Introduction

Graphic design plays a crucial role in effectively communicating the Vilnius-Lithuania 2024 iGEM project to both the scientific community and the public. It establishes a unique visual identity for the project, making it recognizable and memorable. The team's thoughtful use of design elements, such as consistent color schemes, typography, and illustrative diagrams, enhances the clarity of complex scientific concepts and data. Integrating visual storytelling with scientific content ensures that their project is accessible and engaging, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their work.

Colors

We strategically selected a palette of contrasting colors to create a visually appealing and accessible design. This thoughtful choice ensures that graphics and charts are easily interpretable, even for individuals with color vision deficiencies. We utilized the Pilestone.com online tool to verify the color suitability, demonstrating our commitment to inclusivity and effective communication of scientific data. This approach not only enhances the visual identity of our project but also supports clear and accessible presentation of complex information.

Logo

The logo presents a clear and straightforward design, which is ideal for accessibility. Its bright and contrasting colors make it easily distinguishable, including for individuals with color vision deficiencies. The clean lines and uncomplicated shapes contribute to readability and recognition, even for those with visual impairments. The design effectively represents adhesives through its cohesive and sticking elements, symbolizing bonding and unity, which ties nicely with the concept of adhesives as products that join surfaces together in a seamless manner.

We refined the logo this year to achieve a more streamlined and versatile design. The updated logo strengthens brand recognition and maintains accessibility for different uses and audiences, making it suitable for diverse presentation contexts without compromising its core identity.

Typography

When designing the visual style of our project, we prioritized readability and modern aesthetics by selecting "Montserrat" and "Source Sans Pro" as our primary fonts. "Montserrat" offers a clean and geometric sans-serif style, ideal for headlines and titles due to its strong visual impact. Meanwhile, "Source Sans Pro" provides excellent legibility in body text, making it perfect for extended content in presentations, layouts, and posters. Combining these fonts ensures clarity and professionalism, contributing to the project's minimalistic and cohesive design.

Accessibility

The Vilnius-Lithuania 2024 iGEM wiki includes customizable accessibility features allowing users to adjust the interface settings based on their preferences. These settings can be adjusted for optimal comfort and readability, particularly for users with disabilities. Key customization options might include:

• Text Size: Users can increase or decrease the text size depending on their visual comfort. This is particularly useful for visually impaired individuals who prefer larger text for readability.
• Contrast Adjustments: The wiki may offer the option to switch between different color contrast modes, such as a high-contrast or dark mode, making it easier for people with color vision deficiencies or light sensitivity to interact with the content.
• Font Options: Users can switch between different font styles, enabling those with dyslexia or other reading difficulties to choose fonts that enhance their reading experience.
• Line and Letter Spacing: By allowing users to adjust the line height and letter spacing, the wiki accommodates people with cognitive impairments or reading challenges, ensuring the content is easier to read and process.

These adjustable settings enhance the user experience by allowing individuals to tailor the wiki's appearance to their needs. This ensures that the content remains accessible and user-friendly for a diverse audience.

Graphic design in our projects

Incorporating graphic design and art into a project can significantly enhance public engagement and educational outreach. To increase the visibility of our team and its activities, we developed a collection of custom stickers featuring the iGEM Vilnius-Lithuania 2024 initials. These designs incorporated scientific and natural elements, creatively merging humor with education. This approach allowed us to effectively promote our team while making complex scientific concepts more approachable and memorable to a broader audience, thus contributing to our overall outreach and awareness efforts.

Conclusion

The Vilnius-Lithuania 2024 iGEM team has demonstrated a strong commitment to accessibility, visual clarity, and engagement in presenting their project. Through thoughtful graphic design elements, such as strategic color choices and accessible typography, the team ensures that their project is easily interpretable by a diverse audience, including those with disabilities. Additionally, the team's refined logo and the incorporation of custom stickers have strengthened their visual identity and outreach efforts. Overall, the integration of design and accessibility in the Vilnius-Lithuania 2024 project exemplifies a holistic approach to scientific communication, emphasizing both inclusivity and visual appeal.