CLEAR AND USER-FRIENDLY PRESENTATION MAXIMIZES THE IMPACT OF

A REPORT. ATTRACTIVE VISUALS, FLUID LANGUAGE AND A CREATIVE

STYLE WILL ENGAGE THE INTEREST OF THE TARGET AUDIENCE AND

POWERFULLY CONVEY THE REPORT’S ESSENTIAL MESSAGES.

CORPORATE PRINCIPLE

Flexibility and creAtivity in presentation

5

DEFINING MINIMUM STANDARDSFive key questions help HDR teams meet minimum standards for flexibility and creativity in presentation:

1. Does the report summarize major policy recommendations in one place?

2. Is it written using easy-to-understand and non-technical language?

3. Does the year on the cover reflect the actual year of the launch?

4. Does the report provide real examples that highlight people’s perspectives?

5. Does it employ a variety of presentation techniques, such as tables, graphs, figures, etc.?

CHAPTER 5

CORPORATE PRINCIPLE 5: FLEXIBILITY AND CREATIVITY IN PRESENTATIONCLEAR AND USER-FRIENDLY PRESENTATION MAXIMIZES THE IMPACT OF A

REPORT. ATTRACTIVE VISUALS, FLUID LANGUAGE AND A CREATIVE STYLE

WILL ENGAGE THE INTEREST OF THE TARGET AUDIENCE AND POWERFULLY

CONVEY THE REPORT’S ESSENTIAL MESSAGES.

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lively andrigorousanalysis: the text

Many HDRs face the challenge ofconverting sets of academic papers byvarious authors into a report that flowsas a coherent whole, in a languagereadily accessible to non-academics. Thefollowing section focuses on producingtext that is lively but lucid, and adheresto standard rules of scholarship.

The standard components of an HDRare:

• Title page

• Table of contents

• Overview or executive summary

• A combination of text and visualssuch as text boxes, graphics, tablesand illustrations

• Cogent groupings of policy messages

• Auxiliary materials such as anacronym list, a glossary of terms,statistical and non-statistical sourcesand a bibliography

Some guidelines include:

TITLE PAGE: As stipulated in UNDP’sPublications Policy (see tool 5.1), theyear that appears on the cover of anHDR must be the same as the year thatit is published. This is critical formarketing. A report that already seemslike last year’s news on the day itlaunches has a much shorter shelf lifethan one that is current. Some HDR

THE STRUCTURE

HDR s are not normally intended for the general public. They are, after all, documents that must range over economic and social

issues in some detail in order to frame often complex policy debates. But grabbingthe attention of busy policy makers, development practitioners and academics in thecrowded field of development publications requires professional support. Presenta-tion that is sophisticated and exciting greatly increases the chances that people willpick up the report, read it and understand its messages. Even with limitations on data, funding and policy expertise, many techniques can be employed to craft an attractive publication.

This chapter delves into three critical dimensions of presentation: how the reportreads (the language), how it looks (the visual appearance and design), and howinteractive technologies can add value. At the end, a series of tools provides addi-tional tips and resources. In general, reports should combine presentation featuresthat have been tested through the global HDRs with those more closely attuned tolocal experiences and expectations.

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teams have expressed concerns aboutmisrepresentations of fact, since muchof the report’s statistical informationmay be one or two years old. However,this is a standard procedure inthe publications business.

OVERVIEW OR EXECUTIVESUMMARY: This is the section ofthe report directed, above all, tothe busy policy maker who maynot take time to read everysection, but is interested in majorideas and findings. A well-constructed executive summaryshould pull together summaries(or abstracts) of each chapter,with brief introductory and clos-ing paragraphs. This will also make thereport’s overall structure clearly compre-hensible. Brief paragraphs and bulletpoints ensure easy access to essentialinformation.

COGENT GROUPINGS OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS: Whether in theconclusions of relevant chapters orsections, or drawn together in theoverview, a report’s key findings andpolicy messages should be summa-rized. Putting all policy options andconclusions in one place can demon-strate their relationships to oneanother and highlight them forattention (see box 5.1).

STATISTICAL AND NON-STATISTICALANNEXES AND SOURCES: Typically,socioeconomic research draws on non-statistical and statistical materials. Allof these resources should be equallyaccessible to the reader, for trans-parency and further exploration. Non-statistical annexes include materials

that support an argument, but wouldencumber its clarity if added to themain text. Examples include summariesof theoretical perspectives, qualitativedata, anecdotal material, further elab-oration of points made in the reportand text from relevant legislation.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: All footnotes orendnotes as well as any additional rele-vant sources should be reflected in amaster bibliography (see tool 5.5). Onehelpful organizing principle is to groupa bibliographic compilation by themeor topic. Internet resources should alsobe included, along with references topertinent audio or video materials.

Box 5.1: Bolivia’s 2002 HDR features a bilingual summarybooklet of its main policy messages.

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Wherever feasible, HDR teamsshould turn to professional edit-

ing expertise to transform the drafttext into a report that reads consistent-ly and progresses smoothly from chap-ter to chapter. The ideal scenario is toidentify and work with an editor anddesigner early on, so they understandthe purpose of the report and are fullycommitted to it.

A professional editor, especially some-one with a journalistic style of writing,can amplify and enliven messages, andmake the report more accessible to anon-academic audience. Poor editingcan undermine an HDR, no matterhow cogent its ideas and relevant itsrecommendations.

Another issue relates to the report’slength: most average about 130 pages.Sometimes, a compromise must bestruck between presenting all the analy-sis that has been gleaned from thereport preparation, and featuring asmaller set of key messages that aremore likely to draw focused attention. A document that is too short will lacksufficient depth. If too long, it will defythe purpose of an advocacy document,which is constructed around simple,powerful policy messages.

If an HDR process has been fullyparticipatory, local points of view

have probably fed into the final report.Materials acquired through thisprocess, such as case studies, storiesand quotes, reinforce a people-centredapproach, lend a fresh and immediatequality that enriches the presentation,and contribute to empowering thosewho have shared their experiences.

Thailand’s 2003 HDR starts with a chap-ter written by local communities (seebox 5.3). It offers a very moving andpowerful compilation of stories andconcerns from all over the country,based on forums held in dispersedvillages. Ordinary people talk about how projects that were supposed tobring in new ideas and technologies toimprove their lives ended up placinggreater value on financial gain. Theyoften replaced or destroyed traditionalstructures and knowledge that had been passed across generations, whilecommunities’ confidence in their ownstrength and capability declined. Thereport’s recommendations are forth-right: human development progress inThailand requires new policies that must empower communities to solveproblems independently, engage innegotiations with external agenciesfrom a position of strength, and protectcommunity rights.

Another example of skillfully conveyinga people-centred perspective isPakistan’s 2003 HDR, on poverty,growth and governance. The reportexplores who the poor are, and themechanisms that push them into pover-ty and keep them there. As a comple-

ILLUSTRATINGPEOPLE’S STORIES

THE EDITORIAL PROCESS

• Produce an advocacy document with lively,clear and accessible language.

• Ensure consistency in text, data, appendixesand bibliography

• Tighten the prose and harmonize the varyingstyles of authors

• Trim down overall length if required

• Comply with UNDP standards

TASKS OF THE EDITORBOX 5.2

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ment to empirical research, several casestudies chronicle the lives of individualfamilies and their relationship tomarkets, local power structures and theother determinants of economic well-being. Through these narratives, thereport unveils the larger story of therealities of poverty, and how theseweave throughout all aspects ofpeople’s everyday experiences.

To reach policy makers, it makessense to write an HDR in the

country’s official language. Butwhere relevant and feasible, thereport should also be translated intovernacular languages. This not onlydemonstrates a real commitment tofull participation, but also increases

the possibility of broadening thedialogue and gaining popularsupport for HDR recommendations.

Where the official language is notEnglish, translation into English couldalso be considered (see box 5.4 and tool5.3). Although English is not the mostwidely spoken language in the world, ithas become the principle avenue forglobal discourse. An English version willhelp vault the document into the glob-al arena, and allow comparison withother HDRs.

Given the cost, a full translation may notbe necessary. Alternatives include thetranslation of executive summaries and/orpolicy recommendations only, a simplifiedversion or shorter press releases.

ACCESSIBILITY OFLANGUAGE: TRANSLATION

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Box 5.3:Thailand’s2003 HDR tellsthe story oflocal concernsthrough first-personnarratives,concrete descriptions,quotations andboxes.

Compelling visuals: A look at

layoutand design

Compiling the differentelements of an HDR –

the analysis, data, case stud-ies, etc. – into a straightforward butattractive report requires creativity andinnovation in design and layout. Sophisti-cated graphic design communicates poli-cy messages in a visually stimulating andmemorable manner, a critical quality in aworld with an increasingly short atten-tion span. With the explosion in informa-tion technology, many messages circulate;only those that are remembered stand achance of generating action andprogress. The following section offerssome suggestions, based on past reports.

Studies of report readers indicate thatsome read only the text, while othersskim the text but peruse all of the textboxes. Another category picks upprimarily the statistics, and one groupreads every type of section. Accommo-dating all of these calls for a simple,varied layout throughout the report,one that will capture the reader’sattention no matter what they are

looking for. Each design elementshould have a clear and practicalpurpose, and contribute to an unclut-tered page.

Some basic principles are:

Balance: Arrange elements on the pageso that no one section is heavier thanthe others.

Consistency: Repeat design elementsand styles to help navigate designs andlayouts.

Contrast: Explore the use of size, value,colour and type to create obviousdifferences, such as black and whitetext, squares and circles, etc.

Proximity: Present elements closetogether or far apart to suggest a rela-tionship (or lack of one) betweenotherwise disparate parts.

White space: Ensure the design hasbreathing room and does not try tocram too much text and graphics ontothe page. Margins can provide this spaceand feature concise chapter messages.1

Box 5.4: Mozambique’s2001 HDR creatively pres-ents both its Portugueseand English narratives in asingle volume. The data andtables appear between thetwo versions.

1401 Adapted from "Graphic Design Tutorials and Procedures." 2003. About, Inc. (http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/design-principles/).

WHICH VISUAL ENHANCEMENTS TO USE WHEN, AND WHAT TO SHOWBOX 5.5

If an HDR is clearly structured around a set ofmain messages with supporting arguments,there will be little difficulty in identifying pointsthat deserve to be highlighted. The messages aregenerally the blueprint for the graphics, and theyprovide a standard for judging whether a graph-ic illuminates readers or leads them on an inter-esting but ultimately distracting tangent. If amessage relates to nominal growth, for example,then one would show nominal growth, ratherthan growth rates. When the message isprescriptive (such as recommending that spend-ing should shift), then an effective illustrationwould compare the existing situation oroutcome to the prescribed one.

Since a reader’s time is a non-renewable resource,if it is spent on peripheral subjects, it will not bespent on the central topic. It generally makes senseto resist the impulse to display data abundantly, orstick in a graphic simply because it makes an inter-esting picture.Without a pattern, trend or correla-tion that supports the main message, there is prob-ably no justification for a graphic.

Our motto as designers is to communicatemore by saying less. Making simple statementswhenever possible can disseminate messagesmore effectively. One way to begin is by firstidentifying a subject and predicate for everygraphic: for example, the HDI declined steeplyin country X during the 1990s. Then visuallyemphasize the dominant elements – in thiscase “the HDI” and “declined”.

A complex graphic may be clever and illuminat-ing to some readers, but may confuse manyothers. In particular, three-dimensional data,while often elegant and comprehensive, areunderstood by only a small minority of readers.

Finally, it is important to remember to impart themain messages in words, pictures and numbers,given that readers process information in widelyvarying ways. Some comprehend visual analo-gies; some need a coherent verbal description;some require quantitative facts. Including allthree forms of communication simply meansreaching a wider audience.

Gerry Quinn • Designer, Global HDRs

The use of pictures, numbers, charts,maps, graphs and other visual

options, when carefully selected formaximum effect, can quickly explaincomplex ideas in ways that lure a read-er’s eye (see tool 5.6). Each elementshould include a short explanation sothat the reader can understand it with-out referring to the text. A picture,diagram or map is rarely sufficient with-out a context. The explanation shouldunderscore the significance of the visualand relate it to the chapter’s centralmessage (see box 5.5).

One very important technique for HDRs is“social math” – the practice of makingnumbers interesting by placing themwithin a meaningful context (see box 5.6).The best social math surprises people, tugson their emotions, and can tell a storyfaster than any words. The media appreci-ate this approach, as it lends itself easilyto news stories. Numbers also can readilytranslate into decision-makers’ speechesand policy papers.2

Creative design can make these messagesstand out. Some options include localizingthe numbers, comparing them to some-thing else, or linking causes to effects.

STRONG GRAPHICS REINFORCE THE TEXT

1412 Advocacy Institute. 1998. Framing the Debate: Shaping the Debate on Tobacco. Advisory no. 6. Washington, D.C.:Advocacy Institute.

A skilled professional designer canprovide invaluable assistance in devisingand fitting together a full spectrum ofvisual enhancements. The followingexamples from various HDRs illustratesome innovative past practices:

Every HDR makes its first impressionwith the report cover. It can be one ofthe most important ingredients inpulling readers in, or keeping themaway. Effective covers are simple yetintriguing. They should be based on animage that, in a creative way, encapsulatesthe report’s theme. There are no restric-tions on what can appear on an HDR cover– photographs, artwork, graphics, maps orother imaginative ideas can all pique areader’s interest (see box 5.7).

Box 5.7: Lebanon, Poland andParaguay devised striking andcolourful covers

Box 5.6: Making numbers tell the story: The socialmath technique is effectively illustrated in this exam-ple from the 1998 global HDR. It highlights the factthat the additional annual cost of providing basicaccess to social services in all developing countries isaffordable, comprising only a small proportion of theworld’s current spending. The obstacle: it has simplynot been prioritized.

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TABLE 1.12

THE WORLD’S PRIORITIES? (annual expenditure)

Basic education for all $6 billion

Cosmetics in the USA $8 billion

Water and sanitation for all $9 billion

Ice cream in Europe $11 billion

Reproductive health for all women $12 billion

Perfumes in Europe and the USA $12 billion

Basic health and nutrition $13 billion

Pet foods in Europe and the USA $17 billion

Business entertainment in Japan $35 billion

Cigarettes in Europe $50 billion

Alcoholic drinks in Europe $105 billion

Narcotic drugs in the world $400 billion

Military spending in the world $780 billion

Inside the report, maps(see boxes 5.8 and 5.9)generally chart dispari-ties with the immediacyof few other devices. Asuccession of small mapscan track changes overtime. Geographic infor-mation systems (GIS – seetool 5.7) and other carto-graphic software programmes candisplay complex social phenomenageographically.

Tables present data in a form that canbe easier to grasp than a horizontalsuccession of figures. But they call forclear headings and sub-headings.

Pie-charts vividly illustrate who shareswhat.

For illuminating progress (or regres-sion), time trends and future scenarios,bar charts and line graphics (see boxes5.10 and 5.11) offer more options thanmost other visual devices.

Diagrams can capture the dynamicsbetween varied processes and/or theirphases, but can confuse as well as clarifythese relationships. Keep them simple.

Text boxes allow additional organiza-tions and individuals to contribute tothe HDR process, and can draw atten-tion to the drama of development byproviding verbal snapshots of a propos-

Box 5.9: Viet Nam’s 2001 HDR portrays HDI variancesby province

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Box 5.8: Nepal’s 2001 HDRIllustrates human developmentindexes across three ecologicaland five administrative regions.

al in practice. They might highlight acase study, or draw from a country’streasury of folklore in the form ofproverbs, parables and legends. Attimes, rooting the HDR in national tradi-tion can be a way of making complexideas more familiar to certain readers,who will then also find them easier tograsp. As a general rule, boxes shouldnot exceed 300-500 words.

Overall, each report should probablyseek a varied combination of visualenhancements. Box 5.12 presents someexamples from one chapter of the 2002Arab Regional HDR, where boxes, andcharts all portray different issues relat-ed to the current state of knowledge inthe region.

Box 5.10: Global HDR 2003 brings home powerful messages with simple visuals.

Box 5.11: Indonesia’s 2001HDR traces the impact ofthe economic crisis by link-ing the HDI and GDI.

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Box 5.12: The 2002 Arab region-al HDR employs different tools tostress its main points.

BEYOND THEPRINTED PAGE:EXPLORINGTHE WEB

Web-based options can greatlyenhance an HDR’s presentation.

Technology can complement the written page, or, in some cases,become a substitute for it. Bookscontinue to be a cherished medium,and remain the primary option inplaces where technology has yet togain a foothold. But interactive tech-nologies, such as Web sites, CD-ROMsand animated presentations, to namea few, can make an HDR more accessi-ble and attract new readers.

Web sites: One good example is theRoma HDR, Avoiding the DependencyTrap, which debuted in January 2003. Acomprehensive Web site, launched withthe report (http://roma.undp.sk/ – seebox 5.13), provides the full text andmuch more. The site is part of a far-reaching project to assemble in one placeall of the existing literature and legisla-tion on Roma and organizations workingon Roma issues in the five countriescovered in the report. It also presentsinformation used as HDR research, suchas a data set on Roma in each countryand background papers. And it includespages on the HDR team and the institu-tions they represent, related HDRs andmedia coverage. While it would havebeen very cumbersome to include much

of this material in theactual report, thecompanion Web siteoffers a rich resourcefor those who areinterested in moredetails.

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Box 5.13: A dynamic Web site for the 2003 region-al HDR on the Roma provides browsers with a wealthof useful information and related resources.

Data animation: One exciting newWeb-based technology to animate datatrends over time is Trendalyzer. Availablefree of charge(http:www.trendalyzer.com/), this soft-ware presents the movement of trendsacross regions and countries, allowingthe user to track and compare theprogress of specific countries over timeon chosen indicators. In the 2003 globalHDR, key messages come alive throughanimated graphics designed with Tren-

dalyzer. Readers can view progress andreversals in health and income since1960, setbacks in development duringthe 1990s and data on a selection ofthe MDGs. A custom presentationallows an examination of how individ-ual countries are faring on the MDGscompared to others around the world(http://www.undp.org/hdr2003/flash.html).

Interactive databases: A third technolo-gy that can stimulate interest or target

a particular readership is theinteractive database. With thedebut of Egypt’s 2002/2003report, the national HDR teamalso simultaneously dissemi-nated an interactive CD-ROMpacked with related data (seebox 5.14). Users can createcustomized maps by clickingon specific governmentadministrative levels (countryregions, urban governoratesand districts) and selectingany of 16 social and demo-graphic indicators. Differentshades across the map indi-cate varying degrees ofprogress. Most of the data isincluded in an Excel format aswell, which provides theoption of manipulating thedisaggregated datasets bycopying only specific variables,for example, or creatingcharts and graphs. These toolsare particularly effective inpresenting sub-national datafor further analysis. For moreinformation, contact UNDPEgypt (registry.eg@undp.org). Box 5.14: Egypt’s interactive database generates customized maps

with disaggregated data.

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Some necessary actions include:

Recruit an editor and designer to ensure HDR language and stylepowerfully reinforce the report’s messages, and to present data andmessages clearly and creatively.

Tailor the writing and design of the report to capture the attention ofthe target readership.

Identify clear format guidelines at the beginning.

Provide real examples and illustrations to highlight conditions fromdifferent people’s perspectives.

Avoid using too many sizes and styles of fonts.

Employ varied use of text boxes, graphics, messages and data.

Use knowledge management and electronic tools where relevant to produce the report and accompanying materials (Web site, listserve, file/folder classification resource and documentation records,database).

Ch

ec

kli

stFlexibility and creativity in presentation

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A number of resources are available from the UNDP Communications Office ofthe Administrator (http://intra.undp.org/coa/) to guide HDR teams on presenta-tion issues. The most relevant are UNDP’s Style Manual and the PublicationsPolicy, described briefly below.

UNDP STYLE MANUAL

The new UNDP Style Manual helps in writing, editing and producing print publi-cations in keeping with UNDP’s corporate editorial guidelines. The manualcontains detailed information on the following items:

• Abbreviations and acronyms, capitalization

• Publication requirements, format

• Grammar, names

• Numbers, punctuation

• Spelling

• Language

PUBLICATIONS POLICY

The UNDP Publications Policy of 2001 addresses coherence and cost-effectivenessin information materials produced by UNDP for external audiences. Two mainpoints are relevant to HDRs:

“National Human Development Reports shall always bear the date of the yearin which they are launched rather than the date of the final draft. All publishedreports shall be made available online prior to media and/or advocacy outreach.The NHDR Unit in New York is ready to assist country offices with posting thereports online.”

“The Publications Board shall exempt from substantive content review existingpublication series such as the Human Development Report, the National HumanDevelopment Reports (NHDR) and publications produced by the EvaluationOffice. Publications by the Evaluation Office shall conform to corporate designguidelines.”

For more information, see http://intra.undp.org/coa/publicationspolicy.html(UNDP Intranet) or contact Rajeswary Iruthayanathan(rajeswary.iruthayanathan@undp.org).

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5.1: • UNDP STANDARDS FOR PUBLICATIONS

Some simple writing tips help make HDR text friendly to readers:3

Limit the use of acronyms: Employ them as sparingly as possible. If you cannotavoid them, make sure that their meaning appears not only in a list of abbrevia-tions at the beginning of the report, but also in their first appearance in eachchapter.

Each word and sentence should push forward the next: Edit carefully to ensurethat each carries its weight in the document, and to eliminate any redundancy.The same idea applies to paragraphs.

Avoid repetition of ideas and language, which can clutter text.

Keep sentences as short and as simple as possible: Few people speak in long,complicated sentences. Writing should follow suit.

Simplicity of sentence structure often translates into elegance of style: Acomplex idea is not best explained by a complicated construction. The readershould not have to struggle with the meaning of the sentence as well as theconcepts underlying it. It is far better to express the complexities in several shortsentences that build upon one another.

Limit subordinate clauses, wherever possible, to one per sentence – at most,two: An additional clause generally means that you need a new sentence.

Use the active rather than the passive voice: The active mode adds dynamism toa text. All over the world, bureaucracies use passive constructions to avoid iden-tifying actors – as in “it was found that” rather than “we have found”. Whilethe passive mode may be an important mechanism for reaching consensus, italso can serve as a means to avoid accountability.

A passive formulation may be necessary to forestall embarrassment or other potential difficulties: Try to reserve it for those cases.

Avoid superfluous text: Phrases such as “it is therefore the case that” or“despite the fact that” bog down the writer and reader in irrelevant verbiage,and may lengthen the text counterproductively.

3 Adapted from Henry Fowler, 1986, The King's English. Oxford Language Classics Series, third edition. London:Oxford University Press.

TOOL 5.2: • ENGLISH LANGUAGE WRITING TIPS

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The UN Multilingual Terminology Database (UNTERM – http://unterm.un.org)provides translations of many terms used in HDRs into the six official UNlanguages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese. The database,created to ensure consistent translation of common terms and phrases usedwithin the UN, is maintained by the UN Documentation Division.

Step 1: type in a specificterm

Step 2: results for“human development” in six languages

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TOOL 5.3: • UN MULTILINGUAL TERMINOLOGY DATABASE

Using standard editorial mark-up symbols lessens the room for misunderstand-ings between drafters, editors, copyeditors, designers, etc.4

4 Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. Adapted from Merriam-Webster’s CollegiateDictionary. 1994. Tenth edition. Washington, D.C.

TOOL 5.4: • STANDARD PROOFREADING SYMBOLS

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One important characteristic of a highly credible publication is clear

identification of sources. Creating an accurate bibliography for HDRs can be anextremely time-consuming activity that is very prone to error when performedmanually. There are a number of software packages available to simplify theprocess of citing references and creating a bibliography. They are especiallyuseful in the case where writing is being done collaboratively, and they canenable HDR teams to keep track of sources in an organized manner while writing the text, thereby saving countless hours spent at the end reconstructingreferences.

One such software package is called Reference Manager (http://www.refman.com),a tool for locating bibliographic data and setting up bibliographies. It auto-mates the creation of bibliographies through its links to the Internet and refer-ences can be presented in any one of several formats. The software costsapproximately US $300 and can be ordered online. Other bibliography buildingsoftware can be found through an Internet search.

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TOOL 5.5: • REFERENCE SOFTWARE

Pictures, numbers and words can reinforce one another to tell a story, explaincomplex ideas and place issues within a larger context. The examples belowillustrate innovative ways of presenting major policy messages using simplegraphics. In constructing graphics like these, it is essential to first break downthe message into its most basic concept and then to identify a visual that canconvey it. Graphic designers can help, and certain publications, such as TheOnion, The Economist, USA Today and many others can provide inspiration.

The WorldGame Institute: “What theWorld Wants”

http://www.osearth.com/resources/wwwproject/index.shtml

USAToday (16 May 2003): “Expand workfor disabledand blind”

TOOL 5.6: • VISUAL CREATIVITY IN PRESENTING POLICY MESSAGES

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Many fields employ maps to present information. In human development analy-sis, they are especially useful for highlighting disparities and displaying changeover time. The difference between presenting data in a table of columns androws, and via a map, is not simply aesthetic. It is also conceptual: the waypeople see data has a profound effect on the connections they make and theconclusions they draw.

There are a number of computer packages available commercially that makethe collection, storage and presentation of geographic information easier andmore professional. Geographic information systems (GIS – http://www.gis.com)are a combination of computer software, hardware, data and personnel. A GIScombines layers of information about a place to yield a better understandingand new perspectives. The layers used depend on the research purpose —assessing environmental damage, viewing similar crimes in a city to detect apattern, and so on.

Making maps with a GIS is much more flexible than traditional manual or auto-mated cartography, because the system constructs them from databases. Exist-ing paper maps can be digitized and translated into the system as well. GISmaps can then centre on any location, at any scale, and show selected data, aslong as it is available, to highlight specific characteristics. A GIS analysis startswith figuring out the desired information, most often by devising a question:for example, how much forest is in each watershed? Being as specific as possiblehelps in deciding how to approach the analysis, which method to use, and howto present the results.

ArcView mapping software

ArcView 8 (http://gisstore.esri.com) is one of a number of GIS software systemson the market. It provides high-quality desktop visualization, along with query,analysis, integration and basic geographic data automation capabilities. ArcView 8 can be used as a stand-alone desktop GIS, while alsoserving as the entry point to the ArcGIS system (version 8.3 for Windows NT4.0/2000/XP costs approximately US $1,500).

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TOOL 5.7: •MAKING A POINT WITH GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION