objectives understand when to use visuals be able to choose the right visual for the job produce...
DESCRIPTION
How Visuals Work Enhance comprehension by displaying abstract concepts in concrete, geometric shapes. Make meaningful comparisons possible. Depict relationships. Serve as universal language.TRANSCRIPT
Objectives• Understand when to use visuals• Be able to choose the right visual for the
job• Produce quality visuals
Why Use Visuals?• To clarify a concept• Emphasize a particular meaning• Illustrate a point• Analyze ideas or data• Help readers process information
differently• Pull important information out of text
How Visuals Work• Enhance comprehension by displaying
abstract concepts in concrete, geometric shapes.
• Make meaningful comparisons possible.• Depict relationships.• Serve as universal language.
When to Use a Visual• You want to draw attention to something
immediately important• You expect the document to be consulted
randomly or selectively instead of being read in its original sequence
• You expect the audience to be relatively less educated, less motivated, or less familiar with the topic
• You expect the audience to be distracted• You want to help your audience make sense of
your information
How to Select Visuals for Your Purpose and Audience
• What is my purpose?– What do I want the audience to think or know?– Do I want users to focus on one or more exact values, compare two or
more values, or synthesize a range of values?• Who is my audience?
– What is their technical background on this topic?– What is their level of interest in this topic?– Would they prefer raw data or interpretations of the data?– Are they accustomed to interpreting visuals?– What is their cultural background?
• Which type of visual might work best in this situation?– What forms of information should this visual depict (numbers, shapes,
words, pictures, symbols)?– Which visual display would be most compatible with the type of
judgment, action, or understanding I seek from the audience?– Which visual display would this audience find most accessible?
How to Select Visuals for Your Purpose and Audience cont. . .
• If you want the audience to know facts and figures, a table might suffice, but if you want them to make a particular judgment about these data, a bar graph, line graph, or pie chart might be preferable.
• To depict the operating parts of a mechanism, an exploded or cutaway diagram might be preferable to a photograph.
• Expert audience tend to prefer numerical tables, flowcharts, schematics, and complex graphs or diagrams they can interpret for themselves.
• General audiences tend to prefer basic tables, graphs, diagrams, and other visuals that direct their focus and interpret key points extracted from the data.
Smoking's Impact on Dying from Lung Cancer
Deaths Not Attributable to
Smoking18%
Deaths Attributable to
Smoking82%
Deaths Attributable to Smoking Deaths Not Attributable to Smoking
Preferred Displays for Specific Visual Purposes
Purpose............................................ Preferred VisualOrganize numerical data……………... Table
Show comparative data…………..….. Table, bar graph, line graph
Show a trend…………………….…..... Line graph
Interpret or emphasize data…….….... Bar graph, line graph, pie chart, map
Introduce an unfamiliar object……...... Photo, representational diagram
Display a project schedule………….... Gantt chart
Show how parts are assembled.…….. Photo, exploded diagram
Show how something is organized….. Organization chart, map
Give instructions………………..……... Prose table, photo, diagrams, flowchart
Explain a process……………………... Flowchart, block diagram
Clarify a concept or principle……….... Block or schematic diagram, tree chart
Describe a mechanism……………….. Photo, representation, or cutaway diagram
How to Avoid Visual Distortion
• Present the real picture• Present the complete picture• Don’t mistake distortion for emphasis
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How to Avoid Visual Distortion
• Present the real picture• Present the complete picture• Don’t mistake distortion for emphasis
Sales of Beer by Store
Avoid this graphic Use this graphic
Sales of Beer by Store