Visual_Communication

Visual Communication Visual communication is when we communicate, using visual aids. Examples are signs, sign language, television and movies, pictures and even written words. To make visual communication fun and not boring you can use different styles of lettering, colors and shapes to make your presentation pop and keep your audience interested. Just like changing a typeface, changing a color or the placement of a word can visually communicate something entirely different. Designers collaborate with copywriters to ensure that the verbal and the visual communication are entirely in sync with each other. As with all forms of communication, the first step is to determine what you want to say. , effective visual communication is achieved by displaying information in a way that enables people to clearly see an accurate representation of your message and understand what they see, but to communicate your message clearly you must first understand what you are trying to get across. Once you know what you want to say, effective visual communication is achieved by displaying information in a way that enables people to clearly see an accurate representation of your message and understand what they see. Remember, everyone does not comprehend the same way and may read your message the wrong way. As demonstrated by the examples below, the simple selection of a typeface colors and designs can have a profound impact on the message which is communicated. This is the essence of visual communication. The same information is used in each example. Sales for Lisa in 2011 Month | Sales | Quota | % to Quota |   |   |   |   | January | 54 | 42 | 128.57% | February | 46 | 42 | 109.52% | March | 37 | 42 | 88.10% | April | 43 | 42 | 102.38% | May | 39 | 42 | 92.86% | June | 45 | 42 | 107.14% | This is a simple bar graph, which also uses excel to calculate and import the information to the graph. This graph is usually used in business offices to show work progress or other important information at a glance. You see this kind of chart in school books, in the newspaper and in magazines. It is used a lot and I find it boring, but easy to read. Some bar graphs I have found very complicated to read or understand. I like the fact that the percentage to goal is also included. The example below is much more exciting and easy to read, all the information you need is included and right at your finger tips. It shows use of color, word design and uses shapes. March 37 April 43 Feb. 46 Jan. 54 July Aug. June 45 May 39 Dec. Sept. Nov. Oct. References Berger, A.A., (2007). Seeing is Believing. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Legend: Made Quota Q q q Quota Not Monthly Quota 42 Legend: The chart above reminds me of a page out of desk calendar. All the months are there for you to see, and there is a legend to explain what the colors are, but personally red always means bad and green means good. It is very easy to read, and the sales numbers for the month are there at a glance for you to see how well this sales representative is doing. It is a fun and colorful way to chart your progress. Lisa’s Sales at a Glance 2011 Green = Goal Red = Miss Goal The chart above is very interesting to look at in my opinion. Again, it is the same information used in all examples but formed in a different way, besides a line graph which to me is very boring. This is very easy to read, you see what the monthly quota is and in green you see it was passed and in red you see the months it was not passed. It does not look cluttered and is very pleasing to the eye and very eye catching. This is a smart art chart done in hierarchy. I like all the different charts, but my favorite would have to be the second one with all the colors and shapes. It is fun and light and playful. It shows month to month how the sales representative did in sales and shows like all of them the trend. Now this sales representative in my opinion needs to figure out why sales fluctuated. What these charts do not show is how many people came into the store, what was the weather like and was she out any days' I find wordy conversation or different writings that should be simple are boring and I skip pass them or zone out. Remember visual communication comes in all forms and has been used for thousands of years. You do not want all your words to be in capitals, this is very hard to read. We see it everywhere from advertisements, television, movies, artwork, it is all around us and what really catches our eye is if what we are looking at has balance and a great design. Visual communication is also what we were and what we drive, what are we trying to communicate to everyone we see' “Visual communication is the communication of ideas through the visual display of information. Primarily associated with two dimensional images, it includes: art, signs, photography, and typography, drawing fundamentals, color and electronic resources. Recent research in the field has focused on web design and graphically oriented usability. It is part of what a graphic designer does to communicate visually with the audience.” (Ayiter, E.) References Berger, A.A., (2007). Seeing is Believing. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. Ayiter E., The History of Communication, Retrieved 7/03/200 from, Http://citrinitas.com/history_of_viscom/