Expert Insights: Questions answered about graphical abstracts
Graphical Abstracts are a relatively new, yet often mandated feature in journal publishing. Here we bring you some of our frequently asked questions about graphical abstracts.
Q: Are graphical abstracts useful because attention spans are short?
A: While attention spans might be a factor, I think it’s more to do with actively promoting Open Science practices when it comes to the dissemination of research.
Graphical Abstracts support open science by simplifying complex research findings into accessible visuals that enhance understanding, visibility, and dissemination. They make research more engaging and shareable, reaching broader audiences, including non-specialists and international communities, while breaking down language barriers. By emphasizing key insights, graphical abstracts promote transparency and encourage collaboration across disciplines. They also support public engagement and educational use, aligning with open science’s goal of democratizing knowledge. When shared under open licenses, they further amplify the impact and accessibility of scientific work.
So, I think that might be a bigger factor in more and more journals adopting it in recent times.
Q: What is the number one tool for creating graphical abstracts?
A: That’s a great question, and one that I get asked a lot. Personally, I would say if you have the patience, determination, and flair for doing some design, then nothing really comes close to what Adobe Illustrator offers.
Powerpoint can also work sometimes…if you’re brave enough!
But, if you want the convenience of ‘dragging and dropping’ to make a Graphical Abstract, just like how we use Canva to make quick and easy designs, then I recommend you check out Mind the Graph!
Mind the Graph has a specialized library of illustrations aimed at making the entire Graphical Abstract creation process very easy. So, check that out if Adobe Illustrator might be too daunting to get around.
Q: What are the best graphical abstracts you have seen?
I don’t know if it would be fair to categorize any particular collection of graphical abstracts as the ‘best’ I’ve seen. Every Graphical Abstract is unique in its own way, and honestly some Graphical Abstracts look great because of perhaps an art style that an author or an journal editorial team follows. However, to me, perhaps the most influential graphical abstract I ever came across was from the following manuscript where Francis Crick describes the ‘double helix’ for the first time in 1953. It’s such an iconic image and it changed the way molecular biology was perceived a field of study. That said, I don’t think it was categorized as a graphical abstract at the time, but it one of the best examples of what a graphical abstract should do when communicating the most important facets of a piece of research.
Personally, I’ve recently found myself looking forward to seeing what the BMJ’s graphics team puts out with every new issue. Their graphical abstracts look really great sometimes.
Q: Any best practices or any common mistakes to avoid?
A: I would recommend this manuscript for best practices and common mistakes to avoid.
To summarize:
Think of your key message, before you design your graphical abstract
Keep the appearance of your visuals consistent, like use icons and pictograms from the same library
Make sure you always label your graphs and charts correctly, and make sure everything is easy to read
When needed, comply with your target publication’s guidelines
Q: Any free repository for me to view really good graphical abstracts?
A: Unfortunately, there aren’t currently any reliable repositories of graphical abstracts that I have come across. You can however go here, here, and here to see some very well made Graphical abstracts
Q: Is it okay to include a heat map in my graphical abstract?
A: Yes, it is here is an example of someone using a heat map in a Graphical Abstract.
Just remember, when including a heat map in your graphical abstract, focus on clarity and simplicity by highlighting only the most relevant data and providing clear labels, legends, and brief context. Try using intuitive, colorblind-friendly color scales to ensure accessibility and avoid overcrowding the design with excessive data points.
Ensure the heat map integrates seamlessly with the overall abstract’s style and layout while maintaining readability with appropriate resolution and font size. And, finally, test your design with colleagues or non-experts to confirm it is intuitive and effectively communicates the intended insights.
Q: Are graphical abstracts the same as a textual abstract? Can one replace the other?
A: For the time being, no, Graphical Abstracts aren’t equivalent to the manuscript Abstract, and I don’t seem them replacing the traditional Abstract, because of how scholarly publishing has worked for several centuries.
Graphical Abstracts, sometimes called Visual Abstracts, typically accompany a manuscript and its Abstract during the submission process. Some journals may ask for a Graphical Abstract to be produced only once the manuscript has been conditionally accepted, other journals ask for it at the time of manuscript submission. A few journals also produce the Graphical Abstract for the manuscript if the study is deemed as being significant in its findings.
Q: Which fields use them the most and would you say everyone of those is suited to do so?
A: STEM is an obvious answer. But, in recent times, I’ve seen Graphical Abstracts across other subject areas too. The field of medicine leans particularly heavily on the Graphical Abstract format. And, in the sciences, I’ve the use of Graphical Abstracts in any study trying to report on a new pathway or hypothesis. Even very heavy data-driven studies use Graphical Abstracts to give their peer reviewers an at-a-glance glimpse into their work.
Q: Very few researchers I know from STEM fields are good with graphics, you might be a bit biased, but do they stand a chance without outside help?
A: I think, and this is strictly my own opinion, if you’ve ever created your own figures for a manuscript, then you’ll be capable of putting a graphical abstract. Of course, Editage is a service provider, and we do provide help in creating graphical Abstracts, but in a lot of the cases where we create Graphical Abstracts, it’s not because an author lacks the skill to make one, or the vision for what it needs to look like, it’s because author is too far into the submission process and they don’t have the time. Another way I see it is that, the Graphical Abstract isn’t necessarily something like a cover image, it doesn’t need to be a piece of art. It needs to neatly and functionally visualize the 1, 2, or 3 most important things someone should know about your study.
Q: Do you know how picky reviewers are? Graphical abstracts seem more subjective than writing.
A: It’s a bit risky for me to comment on this, because I don’t want to jinx you or any of your colleagues who might submit a paper with a Graphical Abstract soon, but…peer reviewers, I’ve seen, tend to worry less about the Graphical Abstract than the actual manuscript. It’s rare to see a Graphical Abstract get pulled up, unless there’s something egregiously wrong or inaccurate about it. Also, a Graphical Abstract won’t make or break acceptance, if they need the Graphical Abstract revised, they’ll just tell you and give you deadline so that you paper goes into the next issue for publication.
Q: Do graphical abstracts follow accessibility guidelines?
A: We do factor in accessibility guidelines when designing our Graphical Abstracts to make them as easy to consume as possible, even for a non-academic audience.
Q: How can one balance simplicity with detail in graphical abstracts?
A: That’s a great question. Because, you’re right! Balance matters a lot. We typically ask the author about what they feel is the most important aspect to convey. The author’s opinion matters a lot when it comes to making the Graphical Abstract as a 3rd party.
So, if an author tells us what they feel is the most important aspect to visualize, then we visualize exactly that and add in in necessary peripheral details. Again, we need to keep in mind that the Graphical Abstract, like a traditional Abstract, must stand on its own – anyone should be able to see it and understand what’s going on without having to read a paper. We need to include enough information to make that happen, within the limits of what we can legibly fit into the dimensions recommended by a journal.
Q: Do graphical abstracts include AI-friendly elements?
A: I don’t honestly know what an AI-friendly element would look like in a Graphical Abstract, and I certainly hope we haven’t irreversibly doomed ourselves into a future where only or most papers will be ready by just AI.
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