The visual content you present in a document and the way you present it matter.
This is so important because it's important to remember that your audience is composed of lots of different people who all might interpret information different ways. One person might interpret information better through reading, while another interprets it best through the use of graphics.
The emergence of new software and hardware technologieshas enabled writers - not just graphic designers and programmers - to incorporatevisual content into their work to help them achieve these important rhetoricalgoals.
Some examples of software that have helped improve visual communication in technical communication include InDesign, Photoshop, Paint and PiktoChart.
To practice designing and composing a poster display board, try completing amockup
Mockups are extremely helpful when creating designs because they give you a general idea as to what the end product will look like. Of course, changes are expected, but mockups are a good starting point for anyone looking to create a large design.
Poster Tips
Posters are tricky design wise because it can be easy to play it safe and stick everything in the middle. This creates a weak design. When creating a poster, it's important to consider the four power points and the rule of thirds. Strong designs place content on one of the points or one of the lines. Weak designs place things dead center, along the sides, or in the corners.
Typography refers to the overall balance and interplay of the letters on the page orscreen.
It's extremely important to consider typography in technical communication and design to ensure maximum readability. In graphic design, one of the 13 deadly sins is using "tacky type." This includes, but is not limited to, reversing, stroking, using all caps, and underlining. These are all signs of inexperience. It's important to remember that readability is key!
Proofread
The importance of proofreading is only second to copyright and permission information. Always consider the audience and your reputation as a designer, technical communicator, etc. when releasing work into the public. Proofreading ensures complete clarity as to what you are trying to communicate because your work will be free of grammatical and spelling errors. Also, always ask a fresh pair of eyes to look over your work for you before releasing it.
Copyright and Permission inform
Copyright and permission information is the most important thing to remember when creating a visual. It is not okay to take credit for someone else's work, even if that was not your intention. Cite! Cite! Cite!
Using Visuals, Tips
I think another big tip as far as using visuals is to ensure they aren't visually boring, and creators create a strong design. Additional things to consider include balance, symmetry, and visual mass.
Note the different types of visuals you can use in today's multimedia environment.
As a journalism major, I must consider visual content in every news piece I write. Whether it be an on-camera interview or document layout on InDesign, it's always important to present content in a way that the text and visuals co-exist seamlessly.
Headings should reflect the importance of the information contained within thesection. For example, an A-level heading, the heading for a major section, might beall capped, LIKE THIS. The B-level heading, the heading for a sub-section within themajor section, might only have the first letter of each word capitalized, Like This.
Organizing headings helps readers recognize transitions from one subject to the next, importance of content, and helps readers find specified information they are searching for.
Organized headings has become the norm in information presentation, whether in books, websites, presentations, etc. As a technical writer, it's important to acknowledge style guides when determining how to place headings.
In anacademic or professional context, verbal and visual information work together toconvey data
In turn, the combination of visual and verbal information reiterates the point communicators are making. For example, the presence of line graphs showing the ups and downs of the stock market support the verbal and numerical data given each day at the closing of the market.