A great deal of archaeological data is inaccessible to the public; similarly, a vast majority of Americans own smartphones and use social media. While it is best that more sensitive data from archaeological projects remains protected, data that is appropriate to share publicly can help foster an appreciation of local history, spur an interest in historic preservation, and demystify CRM accessibly for the average American. Making data from grey literature beautiful and easier to understand is a skill any CRM practitioner can develop, and one that is becoming increasingly important!

Participants will gain an understanding of the basics of graphic design most relevant for social media (color theory, contrast, composition and text hierarchy, for example), learn best practices for public archaeology science communication on social media, and be exposed to successful case studies. They will also be walked through making one social media post in Canva.