ABSTRACT
Visual communication in a scientific publishing context is by necessity vast and varied – ranging from figures in research papers, to scientific illustrations in analysis and news pieces, to abstract representations of research on the cover. Each type of visual has its own set of best practices informed by purpose and intended audience. Journal covers play a unique role in visual communication, often taking center stage. This chapter provides an insight into some of the considerations and choices that the visual design department at Nature makes in its daily work, using examples from our own cover designs. A cover visual can take any form, providing space for artistic vision and interpretation, in contrast to figures like charts and graphs, where form and function are largely predetermined. The chapter presents case studies in which the cover plays an interesting role of aesthetic choices in communicating science.
