Building Science Graphics: An Illustrated Guide to Communicating Science through Diagrams and Visualizations (AK Peters Visualization Series)

Building Science Graphics: An illustrated guide to communicating science through diagrams and visualizations is a practical guide for anyone—regardless of previous design experience and preferred drawing tools—interested in creating science-centric illustrated explanatory diagrams. Starting with a clear introduction to the concept of information graphics and their role in contemporary science communication, it then outlines a process for creating graphics using evidence-based design strategies. The heart of the book is composed of two step-by-step graphical worksheets, designed to help jump-start any new project. The author website, featuring further resources and links, can be found here: (https://www.buildingsciencegraphics.com/) https://www.buildingsciencegraphics.com/ . This is both a textbook and a practical reference for anyone that needs to convey scientific information in an illustrated form for articles, poster presentations, slide shows, press releases, blog posts, social media posts and beyond. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Series Foreword Preface My Point of View Motivation Audience What’s in This Book What’s Not in This Book PART 1: Underpinning 1. Introduction 2. What Are Science Graphics? A Closer Look: The Information Graphics Continuum More to Explore 3. Science Communication Fundamentals The Science of Science Communication Mode-Centric Framework Community-Centric Framework Goal-Centric Framework Inclusion-Centric Framework Storytelling SciArt How do Graphics Fit in? More to Explore 4. Graphic Design Fundamentals More to Explore 5. Perception Science Vision versus Perception Attention More to Explore 6. Making Sense of Visual Complexity Relationships A Closer Look: Visual Gestalt Principles Symbols A Closer Look: Bertin’s Visual Variables Arrows 7. Organization and Emphasis Composition Grids and Alignments Negative Space Visual Hierarchy Flow of Information Demonstration: Composition Makeover Demonstration: Academic Poster Design 8. Color Approaching Color Critically A Closer Look: Color Jargon, Translated Strategies for Using Color More to Explore Demonstration: Color Makeover 9. Typography Legibility and Readability A Closer Look: Typography Jargon, Translated Hierarchy More to Explore Demonstration: Typography Makeover 10. Visual Style Immediately Visible Context Familiar Visual Vocabulary Welcoming Gesture A Closer Look: From Figurative to Abstract 11. Storytelling Strategies Graphics as the Primary Medium Strategy 1: Use an Immediately Recognizable Narrative Form Strategy 2: Introduce Characters Strategy 3: Include a Narrator Graphics as the Secondary Medium Strategy 1: Show, Don’t Tell Strategy 2: Use Graphics to Present a more Complete Story Strategy 3: Use Graphics to Pull a Reader through the Story Graphics as the Principal Character More to Explore 12. Practicalities Tools Analog Digital Guides and Worksheets File Settings Color File Type A Closer Look: File Type Overview Image Resolution and Size Audience Accessibility Print Online More to Explore (Accessibility) Timeline PART 2: Illustrating Science 13. Special Considerations for Science Graphics Honoring Complexity Providing Context Strategy 1: Annotate the Primary Source Material Strategy 2: Fold Background Information into the Main Graphic Strategy 3: Include a Primer Box Combating Misinformation Communicating Uncertainty and Unknowns Measurement and Scale Location Relationships and Connections Process Past and Future Decision Making More to Explore 14. Types of Science Graphics Descriptive Imagery Process Diagrams Instructional Guides Organizational Charts Thought Experiment Vignettes Comparisons Summary—or Multi-Part—Graphics More to Explore PART 3: D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) 15. The Process of Building Graphics Stage 1: Establish the goal of the graphic Stage 2: Content research Stage 3: Concept sketch development Stage 4: Concept sketch review Stage 5: Tight sketch development Stage 6: Tight sketch review Stage 7: Final graphic Stage 8: Final graphic review Case Study: Ebola Case Study: Greening Disease Case Study: Dark Matter More to Explore Q & A: Audience Feedback and Field Research: A Conversation with Sheila Pontis Spotlight: Eleanor Lutz’s “Flowchart of Viral Families” Spotlight: How Will Stahl-Timmins Makes Graphics for The BMJ Spotlight: Octopus Graphic for Rotunda Magazine, by 5W Infographic Spotlight: How Lucy Reading-Ikkanda Breaks Down Cutting-Edge Research 16. Step-by-Step Guide for Building Your Own Science Graphic Flowchart 17. Step-by-Step Guide for Adapting Your Graphic for a Different Purpose Reformatting a Graphic Rethinking a Graphic for a Different Setting Rethinking a Graphic for a Different Audience Flowchart PART 4: Joint Efforts 18. Collaborations Co-Authorship When and How to Work with Design Professionals How to Find a Designer or Artist How to Commission a Graphic Constructive Critiques Types of Feedback High Quality Feedback More to Explore Q & A: Collaborating with Scientists: Thoughts from Designer Angela Morelli Q & A: Collaborating with Artists: Thoughts from Scientist Stephen Brusatte Q & A: Collaborating with Scientists within an Institution: Thoughts from Medical Illustrator Ni-ka Ford Q & A: Collaborating within a Studio Setting: A Conversation with Sonya Amin Q & A: Critiquing Science Graphics: Thoughts from Designer Vassilissa Semouchkina Epilogue Acknowledgments Index "Building Science Graphics: An illustrated guide to communicating science through diagrams and visualizations is a practical guide for anyone -- regardless of previous design experience and preferred drawing tools -- interested in creating scientific illustrated explanatory diagrams. Starting with a clear introduction to the concept of information graphics and their role in contemporary science communication, it then outlines a process for creating graphics using evidence-based design strategies. The heart of the book is composed of two step-by-step graphical worksheets, designed to help jump-start any new project. This is both a textbook and a practical reference for anyone that needs to convey scientific information in an illustrated form for articles, poster presentations, slide shows, press releases, blog posts, social media posts and beyond"-- Provided by publisher Building Science Graphics: An illustrated guide to communicating science through diagrams and visualizations is both a textbook and a practical guide for anyone--regardless of previous design experience and preferred drawing tools--interested in creating science-centric illustrated explanatory diagrams