How to create better scientific figures & graphical abstracts

This 2-day workshop by Luk Cox and Idoya Lahortiga (somersault 18:24) introduces participants to the principles and practical skills required to design high-quality scientific figures and graphical abstracts. It covers essential technical concepts such as resolution, color modes and the distinction between bitmap and vector graphics, as well as how to interpret journal guidelines for figures.

Participants are guided through the design process of scientific visuals, including visual hierarchy, storytelling, typography and the effective use of color, annotations and graphs. Through hands-on exercises in Adobe Illustrator and real-world examples, they will build figures from scratch and learn how to adapt them for publications, theses, presentations and grant applications. Special attention is given to graphical abstracts as a tool to increase visibility and impact, as well as common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Please note: 

• As all examples and recommendations in the workshop are primarily drawn from the disciplines of Life Sciences, Physics, and Chemistry, access is limited to PhD students from the DS ST and HLS!
• All participants are required to have Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop installed to take part in the workshop. These are essential tools used throughout the training and participants without access to this software will not be able to follow the hands-on exercises. For more details, see the preparation section below.

Learning outcomes

After attending this workshop, you will...

• be able to design clear, publication-ready scientific figures from scratch,
• be able to create effective graphical abstracts that communicate key messages at a glance,
• know about key technical requirements such as resolution, color modes and file formats,
• know how to interpret and apply journal guidelines for figures,
• have insight in visual hierarchy, storytelling and design principles for scientific communication,
• be able to apply color, typography, annotations and graphs in a clear and consistent way,
• be aware of common mistakes in figure design and how to avoid them,
• be able to adapt figures for different contexts, including publications, presentations and grant applications.

Competences

An important part of preparing for any further professional step is becoming (more) aware of the competences you have developed and/or want to develop. In the current workshop, the following competences from the UHasselt competency overview are actively dealt with:

• academic research competences:
  • scientific communication
• intellectual competences:
  • analytical thinking
  • conceptual thinking
• task-orientedness:
  • quality orientation
  • attention to detail
• personal effectiveness:
  • learning ability

For whom

• PhD students from the DS ST and HLS
• 20 places available per edition

When and where

• October 16 & 21, 2026 - 09:00-17:00
  • campus Hasselt, building Old Prison, room tbd

Preparation

• Important: please bring your own laptop to this workshop.

• For the workshop, all participants need Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Installing the software in advance is crucial for a smooth participation in the course! If you don't have these installed yet, please follow the steps below to install the necessary Adobe Creative Cloud software on your laptop. This will ensure you’re ready to participate fully in the session.

• If you have a software center available on your laptop open the Software Center.

  • In the search bar, type "Adobe Creative Cloud Installer" and select it to begin the installation process.

  • When you open Adobe Creative Cloud for the first time, you will need to log in. Use your UHasselt email address to register, but make sure to set a different password than the one used for your UHasselt account.

  • Once logged in, activate the free trial versions of the two programs required for the workshop: Photoshop and Illustrator.

• If you do not have a software center available, you can install Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App using this link.
  

• Important Note: The free trial is limited to approximately 7 days. After the trial period, the software will require a paid license to continue using it.

  1. Discounted license option: as an UHasselt researcher, you can purchase an annual Creative Cloud license at a discounted rate of €39,95/year, which provides access to all Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

  Important Tips

  • Start early: Begin the installation process well in advance of the workshop to ensure everything is working correctly. Keep in mind that the free trial period is limited, so plan your installation timing carefully.
  • UHasselt laptops: Due to updated installation permissions on UHasselt laptops, some users may experience issues. Please don’t wait until the last minute to address these, as they may take extra time to resolve.
  • For assistance, please contact the UHasselt helpdesk timely. They can help with any issues you encounter during installation. If problems persist, please inform the Doctoral Schools without delay.

Registration

• Register here from June 06 until September 13, 2026.
• As places are limited, registering does not automatically imply that you will be able to participate. You will be notified by email after the registration deadline has passed.
• Please cancel your registration at least one week in advance in case you cannot make it (cf. cancellation & no-show policy).

Acknowledged as

• DS HLS: category 'transferable skills' - compulsory elective course
• DS ST: category 'scientific & generic communication' - course about scientific and generic communication