Graphical Abstracts: Definition, Process and Key Elements 

The idea of using visuals to share knowledge, beliefs, and stories goes back thousands of years to prehistoric civilizations when early humans used cave walls as canvasses. Interestingly, the use of visual storytelling continues to maintain its relevance even today. In a world where attention spans are often distracted and short, visuals help convey information more quickly and effectively. That is why they are instrumental in scholarly communication, where infographics and graphic abstracts prove invaluable in supplementing textual content and providing a comprehensive overview of the research being presented. 

While infographics and graphical abstracts may appear to be similar, they are different from one another. Science-related infographics are visual narratives that are typically used to supplement the main body of text. On the other hand, graphical abstracts aim to convey the core messages of a research paper in a single picture that summarizes the findings clearly and succinctly. Usually used on social media and journal websites, graphic abstracts are meant to accompany textual abstracts and not replace them. Given that readers are more likely to be attracted to graphic abstracts than written ones, graphic abstracts are an excellent tool for researchers who want to share their findings with decision-makers, funding organizations and wider non-specialist audiences.  

Over the past few years, there has been an increase in journals that require graphic abstracts at the first stage of submission,(1) and researchers must learn how to create them. However, creating an impactful graphic abstract requires creativity and careful thought, and many researchers find the task daunting. For those who don’t know how to get started, here are some great tips and pointers to keep in mind when designing a graphical abstract:  

1. Start by identifying the main message. While it might be tempting to include all the important points of your research within a graphic abstract, experts suggest concentrating on one or two key points on average, three at most. These will then serve as the focal point around which you create your graphic abstract and will help you decide its layout, design, and content. 
2. Define the target audience: This is imperative if the graphic abstract is to be effective. The content and style of text and visuals will depend on your audience’s level of understanding of the subject. You can choose to go technical if your audience comprises other researchers and subject-matter experts. However, when addressing lay audiences, it is best to keep the content simple and avoid using technical jargon. 
3. Check on publisher guidelines: While there are no specific templates or formats for graphic abstracts, it is essential to check with the journal on publisher guidelines regarding the size, image resolution, font type and size, and file formats you need to provide. Since graphic abstracts are meant to be simple and concise, use limited text and make sure that the visuals are engaging and effective.  
4. Use easy-to-understand graphics: Once you have your key message and audience established, you can begin to think about your infographic’s layout. When designing the layout, focus on organizing the information in a way that helps viewers follow the narrative from beginning to end quickly. It is helpful to ask yourself where you want the viewer’s attention to be drawn first – you can try different layouts to see which one is the best to tell the story. This will ensure that viewers don’t get confused with the information being shared.
5. Add colors and other design elements: Applying simple design concepts to your graphical abstract will not only improve its aesthetics but will also make your message clear and engaging. Limit your colour pallet to 2 or 3 primary colours, assess the size of your text and avoid the use of legends if possible, as they force readers to go back and forth to understand the figure. It may be a better idea to include labels close to each element the first time they appear in the graphical abstract.
6. Avoid clutter: Most importantly, simplicity is crucial in graphical abstracts; avoid cluttering the image with excessive details or overwhelming visuals. Choose to focus on the essential elements that convey the core message effectively.  

It may be a good idea to get feedback on your graphic abstract before submitting it. You may be presenting your ideas in a way that might be simple in your view (because you understand the concept well), but it might still be difficult for others to understand. Lastly, take a break and revisit the graphic abstract after a few days. Evaluating it with fresh eyes will give you a better idea of whether it is accurate, engaging, and compelling enough. 

References: 

1. https://escienceediting.org/upload/kcse-293.pdf 

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