Lannon, Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14- DESIGNING VISUAL INFORMATION

Visuals are used focus and organize information, as well as, making it easier to understand.

Why Visuals Matter
they help people understand information at a glance. easier to see trends when looking at a graph as opposed to a list of numbers.

When to use Visuals
when they:
- clarify a point
- further discussion
- want to focus audience
- help audience remember
but remember use them to help your goal not just to make the page look pretty.

Types of Visuals to Consider 
- tables: organize exact values or information
- graphs: comparisons, trends
- charts: relationships
- graphic illustrations: pictures rather then words

How to Select Visuals
ask questions to help best fit your work:
- purpose?
- audience?
- which will help to better understand information?

Tables
can be used to organize both quantitative and qualitative data. keep them simple and easy to read and understand. once again keep the audience in the back of your mind- what will work for them.

Graphs
"translate numbers into shapes, shades, and patterns" easily help readers to grasp relationships and big picture ideas.
-bar graphs: easy to understand, comparisons.
     = simple: one trend or theme
     = multiple: two or three relationships
     = horizontal: large series of bars arranged from lg to sm.
     = stacked: how individual bars contribute to whole
     = 100%: each part that makes up the whole
     = deviation: both positive and negative
     = 3-d: gain attention and emphasize
- line graphs: more data points, lg amounts of info
     = simple: one line
     = multiline: several relationships
     = deviation: above and below 0
     = band/area: highlight specific info
     = multiple band: sums rather then direct comparisons- easy to misinterpret
- charts: relationships
     = pie charts: easy to understand, parts and percentages of whole
     = organizational: hierarchy or relationships between departments
     = flow: procedure or process from beginning to end
     = tree: how the parts of an idea or concept relate
     = gantt: parts in relation to idea or concept, timelines, how phases of a project will relate
     = PERT: geometric shapes and weighted arrows
     = pictograms: cross between bargraph and chart

Graphic Illustrations 
anything visual that relies on pictures. used to show spacial relations, what something actually looks like.
- diagrams: presenting views that can't be captured by photographing
     = exploded: how items are assembled
     = cutaway: exterior layers removed
     = block: simplified sketches
- maps: comparisons, visualize relationships

Photographs
showing how something looks, stock photos that you can change to suit your document.

Software and Downloadable Images 
help to create high quality graphics

Using Color
Color makes things more interesting. grabs the readers attention. clarify and organize information. Orient, help locate important info, emphasize.

Ethical Considerations 
Present the real picture, the whole picture. Don't mistake distortion for emphasis

Cultural Considerations 
not all cultures read right to left, take this into account when creating a specific document for users from different cultures.