Graphic Design for Scientists (@JLU)
Program of the Workshop
Graphic design is increasingly important to scientists. A nicely presented graphic can make detailed information easier to understand, or more appealing. Or simply provide a ‘way in’ for a different audience.
Join Graphic Designer Neil Smith for this 1.5 day course and learn more about how to visually present your science, from simple graphs and schematics to graphic abstracts and posters. You will have an introduction to graphic design and learn simple tips to improve your figures, with examples of good (and bad) presented. You will also recieve an introduction to Adobe Illustrator, the industry standard software used to design figures at the top publishing houses. Neil will be on hand to provide guidance and feedback on your existing and current work in this informal workshop. Time will also be made for one-to-one help.
Please note that this workshop is limited to 12 participants and exclusive for EES Academy Affiliates! Please register below by latest 15th November 2026.
Day 1
- Welcome talk: creating better figures
- Preparing a figure for publication: looking through your figures
- Adobe Illustrator/Affinity talk and demonstration
- Adobe Illustrator introductory software training
- Task: using your new found skills to ‘fix’ some figures
Day 2
- Welcome and a theory recap
- Adobe Illustrator recap and training
- Designing better posters talk and analysis
- Personal branding chat and excercise; one-to-one help in 15 minute slots
Please note that this workshop is limited to 12 participants!
The Trainer
Neil Smith trained at Elsevier Science before spending 5 years at Nature working as an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. Since then, he has been a freelancer, working for Nature, The Lancet, The MIT Press, Workman Publishing and many more. Neil has run annual Graphic Design for Science workshops at Edinburgh University and Imperial College London for the last 6 years.
Neil Smith (https://neilsmithillustration.co.uk)
Date & Location
This workshop will take place on Monday, 23rd and Tuesday, 24th November 2026 at the following location (in-person):
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Chemiegebäude
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 17
35392 Gießen
Seminar Room A 127 (1st floor)
Registration
Please register here by 15th November 2026.
