This tutorial is for scientists looking to improve their data figures and visualizations.  In our approach, we’ve broken down the design process into a series of practical and functional units. By doing so, we hope to help you make sense of visual design process and to show you how you can apply these principles to solve common visual problems and challenges in data presentation. By the end of the tutorial, you’ll have the tools and strategies that will allow you to design clear and strong figures that will better communicate your data.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand cognitive design as an intersection of visual design and cognitive science.
  • Learn the three variables of cognitive design.
  • Understand how these variables can change the scope of your design.
  • Learn to focus your designs by identifying your communication objectives.
  • Learn the five key elements of design.
  • Understand how the elements can change the aesthetic nature and legibility of your designs.
  • Learn the five key principles of design.
  • Understand how the principles can affect the interpretation and communication of your designs.
  • Learn common design software used in creating data figures and visualizations.
  • Learn different formatting requirements for print versus digital media.

TABLE of CONTENTS

01 Introduction
02:21
02 Cognitive Design
02:56
04 Message-Driven Design
03:32
05 Medium-Driven Design
03:55
06 Focusing Your Message
03:58
07 Elements of Design - An Introduction
01:42
08 Elements of Design - Shape and Form
03:33
09 Elements of Design - Lines
03:26
10 Elements of Design - Values
03:23
11 Elements of Design - Space
03:59
12 Elements of Design - Color
04:53
13 Reducing Visual Clutter
04:46
14 Principles of Design - An Introduction
02:05
15 Principles of Design - Alignment
03:30
16 Principles of Design - Repetition
04:32
17 Principles of Design - Contrast
04:20
18 Principles of Design - Proportion
05:40
20 Improving Visual Cohesion
05:50
22 Feature Software - Keynote
05:37
23 Feature Software - Illustrator
04:37
24 Feature Software - InDesign
03:22
25 Feature Software - Photoshop
02:52
26 Formatting for Print
07:22
28 Thinking About Interactivity
03:00

RUN-TIME 1:59:26