Figures design presentation slides from Nature Magazine

1. Information design for
scientific figures
Kelly Krause, Creative Director
7 Sept 2017 / LSU

2. Part 1
Introduction

3. Design of scientific figures
Graphic design Information design
Design for reading Design for learning
+

4. Design is not optional

5. Many readers will
scan your abstract and
browse your figures
to determine if your paper
is relevant to them.

6. Types of visual representations
we will discuss
Data figures published in
peer-reviewed papers.
Can include charts, graphs,
imaging, and computer
generated scientific
models.
Illustrated process or
phenomenon. Can appear
as summary figures in news
and analysis pieces, press
releases, grant applications,
websites and posters.
Data
figures
Figurative
illustrations

7. Part 2
Best practice for data figures

8. Compare area
of circles

9. Compare length
of bars

10. Relative magnitude estimation
position
length
slope
angle
area
volume
colour hue - saturation - density
[Mackinlay 86]
most accurate
least accurate

11. What is encoded
must be decoded

12. Salience
Setting an object apart from its surroundings to
create contrast
Map salience
to relevance

13. Simplify and edit
remove
redundant
elements
resist
decoration
Like good writing, figures are better when clear
and concise

14. Color
is subjective
same color
looks
different
different
color looks
the same
same color
looks
different

15. Color
can misrepresent data
Avoid the
rainbow
Shifts shown in
circles do not
match change
in value
When colors have uneven
saturation, data can be
underrepresented
Gradation
from 10-90%
black
produces
even
transitions
Color scales with sharp
transitions can exaggerate
data ranges.

16. Color
choosing a color palette
When mapping color to
quantitative data: seek help
Experts have done the
work for you
For categorical data:
do it yourself
Spiral technique: use a color
picker to select a palette that
varies in hue, saturation and
brightness.
http://colorbrewer2.org
http://colorusage.arc.nasa.gov/ColorTool.php

17. Color
blindness
Avoid red and green
combinations
Colorblind friendly
color palette

18. Data density
Avoid
overlapping
data. Use
small multiples.
Avoid symbol
overload. Use
multiple views of
the same data
for clarity.

19. ResolutionNED
Resolution is measured by calculating the number of
pixels within a given linear unit rather than in a given area.
3 ppi
(9 pixels in total)
1 inch
1 inch
7 ppi
(49 pixels in total)
32 ppi
(1,024 pixels in total)
300 ppi
(90,000 pixels in total)
Capture images
in the highest
resolution possible
from the beginning.
Plan for it in your
experimental
set-up.
Resolution is measured by
calculating the number of pixels
within a linear unit rather than area.
Adding pixels after an image is created
is called artificial enlargement.
Software will insert pixels with
estimated data, not real data.

20. Resolution
High resolution
images are
needed to properly
communicate your
research.
• journal covers
• press releases
• journalistic outputs
• websites
nature.com/nature
5 May 2011 £10
Vol. 473, No. 7345
Space flight
TickeT To
rideCould researchers lose out asspace goes commercial?
page21
evolution
New ThiNkiNg
oN laNguageCultural influences key tolinguistic structure
page79
atomic phySicS
ruTherFord’S
legacYWhy exotic isotopes
still matter
page25
WhenisaWingnotaWing?Treehoppers rewrite the textbookbody plan of insects pages34&83
the inteRnational WeeKly JouRnal of Science
NATURE.COM/NATURE
8 January 2015 £10
Vol. 517, No. 7533
POLITICS
GREEK
TRAGEDY
Researchers count cost of
eurozone austerity measures
PAGE127
HISTORY OF IMMUNOLOGY
FIFTY YEARS
OF B CELLS
Reflections on two
lines of attack
PAGE139
CLIMATE WARMING
KEEPING TO
THE 2 °C LIMIT
The fossil-fuel reserves that
should be left in the ground
PAGES150&187
FUSEIT
ORLOSEITNeural regeneration through an
engulfment-like mechanism
of axonal fusion PAGE219
THE INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
Cover 8 January 2015.indd 1
22/12/2014 16:04
Nature’s
print cover is
2516 x 3331
pixels.

21. Labels and arrows
Use arrows when
the relationship
is directional, not
simply as a pointer.
Ideal proportions
for arrow heads
Use consistent line lengths
and angles with uniform
spacing. A grid is helpful.

22. Typography
Ensure good
contrast
Recommended fonts
for legibility
Size
Helvetica
Arial
Times New Roman
7pt is ideal for
print figures
contrast
contrast

23. Part 3
Tips for creating
figurative illustrations

24. Figurative illustration: case study
Chronic effects of acute infections
Acute infection of mice with an
intestinal pathogen leads to
long-lasting inflammation that
is maintained by intestinal
microorganisms.

25. Figurative illustration
1. Establish information hierarchy
Purpose | show immune response to intestinal antigens
Key elements | animal, intestines, lymphatics
Useful context | intact vs. leaky lymphatics
Details | dendritic cell, inflamed node, leaky vessel

26. Figurative illustration
2. Sketch and refine

27. Figurative illustration
3. Artist creates in illustration software

28. Further reading
Many figures in this presentation are from the Points of View column in
Nature Methods. Special thanks to Bang Wong and Martin Krzywinski.
The collected Points of View
available here:
bit.ly/21kH6pO
$7.99

29. Thank you
naturegraphics.tumblr.com
@kellybkrause