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Designing Visual Information: Enhancing Comprehension and Organization

This chapter explores different types of visuals that can enhance comprehension and organization of information in technical communication. It discusses how visuals like tables, graphs, charts, graphic illustrations, and computer graphics can be used effectively. It also emphasizes the importance of avoiding visual distortion.

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Designing Visual Information: Enhancing Comprehension and Organization

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  1. Chapter 14 Designing Visual Information Technical Communication, 10/e John M. Lannon

  2. How Visuals Work • Enhance comprehension by displaying abstract concepts in concrete, geometric shapes • Make meaningful comparisons possible • Depict relationships • Serve as a universal language • Provide emphasis • Focus and organize information, making it easier to remember

  3. Tables display organized lists of data Graphs display numerical relationships Charts depict relationships Graphic illustrations rely on pictures What Types of Visuals to Consider

  4. Tables • Tables are used to display dense textual information such as specifications, comparisons or conditions. • No table should be overly complex for the intended audience. • Tables work well for displaying exact values.

  5. Graphs • Graphs translate numbers into shapes that are easy to interpret and compare. • Types of graphs include • Simple bar graphs • Multiple-bar graphs • Horizontal bar graphs • Stacked bar graphs • 100-percent bar graph • Deviation bar graph • 3-D bar graph

  6. Total Sales Price Volume Line Graphs • Line graphs can accommodate many more data points than a bar graph. • Types of graphs include • Simple line • Multiple line • Deviation line • Band or area

  7. Charts • Pie charts • Organization charts • Flowcharts • Tree charts • Gantt and PERT charts • Pictograms

  8. Sales of Pharmaceuticals by Division $8,000,000 $6,000,000 $4,000,000 $2,000,000 West South Northeast Midwest Example of a Pictogram

  9. Graphic Illustrations • Diagrams • Exploded • Cutaway • Block • Maps • Photographs

  10. Computer Graphics • Select appropriate designs. • Use clip art wisely and creatively. • Use color to organize, orient, and emphasize.

  11. Avoid Visual Distortion • Present the real picture. • Present the complete picture. • Don’t mistake distortion for emphasis. (An example of distortion is on the next slide.)

  12. Avoid this graphic Use this graphic Sales of Beer by Store Sales of Beer by Store Example of Visual Distortion

  13. Any Questions? For additional help reviewing this chapter, please visit the Companion Website for your text at http://www.ablongman.com/lannon.

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