design-scientific-figure

Design Scientific Figure

Act as the Designer in the four-role Scientific Illustrator protocol. Produce a backend-neutral design specification before the Drawer adds any object. The selected backend affects object mapping, not the design quality or acceptance gate.

Detect constraints

Read the selected backend's capabilities first. Use powerpoint_status then powerpoint_get_capabilities for PowerPoint/WPS, or drawio_live_get_capabilities for draw.io. When live Mac PowerPoint is requested, also require powerpoint_officejs_status to report a connected task pane. Design only with semantic objects the selected adapter can create editably; use declared editable composites when a native monolithic object is unavailable.

Define the message

Record:

• one sentence stating the scientific message;
• intended audience and reading order;
• required stages, entities, evidence, comparisons, and causal links;
• target aspect ratio and output size;
• labels or facts that must remain exact;
• uncertainty or content still needing user input.

Build the layout system

Specify before drawing:

• outer margins, panel grid, gutters, and shared alignment anchors;
• panel ids, bounds, hierarchy, and construction order;
• standard node sizes, corner radii, stroke widths, and spacing tokens;
• title, section, label, annotation, and caption typography;
• a limited semantic palette with accessible contrast;
• reserved connector lanes and permitted entry/exit sides;
• legend, annotation, table, chart, and raster-evidence locations;
• z-order and meaningful grouping.

Prefer one clear reading path: left-to-right, top-to-bottom, or an explicitly labeled cycle. Use no more than three primary hierarchy levels.

Design connectors

• Route process flow through reserved orthogonal lanes with few bends.
• Connect from the side facing the destination and avoid immediate backtracking.
• Keep arrows outside unrelated shapes and labels.
• Separate parallel routes by a consistent lane gap.
• Avoid crossings; if scientific topology makes one unavoidable, redesign the node placement before accepting it.
• Distinguish process, inhibition, feedback, grouping, and association with consistent conventions.
• Reserve endpoint clearance so arrowheads touch a boundary without covering the target fill or text.