This course introduces researchers to the selection, creation and editing of 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 on visual communication.

In a hands-on section we introduce some free and powerful tools to edit images, and to combine them with textual elements to create a layout: Inkscape for vector images, Paint.NET for bitmap images, and RAWGraphs for charts.

We end the course by exploring ways to effectively use visuals in the daily research practice, such as creating captions and considering legal and ethical aspects of image use and editing.

This course contains a variety of different exercises, including an assignment allowing participants to work on their own visual material, related to their own research.