapes.
  • Introduction to additional presentation and data visualization tools
Why good scientific design matters

Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

 • Clearly show the main points of your project(s) to the audience


• Use composition to simplify the information in your scientific designs


• Use color and grayscale to highlight the most important ideas


• Apply a refine and repeat process to make your data story clear

 

Composition tools examples for science figures

Workshop Overview

Four Rules of Good Scientific Design: Learn graphic design best practices that you can apply to your science posters, figures, and presentations.


Simplify the Information: Examples of how to simplify complex information and highlight the main points using design best practices.


Color Design: Tools and tips for using color design to make your data visualizations accessible to people with color vision deficiencies and to make the most important information stand out.


Workshop: Guided exercise and worksheet to apply the four rules of good scientific design to your own project.


Workshop Highlights

Why good scientific figure design matters

Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

 • Clearly show the main points of your project(s) to the audience


• Use composition to simplify the information in your scientific designs


• Use color and grayscale to highlight the most important ideas


• Apply a refine and repeat process to make your data story clear

 

Composition tools examples for figures for publication

Workshop Overview

Four Rules of Good Scientific Design: Learn graphic design best practices that you can apply to your science posters, figures, and presentations.


Simplify the Information: Examples of how to simplify complex information and highlight the main points using design best practices.


Color Design: Tools and tips for using color design to make your data visualizations accessible to people with color vision deficiencies and to make the most important information stand out.


Workshop: Guided exercise and worksheet to apply the four rules of good scientific design to your own project.


Karen Thiebes course instructor photo

Course Instructor

Karen Thiebes is a professional scientific illustrator and has a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Oregon Health & Science University. She has led scientific design courses for over 7 years and enjoys teaching participants how to quickly transform data into effective designs using Adobe Illustrator, PowerPoint, Affinity Designer, and Excel.

Access All Advanced Online Courses

Simplified Science Pro users receive unlimited access to all of the free and advanced courses for only $59. New online courses are added every year to stay up-to-date with the latest scientific design techniques and includes access to live trainings called Adobe Illustrator Learning Labs. The Pro courses also include scientific templates such as the popular Biological Diagram and Laboratory Tool templates with over 400 illustrations that you can use in your own scientific designs. Learn more here!