A visual revolution in scientific publishing that increases research visibility, engagement, and impact
Imagine scrolling through hundreds of research papers, trying to identify the most relevant studies for your work. With 3,000 to 5,000 biomedical papers published daily on PubMed alone, this overwhelming scenario is a daily reality for today's researchers 4 .
In our increasingly visual digital age, where attention spans are short and information overload is constant, science communication has adapted with a powerful tool: the graphical abstract.
These visual summaries transform complex research into clear, engaging illustrations that convey key findings at a single glance. Originally popularized by chemistry journals in 2011 and later adopted by medical journals in 2016, graphical abstracts have seen a 350% increase in adoption from 2011 to 2015 across various scientific disciplines 4 .
3K-5K
Biomedical papers published daily on PubMed
350%
Increase in graphical abstract adoption (2011-2015)
2X
Average annual use for articles with graphical abstracts
A graphical abstract is a single, concise visual summary of the main findings of a research article 1 . It serves as a visual counterpart to the traditional written abstract, designed to capture the essence of a paper pictorially.
Help readers quickly identify papers relevant to their interests and understand the take-home message without immediately reading the full text 1 .
Appear in online search result lists, digital table of contents, and on article webpages, though they usually don't appear in the printed article PDF 1 .
The benefits of graphical abstracts extend far beyond mere visual appeal. Research indicates that articles with graphical abstracts experience double the average annual use compared to those without 1 6 .
Studies in top gastroenterology journals showed articles with graphical abstracts received significantly more citations than those without 4 .
Research shared with graphical abstracts on platforms like Twitter receives substantially higher engagement, with one study noting 45.3 times more interaction from healthcare professionals 4 .
Graphical abstracts help convey complex findings to broader audiences, including interdisciplinary researchers, policymakers, and the general public 2 .
Well-designed graphical abstracts can enhance the perception of a paper as more well-written and scientifically rigorous 6 .
Journals adopting graphical abstracts also experience benefits, including increased impact factors 4 . For readers, these visual summaries provide:
Quick screening capability
Faster comprehension
Enhanced interdisciplinary understanding
Improved retention of information
Creating an impactful graphical abstract requires careful planning and execution. Based on analysis of successful examples and expert recommendations, here are the essential elements:
Employ color purposefully to highlight concepts and organization, but avoid overuse 8 . High-contrast, low-saturation colors often work best for highlighting key points .
Most journals have specific requirements for graphical abstracts, but general guidelines include:
| Specification | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Minimum 1328 × 531 pixels at 300 dpi resolution 1 |
| File Formats | TIFF, EPS, PDF, or MS Office files are commonly accepted 1 |
| Text Considerations | Use clear, legible fonts at sufficient size 1 |
| Originality | The image should be original work created specifically for this purpose 1 |
| Design Type | Best For | Key Features | Example Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flow Diagrams | Linear processes, methodologies | Simple shapes, arrows, minimal text | Experimental pipelines, clinical pathways |
| Conceptual Diagrams | Theoretical frameworks, relationships | Illustrations, diagrams, interconnected elements | Proposed models, conceptual frameworks |
| Infographics | Data-heavy content, comparisons | Icons, minimal text, visual comparisons | Treatment outcomes, epidemiological data |
| Iconographic Abstracts | Quick comprehension, international audiences | Predominantly icons with minimal labels | Cellular processes, molecular pathways |
| Visual System Models | Complex systems with multiple factors | Networks, activating/inhibiting elements | Metabolic pathways, ecosystem interactions |
Graphical abstracts can take various forms depending on the research type and communication goals.
Aligns with natural reading patterns. Effective for showing sequences, comparisons, or timelines 7 .
Works well for hierarchical information or processes that naturally flow downward 7 .
Appropriate for cyclic processes like metabolic pathways or recurring phenomena 3 .
| Component | Importance Level | Key Considerations | Common Mistakes to Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Message | Critical | Single, clear takeaway | Multiple competing messages |
| Visual Elements | High | Consistent style, appropriate complexity | Overly complex or cluttered images |
| Layout & Flow | High | Logical reading direction | Unclear entry point or flow |
| Color Scheme | Medium | Strategic, enhances understanding | Too many colors or distracting combinations |
| Text Usage | Medium | Minimal, complementary to visuals | Too much text, too small to read |
| White Space | Medium | Adequate breathing room | Crowded, busy appearance |
Before designing, distill your research into one or two punchy sentences that capture the essential finding 3 .
Consider whether your primary audience is specialists in your field or a broader scientific community 4 .
Choose a design approach that best fits your research type—whether flowchart, conceptual diagram, infographic, or another format 8 .
Start with rough sketches on paper or digitally, arranging elements to tell your research story clearly 7 .
Select or create consistent icons and graphics from repositories like Noun Project, Bioicons, or Smart Servier Medical Art 3 .
Substantial research has investigated the effectiveness of graphical abstracts, with largely positive findings:
A 2017 study by Ibrahim et al., who pioneered graphical abstracts in medical journals, found that tweets with graphical abstracts received 7.7 times more dissemination than those with only titles 4 . This effect has been replicated across various medical specialties 4 .
Based on study of surgical research tweets 4
Analysis of top gastroenterology journals revealed that articles with graphical abstracts received significantly more citations than those without 4 . Furthermore, journals that adopted graphical abstract systems showed steeper increases in their impact factors from 2020 to 2022 compared to those that didn't 4 .
| Metric | Impact of Graphical Abstracts | Supporting Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Article Views | Double the average annual use | Elsevier research 1 |
| Social Media Engagement | 45.3x more interaction from healthcare professionals | Study of surgical research tweets 4 |
| Citations | Significant increase in citation counts | Analysis of top gastroenterology journals 4 |
| Journal Impact Factor | Steeper increase for adopting journals | Comparison of journals with/without GA system 4 |
| Altmetric Attention Score | Increased altmetric attention | Early analyses 3 |
Researchers have multiple options for creating professional graphical abstracts, regardless of their design background or budget.
Biorender (specifically for biological and medical illustrations) 4
Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Inkscape (free and open-source) 8
For those lacking time or design confidence, numerous services can help:
Journal Services
Institutional Support
Freelance Designers
Commercial Services
Graphical abstracts represent more than a passing trend in scientific publishing—they reflect an essential adaptation to how we process information in the digital age. As one publication aptly notes, "GAs have become a crucial art for researchers to master, and their use is expected to expand in the future" 4 .
As we look ahead, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence may soon help generate graphical abstracts more efficiently from raw data or manuscripts 4 . However, the human elements of storytelling, design intuition, and scientific understanding will remain essential to creating truly compelling visual summaries.
The evidence is clear: researchers who invest time in creating effective graphical abstracts stand to benefit from increased visibility, higher engagement, and potentially more citations. Journals that adopt them see measurable impacts on their influence metrics. Most importantly, the scientific community as a whole benefits from more efficient communication and knowledge transfer across disciplines.
For researchers, learning to create effective graphical abstracts is no longer an optional skill but a necessary component of modern science communication. Those who master this "crucial art" will be better positioned to share their findings with the world, collaborate across disciplines, and accelerate the progress of science itself.