Show, don't tell: creating visuals about your data
Show, don't tell: creating visuals about your data
18 June 2025 in person (from 09h30 to 17h00) and online follow-up on 2 July 2025 (1.5h in small groups)
General context
This course teaches researchers how to create the best possible images in order to communicate about their research.
We start by identifying the core elements of a powerful visual by applying basic design and communication principles to visual communication.
Next, we introduce tips and techniques to use colour effectively, to write text to enhance your message, and to bring together a lot of information without ending up with an overwhelming visual.
We end the course by exploring ways to effectively use visuals in the daily research practice, such as graphical abstracts and poster presentations.
This course contains a variety of different exercises, including an assignment allowing participants to work on their own visual material related to their research and receive feedback about it.
- Being able to recognize and select suitable images for use in scientific communication and to combine them with textual elements in effective layouts.
- Being able to use communication and design principles to create and optimize visuals for graphical abstracts and posters.
- Knowing the difference between vector and bitmap illustrations and being able to decide which type and file format to use in which situation.
- Basic knowledge about the main types of graphs (bar chart, line chart, pie chart, and scatter chart) and when to use them.
This course is a combination of theory, exercises (individual and in groups), practical examples and use cases. The assignment will be discussed in small groups online about two weeks after the first session.
There will be the possibility to ask questions in a one-on-one setting with the trainer.
Please don't forget to bring your laptop, as this is a hands-on course!
Researchers interested in learning more about the selection, creation and editing of images to help communicating in a clear way about their research.
I got out of the training what I wanted, nice overview of different concepts you can consider when making visuals and good tools that could be used to make this visual.
Participant edition autumn 2024
I found the training very useful. Koen is a very nice person and creates a pleasant atmosphere in the class. Lots of direct tools and information to work with. I also really appreciate the feedback session at the end. It is a great way for us to immediately benefit from this course.
Participant edition spring 2024
Trainers
Koen Van den Eeckhout
Koen Van den Eeckhout is an ex-physicist who is in love with visual communication: as a freelance information designer – operating under the name ‘Baryon’ – he creates insightful infographics, builds innovative data visualizations, designs engaging reports, and spreads his passion for visual information through workshops and presentations.
Practical info
18 June 2025
VIB HQ
Suzanne Tassierstraat 1
9052 Gent
Belgium
18 June 2025
VIB HQ
There is a shuttle bus (MaxMobiel) that runs between Ghent Sint Pieters railway station and Eiland Zwijnaarde. The VIB stop is the third (and last) stop on the inward journey. You can also get off the bus at Mainfreight (first stop) and cover the last 350 metres on foot.
You can find the schedule via this link: https://max-mobiel.be/en/shuttle-lines/shuttle-line/gent-sint-pieters-eiland-zwijnaarde
Please inform us upfront if you wish to make use of this shuttle so we can provide you with a QR code that you will need to show to the driver.
18 June 2025
VIB HQ
Use the high-quality cycling infrastructure to and from the business park and borrow shared bikes from Blue Bike, Donkey Republic or Dott (electric bikes) from various pick-up points in Ghent and the surrounding area. You can also quickly and easily plan your route using the online Cycling Route Planner of the City of Ghent.
18 June 2025
VIB HQ
Parking is only allowed in the Maaiveldparking (Bertha De Vriesestraat 5, Zwijnaarde). Reservations in advance are required, so please let us know your license plate if you wish us to reserve a parking spot.
room Réunion