why use visuals?

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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

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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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Why Use 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

Page 2: Why Use Visuals?

How Visuals Work

• Visuals enhance comprehension by displaying abstract concepts in concrete, geometric shapes.

• Visuals make meaningful comparisons possible.

• Visuals depict relationships.

• Visuals serve as universal language.

Page 3: Why Use Visuals?

When to Use a Visual• When you want to draw attention to

something immediately important• When you expect the document to be

consulted randomly or selectively instead of being read in its original sequence

• When you expect the audience to be relatively less educated, less motivated, or less familiar with the topic

• When you expect the audience to be distracted

Page 4: Why Use Visuals?

The University of Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station traps sparrows, blackbirds, starlings, and grackles to protect valuable seed in its fields. In 1985, 6,305 sparrows, 581 blackbirds, 1,086 starlings, and 163 grackles were trapped. In 1990, 2,317 sparrows, 1,468 blackbirds, 400 starlings, and 131 grackles were trapped. In 1995, 8,843 sparrows, 502 blackbirds, 1,104 starlings, and 325 grackles were trapped. Finally, in 2000 3,396 sparrows, 395 blackbirds, 2,160 starlings, and 412 grackles were trapped.

Page 5: Why Use Visuals?

Graphs display numerical relationshipsGraphs display numerical relationships

Charts display parts of a wholeCharts display parts of a whole

Tables display organized lists of dataTables display organized lists of data

Graphic illustrations show actual viewsGraphic illustrations show actual views

Page 6: Why Use Visuals?

Functions of Visuals1. Provide immediate visual recognition

2. Organize numeric or textual data

3. Show relationships among numeric or verbal data

4. Define or explain concepts, objects, and processes

5. Present chronology, sequence, or process

6. Illustrate appearance or structure

7. Identify facilities or locations

Page 7: Why Use Visuals?

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?

Page 8: Why Use Visuals?

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.

Page 9: Why Use Visuals?

Guidelines for Using Visuals with Text• Place the visual where it will best serve your readers• Never refer to a visual that readers cannot easily

locate.• Never crowd a visual into a cramped space• Number the visual and give it a clear title and labels.• Match the visual to your audience.• Introduce and interpret the visual.• Use prose captions to explain important points made

by the visual.• Be sure the visual can stand alone.• Never include excessive information in one visual.

Page 10: Why Use Visuals?

Preferred Displays for Specific Visual PurposesPurpose............................................ Preferred Visual

Organize 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

Page 11: Why Use Visuals?

Available Toppings at Pizza Palace

• Pepperoni• Sausage• Italian Sausage• Canadian Bacon• Shrimp• Hamburger• Bologna• Green Peppers• Red Peppers• Banana Peppers• Ham• Pickles• Chicken

• Bananas• Tuna• Salmon• Pineapple• Feta Cheese• Gorgonzola Cheese• Salami• Calamari• Black Olives• Mayonnaise• Asparagus• Arugula• Smoked Mozzarella

• Green Olives• Red Onions• Yellow Onions• Garlic• Basil• Oregano• Tomatoes• Apple Rings• Anchovies• Marshmallows• Zucchini• Artichoke• Maraschino Cherries

Page 12: Why Use Visuals?

Bad Example of Bar Graph

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Page 13: Why Use Visuals?

Bad Example of Images

• Don’t use animation in your slides!

• Don’t use sounds!• Don’t time your slides!

Page 14: Why Use Visuals?

How to Avoid Visual Distortion

• Present the real picture

• Present the complete picture

• Don’t mistake distortion for emphasis

Page 15: Why Use Visuals?

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Page 16: Why Use Visuals?

How to Avoid Visual Distortion

• Present the real picture

• Present the complete picture

• Don’t mistake distortion for emphasis

Page 17: Why Use Visuals?

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Page 18: Why Use Visuals?

How to Avoid Visual Distortion

• Present the real picture

• Present the complete picture

• Don’t mistake distortion for emphasis

Page 19: Why Use Visuals?

Sales of Beer by Store

Avoid this graphic Use this graphic

Sales of Beer by Store