How to make accessible images

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and nowhere is that more true than in science. It’s hard to think of a single paper, textbook or research presentation that doesn’t depend upon figures or schemes to help explain the data. ‘Part of the role of an image is that it can convey an idea so much more efficiently, clearly and accurately than words can achieve,’ says Michaela Livingstone-Banks, head of public and community engagement with research (MPLS Division) at the University of Oxford, UK. But while good graphics can help us understand complex information with ease, poorly designed images can be confusing or misleading. Here, experts explain the common pitfalls and how to avoid them.