paul mundy tables and illustrations

Paul Mundy www.mamud.com

Tables and illustrations

Tables

Good way to present numbers Good way to organize text

Eg to compare 2–3 alternatives Refer to them in the text

But Tables can be hard to

understand Keep them to a minimum Keep them simple

Questions on tables

What is the purpose of this table? Is this the best way to present data?

How about a graphic? Numbers in the text? Is the table complete in itself? How does it relate to the rest of the text?

Data in tables

Put columns and rows in logical order Put data to compare close to each other Highlight important numbers Cut out unnecessary figures

Give round numbers (3.5 tons, not 3.457 tons) No significance levels or statistical tests Reduce the number of rows and columns

Tables

Make the title talk Put detail in a footnote if needed

Say where the information comes from Date, place, project

Graphics

Important design element Break up the text Readers look at them before reading the text

Keep them simple Make them clear

How about this graphic?

How about this one?

How about this one?

How about this one?

Photos or illustrations?

Photos

Show reality Show colour Expensive to

reproduce Hard to find good

photos If you can’t find a

good photo, don’t use a bad one What do you see

in this photo?

Photographs

Use digital camera Taking photos

Take photos yourself Colleagues take photos Use professional photographer

Build up a photo library Label photos with place, date, names, subject

Photographs

Photo quality In focus, correct exposure

Not too light or dark People doing things

Not just looking at camera Get up close to subject Check photo composition

Subject not right in centre Use framing by trees, objects

Exposing for the sky

Photos

Choose photos carefully

Crop them to highlight area of interest

Give a caption if needed

Olivia Njemba (right) shows her tree nursery to visiting extension agents

Illustrations

Attract the eye Use them to carry

a message Not just for

decoration Provide labels

and a caption if needed

Illustrations

Can be clearer than photo Less distracting detail

Can show things that are not real

Illustrations

Easy to label Cheap to reproduce Need to find artist