Mike Morrison
@mikemorrison.bsky.social
#betterposter guy · PhD, Work Psychology · Studying how to make scientists’ tools easier to use · Redesigning #ScientificPublishing @Curvenote.com · 📽️ Manifesto: https://youtu.be/WBjhxjWDiHw · Pathologically friendly 😀
PSA: Last week, Affinity Studio (major Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop alternative) went completely 'free forever'.
Pro design software, now accessible to all PhD students. May start recommending this in my workshops.
www.affinity.studio/graphic-desi...
Pro design software, now accessible to all PhD students. May start recommending this in my workshops.
www.affinity.studio/graphic-desi...
November 4, 2025 at 4:03 PM
PSA: Last week, Affinity Studio (major Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop alternative) went completely 'free forever'.
Pro design software, now accessible to all PhD students. May start recommending this in my workshops.
www.affinity.studio/graphic-desi...
Pro design software, now accessible to all PhD students. May start recommending this in my workshops.
www.affinity.studio/graphic-desi...
Love to see this @elife.bsky.social article using short titles for the thumbnail card and also a takeaway-title for the full article.
This helps you skim & decide on thumbnails faster, and learn from the article itself sooner (if people only read the title, make the title a lesson).
#scienceUX
This helps you skim & decide on thumbnails faster, and learn from the article itself sooner (if people only read the title, make the title a lesson).
#scienceUX
July 8, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Love to see this @elife.bsky.social article using short titles for the thumbnail card and also a takeaway-title for the full article.
This helps you skim & decide on thumbnails faster, and learn from the article itself sooner (if people only read the title, make the title a lesson).
#scienceUX
This helps you skim & decide on thumbnails faster, and learn from the article itself sooner (if people only read the title, make the title a lesson).
#scienceUX
Got to work with 120 Early Career Researchers on poster + presentation design at NSF EPSCoR.
Nearly exploded Google Docs with 120 simultaneous people playing presentation slide & poster design games.
After 5 years, still my favorite group!
#ScienceUX #betterposter
Nearly exploded Google Docs with 120 simultaneous people playing presentation slide & poster design games.
After 5 years, still my favorite group!
#ScienceUX #betterposter
June 23, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Got to work with 120 Early Career Researchers on poster + presentation design at NSF EPSCoR.
Nearly exploded Google Docs with 120 simultaneous people playing presentation slide & poster design games.
After 5 years, still my favorite group!
#ScienceUX #betterposter
Nearly exploded Google Docs with 120 simultaneous people playing presentation slide & poster design games.
After 5 years, still my favorite group!
#ScienceUX #betterposter
Haha go for it. Now a brutal hypothetical for you: Pretend the CDC has papers under review at Stacks, and they've asked to retract them as per recent mandates. What do you do? WHAT do you do?
(no pressure, just for fun, and hope you get the Speed reference)
(no pressure, just for fun, and hope you get the Speed reference)
February 7, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Haha go for it. Now a brutal hypothetical for you: Pretend the CDC has papers under review at Stacks, and they've asked to retract them as per recent mandates. What do you do? WHAT do you do?
(no pressure, just for fun, and hope you get the Speed reference)
(no pressure, just for fun, and hope you get the Speed reference)
APCs costing science $Billions.
Would love to be able to track average APC cost, so we can see *hopefully* progress in reducing that number through efficiency.
This study curated an APC dataset, but it may take regulation to force transparency by publishers?
https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.16551
Would love to be able to track average APC cost, so we can see *hopefully* progress in reducing that number through efficiency.
This study curated an APC dataset, but it may take regulation to force transparency by publishers?
https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.16551
February 3, 2025 at 4:00 AM
APCs costing science $Billions.
Would love to be able to track average APC cost, so we can see *hopefully* progress in reducing that number through efficiency.
This study curated an APC dataset, but it may take regulation to force transparency by publishers?
https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.16551
Would love to be able to track average APC cost, so we can see *hopefully* progress in reducing that number through efficiency.
This study curated an APC dataset, but it may take regulation to force transparency by publishers?
https://arxiv.org/abs/2407.16551
A short animated gif in a scientific article adds so much understanding and engagement.
Look forward to more of this with Curvenote journals.
Look forward to more of this with Curvenote journals.
January 27, 2025 at 4:00 AM
A short animated gif in a scientific article adds so much understanding and engagement.
Look forward to more of this with Curvenote journals.
Look forward to more of this with Curvenote journals.
Still science in 2024: "Our figure 2 shows this result clearly. Please scroll down 30 PAGES to see it..."
PS with @curvenote.com journals, inline figures can go full-width, and any reference to a figure shows it in a hover popup.
PS with @curvenote.com journals, inline figures can go full-width, and any reference to a figure shows it in a hover popup.
January 8, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Still science in 2024: "Our figure 2 shows this result clearly. Please scroll down 30 PAGES to see it..."
PS with @curvenote.com journals, inline figures can go full-width, and any reference to a figure shows it in a hover popup.
PS with @curvenote.com journals, inline figures can go full-width, and any reference to a figure shows it in a hover popup.
Apparently there's a coffee price index that helps explain why my favorite bag of coffee is like 20% more expensive this month?
Not comforting that it also predicts further increases for 2025.
Not comforting that it also predicts further increases for 2025.
January 6, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Apparently there's a coffee price index that helps explain why my favorite bag of coffee is like 20% more expensive this month?
Not comforting that it also predicts further increases for 2025.
Not comforting that it also predicts further increases for 2025.
Newspapers looked like walls-of-text (like scientific articles and posters are today), but then evolved a central hero area and clearer visual hierarchy.
...from a course on Typography design
...from a course on Typography design
December 18, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Newspapers looked like walls-of-text (like scientific articles and posters are today), but then evolved a central hero area and clearer visual hierarchy.
...from a course on Typography design
...from a course on Typography design
What's your favorite alternative to the traditional 'blob of text' abstract paragraph?
Here's a unique design that heavily prioritizes Methods.
Here's a unique design that heavily prioritizes Methods.
December 11, 2024 at 1:00 PM
What's your favorite alternative to the traditional 'blob of text' abstract paragraph?
Here's a unique design that heavily prioritizes Methods.
Here's a unique design that heavily prioritizes Methods.
How would you feel about having an AI peer review as a tool just for yourself to use before submitting to a journal?
e.g., Coursera can AI-grade your assignments now. I've actually enjoyed this feature as a pre-human check.
e.g., Coursera can AI-grade your assignments now. I've actually enjoyed this feature as a pre-human check.
December 9, 2024 at 2:00 PM
How would you feel about having an AI peer review as a tool just for yourself to use before submitting to a journal?
e.g., Coursera can AI-grade your assignments now. I've actually enjoyed this feature as a pre-human check.
e.g., Coursera can AI-grade your assignments now. I've actually enjoyed this feature as a pre-human check.
Select some text in a scientific article, and get related points from OTHER papers in that papers' citation network.
It made scientists in the test study feel more curious!
Cool #scienceUX prototype from:
https://buff.ly/3UFRRmJ
It made scientists in the test study feel more curious!
Cool #scienceUX prototype from:
https://buff.ly/3UFRRmJ
December 4, 2024 at 4:00 AM
Select some text in a scientific article, and get related points from OTHER papers in that papers' citation network.
It made scientists in the test study feel more curious!
Cool #scienceUX prototype from:
https://buff.ly/3UFRRmJ
It made scientists in the test study feel more curious!
Cool #scienceUX prototype from:
https://buff.ly/3UFRRmJ
LEGO quadrant chart!! This whole article is just pure design geek goodness.
December 2, 2024 at 6:14 AM
LEGO quadrant chart!! This whole article is just pure design geek goodness.
Relatedly, did not realize Biden tried to create a "DARPA for Advanced Healthcare Research"!
I mean, I'd like to see an agency like that at least ATTEMPT to create medpods or something.
I mean, I'd like to see an agency like that at least ATTEMPT to create medpods or something.
November 29, 2024 at 5:26 AM
Relatedly, did not realize Biden tried to create a "DARPA for Advanced Healthcare Research"!
I mean, I'd like to see an agency like that at least ATTEMPT to create medpods or something.
I mean, I'd like to see an agency like that at least ATTEMPT to create medpods or something.
The readability of scientific articles went down over time.
Should we thank "sounding important for the journal" for this trend?
Or deeper niche-specialization?
📄Source:
https://buff.ly/4hj40HI
Should we thank "sounding important for the journal" for this trend?
Or deeper niche-specialization?
📄Source:
https://buff.ly/4hj40HI
November 18, 2024 at 4:00 AM
The readability of scientific articles went down over time.
Should we thank "sounding important for the journal" for this trend?
Or deeper niche-specialization?
📄Source:
https://buff.ly/4hj40HI
Should we thank "sounding important for the journal" for this trend?
Or deeper niche-specialization?
📄Source:
https://buff.ly/4hj40HI
Never seen that Bingo Table file organization before! Super cool!
November 14, 2024 at 9:03 AM
Never seen that Bingo Table file organization before! Super cool!
Is there a good reason that scientific levels of evidence need to be counterintuitive, where we need an arrow explaining that Level 1 is higher than Level 5?
Which number is higher: 1 or 5?
Which level of a building is higher: floor 1 or floor 5?
Which number is higher: 1 or 5?
Which level of a building is higher: floor 1 or floor 5?
November 13, 2024 at 1:23 PM
Is there a good reason that scientific levels of evidence need to be counterintuitive, where we need an arrow explaining that Level 1 is higher than Level 5?
Which number is higher: 1 or 5?
Which level of a building is higher: floor 1 or floor 5?
Which number is higher: 1 or 5?
Which level of a building is higher: floor 1 or floor 5?
🚨Announcing new #OpenHardware project to measure traffic patterns in scientific poster sessions (w/anonymous & IRB-safe data).
The single most powerful thing we can do to improve poster sessions is create better measures.
Details & how you can test/contribute:
https:/
The single most powerful thing we can do to improve poster sessions is create better measures.
Details & how you can test/contribute:
https:/
November 22, 2024 at 11:23 AM
🚨Announcing new #OpenHardware project to measure traffic patterns in scientific poster sessions (w/anonymous & IRB-safe data).
The single most powerful thing we can do to improve poster sessions is create better measures.
Details & how you can test/contribute:
https:/
The single most powerful thing we can do to improve poster sessions is create better measures.
Details & how you can test/contribute:
https:/
Old academic publishers: Here's a blurry low-res figure. Click to be able to actually read it.
Curvenote journals: Here's an animated, high-resolution figure. Click to play with the data and watch the graph update live.
It really is 1995 vs 2024 out here in the journal space. Change is coming!
Curvenote journals: Here's an animated, high-resolution figure. Click to play with the data and watch the graph update live.
It really is 1995 vs 2024 out here in the journal space. Change is coming!
November 4, 2024 at 4:58 AM
Old academic publishers: Here's a blurry low-res figure. Click to be able to actually read it.
Curvenote journals: Here's an animated, high-resolution figure. Click to play with the data and watch the graph update live.
It really is 1995 vs 2024 out here in the journal space. Change is coming!
Curvenote journals: Here's an animated, high-resolution figure. Click to play with the data and watch the graph update live.
It really is 1995 vs 2024 out here in the journal space. Change is coming!
"Many poster makers think that observers can read 107 complete scientific articles during the coffee breaks."
— Reader & Head, *1989*
Scientific posters have been broken for 35 years.
— Reader & Head, *1989*
Scientific posters have been broken for 35 years.
November 22, 2024 at 11:23 AM
"Many poster makers think that observers can read 107 complete scientific articles during the coffee breaks."
— Reader & Head, *1989*
Scientific posters have been broken for 35 years.
— Reader & Head, *1989*
Scientific posters have been broken for 35 years.
"Many poster makers think that observers can read 107 complete scientific articles during the coffee breaks."
— Reader & Head, *1989*
Scientific posters have been broken for 35 years.
— Reader & Head, *1989*
Scientific posters have been broken for 35 years.
October 28, 2024 at 4:00 AM
"Many poster makers think that observers can read 107 complete scientific articles during the coffee breaks."
— Reader & Head, *1989*
Scientific posters have been broken for 35 years.
— Reader & Head, *1989*
Scientific posters have been broken for 35 years.
Journal of Actually Well-Written Science lists 3 reasons why scientific articles are painful to read:
1. Topics are hyper-specialized
2. Content is technical and iterative, not life-changing.
3. Style: Long, run-on paragraphs. Overly-dry formal tone, paragraph junk, etc.
1. Topics are hyper-specialized
2. Content is technical and iterative, not life-changing.
3. Style: Long, run-on paragraphs. Overly-dry formal tone, paragraph junk, etc.
October 24, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Journal of Actually Well-Written Science lists 3 reasons why scientific articles are painful to read:
1. Topics are hyper-specialized
2. Content is technical and iterative, not life-changing.
3. Style: Long, run-on paragraphs. Overly-dry formal tone, paragraph junk, etc.
1. Topics are hyper-specialized
2. Content is technical and iterative, not life-changing.
3. Style: Long, run-on paragraphs. Overly-dry formal tone, paragraph junk, etc.
The power of good design in science communication:
A well-designed visual abstract made papers feel more rigorous, interesting, and understandable.
https://buff.ly/3BOCcuo
Here, they removed "chart junk", which is my new fav word.
A well-designed visual abstract made papers feel more rigorous, interesting, and understandable.
https://buff.ly/3BOCcuo
Here, they removed "chart junk", which is my new fav word.
October 21, 2024 at 3:36 PM
The power of good design in science communication:
A well-designed visual abstract made papers feel more rigorous, interesting, and understandable.
https://buff.ly/3BOCcuo
Here, they removed "chart junk", which is my new fav word.
A well-designed visual abstract made papers feel more rigorous, interesting, and understandable.
https://buff.ly/3BOCcuo
Here, they removed "chart junk", which is my new fav word.
Anybody using CS Studio Phoebus (Experimental Physics software)?
Help share your design workflow struggles/tips with this scienceUX community member here?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ScienceUX/comments/1fyuvgs/any_cs_studio_phoebus_users_in_the_sub/
Help share your design workflow struggles/tips with this scienceUX community member here?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ScienceUX/comments/1fyuvgs/any_cs_studio_phoebus_users_in_the_sub/
November 22, 2024 at 11:31 AM
Anybody using CS Studio Phoebus (Experimental Physics software)?
Help share your design workflow struggles/tips with this scienceUX community member here?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ScienceUX/comments/1fyuvgs/any_cs_studio_phoebus_users_in_the_sub/
Help share your design workflow struggles/tips with this scienceUX community member here?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ScienceUX/comments/1fyuvgs/any_cs_studio_phoebus_users_in_the_sub/