Joined February 2020
- Tweets 1,214
- Following 1,671
- Followers 4,004
- Likes 5,573
220 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
11 Jan 2023
Hello #PortfolioDay 💙! I am Emma, artist, illustrator, graphic, web designer, and founder of @DrawImpacts! I am passionate about science and love to create unique illustrations of novel research and scientific discoveries! #sciart
✨drawimpacts.com
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Jun 11
From PowerPoint slide → sketch → journal cover @green_rsc
This project for the #TessonnierGroup is a great example of why I enjoy scientific storytelling.
The challenge wasn't just to illustrate the chemistry, it was to create a visual journey through the science.
Starting from the original slide, we explored different concepts through sketches before building the final 3D cover illustration.
Swipe through to see how the idea evolved along the way.
One of my favorite parts of this work is watching a scientific concept transform into a visual story.
#SciComm #ScientificVisualization #JournalCover
#SciArt #SciComm #ScientificVisualization
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May 27
“Why is my figure misunderstood?” 🔬
Because figures don’t just communicate data, they communicate hierarchy, interpretation, and story.
A figure can be scientifically correct and still confusing if:
• the key takeaway isn’t obvious
• too many things compete for attention
• the visual flow is unclear
Scientists spend months refining experiments… and sometimes only hours refining the figure.
Yet it’s often the first thing people look at.
Curious, what’s the hardest part for you when making a figure?
The colors?
The story?
Knowing what to highlight?
#SciComm #AcademicTwitter #DataViz #ScientificIllustration
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May 12
Fascinating work on how MDS mutant cells reshape their local immune environment through TGFβ signaling and promote clonal expansion.
Proud to see our illustration accompanying the study 🧬
We identify a mechanism for clonal expansion of MDS through local immunosuppressive effects of MDS mutant cells through secretion of TGFb, as well as cell intrinsic effects as mutant cells themselves have dampened recognition of TGFb (gorgeous art by @DrawImpacts):
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May 11
Love seeing the logo we designed show up alongside exciting science like this 😊
Big congrats, Reeshi, on the flash talk! Always special seeing the lab’s work and identity come to life together.
May 9
Reeshi gave a flash talk discussing his work on PRMT1 and nucleosomes at the Chemical Biology Colloquium yesterday. So proud to see the lab’s folks starting to present their work! 🥹
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May 6
Loved working on this illustration! Huge congrats to everyone involved 👏
Excited to see it out in the world!
How lucky are we to have both @CLachowiez and @GMontalbanBravo ‘s papers out in this issue of @BCD_AACR today 😍😍… 🙏🏻 to @_TanyaBondar_ for the guidance & opportunity
& to @DrawImpacts for the beautiful cover art. 🖼️
Check them out if you haven’t already.. we hope you enjoy reading them
aacrjournals.org/bloodcancer…
aacrjournals.org/bloodcancer…
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DrawImpacts retweeted
Apr 16
It was fantastic to work with you on this Emma!!
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Apr 16
We designed the cover for this week’s @Nature ✨
Cellular learning: how cancer cells explore and stabilize gene-regulatory states to survive stress.
For the visual, we leaned into abstraction,
circles, overlap, and rhythm, inspired by the French Orphism art movement.
Still a bit surreal to see it out!
Congrats to the team 👏 @ItaiYanai & #GustavoStarvaggiFrança
nature.com/nature/volumes/65…
#Nature #CancerResearch #SciComm #Biotech
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Apr 16
Still can’t quite believe this one is out ✨
Curious, do you usually prefer more literal covers, or more abstract ones?
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Apr 16
Big one ✨
We designed the cover for this week’s @Nature .
Such a great concept to translate visually.
Congratulations to the team 👏🔥
Apr 15
We're in this week's Nature! We propose a model of how a cell learns by running an evolutionary algorithm: exploring different gene-regulatory combinations and using feedback responses to stabilize those combinations that reduce stress levels.
Full text: nature.com/articles/s41586-0…
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Apr 1
Really exciting to see this out! 🌱
We designed the illustration for this study: following how Arabidopsis thaliana adapts (or fails to) across 30 environments, with evolution happening in real time at the genetic level.
Always rewarding to help make complex science feel clear!
👉 Science paper: science.org/doi/10.1126/scie…
👉 Press release: news.berkeley.edu/2026/03/26…
Our new experimental evolution study across 30 locations using the plant Arabidopsis thaliana —— we direct "see" adaptation and extinction to different climates at the genetic as it happens!
Read it in Science
dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.a…
@UCBerkeley
@hhmi_science
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Mar 24
Really enjoyed this conversation.
We talked about building @DrawImpacts , my path into scientific illustration, and why visuals play such a key role in how research is understood.
Grateful to be on Saturday Morning Lab ☕️
This week, I interview the kind, creative and talented Emma Vidal, scientific illustrator, and founder of @DrawImpacts. We talk about her early years in a small fishing village in France, her fateful entry into scientific illustration and her creative process! podbean.com/eas/pb-vyrfa-1a7…
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Mar 24
We really enjoyed working on this one!
The idea was to build something warm and conversational: rooted in a Saturday morning coffee ritual, with a subtle desert palette and a retro mic at the center.
Designed for @SatMorningLab : a podcast sharing the raw experiences and perspectives of PhDs, academics, and industry professionals.
Give it a listen ☕️
Hey friends, check out our new podcast logo! Courtesy of my friend (and podcast guest) Emma Vidal of @DrawImpacts ! Emma effectively combined the themes of fun retro, warmth, and relaxed conversation in these beautiful designs. The process was fun and the art is true to show☺️ If you are looking for art that conveys your science, Emma and her team are exceptional.
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Mar 24
If you enjoy thoughtful, real conversations from PhDs, academics, and industry folks, definitely give @SatMorningLab a listen
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Mar 24
Starting a new series: "Questions Scientists Ask"!
🏹 Do journal covers actually matter?
They don’t change the science.
They change whether people stop, look, and understand it.
A strong cover:
• Makes the core idea clear in seconds
• Signals rigor
• Extends reach beyond your field
#AcademicResearch #ScientificCommunication #SciComm #DrawImpacts
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Mar 11
Yesterday we spent time with the @Incyte team as part of our ongoing collaboration.
Hearing the science directly from the people behind it is always where the best visual strategies start!
#Biotech #ScienceVisualization #DrawImpacts
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Feb 25
Color in scientific figures is semantic.
In research communication, color carries meaning, often subconsciously.
🔴 Red = activation
Inflammation. Upregulation. A pathway turned on.
🔵 Blue = baseline
Control. Stability. Homeostasis.
🟢 Green = growth
Proliferation. Recovery. Renewal.
When colors are intentional, comprehension accelerates.
When they’re random, cognition slows down.
In high-stakes settings, journal covers, grants, investor decks, clarity isn’t just visual.
It’s psychological.
Color is part of the scientific narrative.
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We design visual systems that make complex biology easier to grasp.
#ScientificIllustration #ScienceCommunication #Biotech #DataVisualization
ALT Color in scientific figures is semantic. In research communication, color carries meaning, often subconsciously. 🔴 Red = activation Inflammation. Upregulation. A pathway turned on. 🔵 Blue = baseline Control. Stability. Homeostasis. 🟢 Green = growth Proliferation. Recovery. Renewal.
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Feb 17
We designed the slide deck for one of the 2025 @ASH_hematology plenary talks.
Designing at that scale shifts your perspective.
Slides aren’t just visual aids.
They’re the stage design.
At the plenary level, cohesion becomes critical.
- Same margins.
- Same typography logic.
- Same visual rhythm.
When a deck feels unified, the science feels clearer.
When it feels fragmented, even strong work loses impact.
In academia, cohesion signals rigor.
In biotech, it signals maturity.
Strong decks feel like they came from one mind.
That consistency changes how the message lands.
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Feb 17
We believe cohesion isn’t about making everything look the same. It’s about making every decision feel intentional!
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