Intro to Graphics and Visuals
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The document highlights the importance of using visuals in technical communication, detailing their role in enhancing understanding and clarity for audiences. It discusses when to use visuals, types such as tables, charts, and diagrams, and offers guidance on choosing the appropriate visual based on audience and purpose. Additionally, it emphasizes professional standards for using visuals, including labeling, citation, and design considerations.
Intro to Graphics and Visuals
- 2. Why use visuals When to use visuals How to use visuals Types of visuals to use Agenda
- 3. 1. Understand the role of visuals in technical communication. 2. Determine when to use visuals 3. Select the right visuals 4. Identify ethical issues when using visuals 5. Increase the appeal and effectiveness of visuals Learning Outcomes
- 4. Why Visuals are Important Why Visuals are Important
- 5. "Every presentation, report, or specification I create is heavily dependent on visuals. Among my fellow scientists, charts and graphs help condense large sets of data into patterns and trends that we can grasp quickly. And even when I write a document for lawyers or other non-scientists at the company, I use visuals to make complicated information easy for them to understand." Nanette Bauer, Research Scientist at a large biotechnology company
- 6. Readers want more than just raw information; they want the information shaped and enhanced so they can understand the information at a glance.
- 7. Visuals help the reader understand which information is important, what they should focus on and what things look like.
- 8. The trend in this graph would be difficult to visualize if it was just a set of numbers.
- 9. When to Use Visuals When to Use Visuals
- 10. You should use visuals when they can make your point more clearly than written words.
- 11. Use visuals to clarify and support your discussion and direct your readers’ attention.
- 13. Tables Display organized data across columns and rows for easy comparison.
- 14. Translate numbers into shapes, shades and patterns. Charts and Graphs
- 15. Rely on pictures rather than data or words. Graphics and Illustrations
- 16. How to Choose Visuals How to Choose Visuals
- 17. to choose the right visuals, you need to answer some questions…
- 18. What is the purpose of using the visual?
- 19. What is the purpose of using the visual? To convey facts and figures alone, you should use a table but if you want the audience to draw conclusions, a chart or graph would be more effective. To show parts of a mechanism, a diagram or photo would be better.
- 20. Who is the audience for my visuals?
- 21. Who is the audience for my visuals? Expert audiences tend to prefer numerical tables or complex graphs they can interpret for themselves.
- 22. Who is the audience for my visuals? Expert audiences tend to prefer numerical tables or complex graphs they can interpret for themselves. General audiences tend to prefer basic tables, graphs and diagrams.
- 23. What form of information will best achieve my purpose?
- 24. What form of information will best achieve my purpose? Will the message be better conveyed by numbers, words, shapes, diagrams or symbols?
- 25. What form of information will best achieve my purpose? Will the message be better conveyed by numbers, words, shapes, diagrams or symbols? Will the audience more easily understand certain types of visuals?
- 27. Regardless of the type of graphic, there are certain requirements that always apply:
- 28. Regardless of the type of graphic, there are certain requirements that always apply: Use a number and title for each graphic and make sure you refer to it by its number.
- 29. Regardless of the type of graphic, there are certain requirements that always apply: Keep the design easy to read and understand.
- 30. Regardless of the type of graphic, there are certain requirements that always apply: Label all parts of the visual.
- 31. Regardless of the type of graphic, there are certain requirements that always apply: Place the visual near the text it is helping to describe.
- 32. Regardless of the type of graphic, there are certain requirements that always apply: Cite your sources.
- 34. We use visuals to make the information easy to process.
- 35. So when we write about the information, we don’t have to mention everything.
- 36. Start by referring to the graphic by its number and state what it shows.
- 37. Then explain what the audience should take from the graphic.
- 38. Follow that up with more detailed information.
- 39. Finally, remind the audience of the message you want them to take away.
- 40. REVIEW