1. Graphics
and Visuals
Graphics
and Visuals
Introduction to

2. Why use visuals
When to use visuals
How to use visuals
Types of visuals to use
Agenda

3. 1. Understand the role of visuals in
technical communication.
2. Determine when to use visuals
3. Select the right visuals
4. Identify ethical issues when using visuals
5. Increase the appeal and effectiveness of
visuals
Learning Outcomes

4. Why Visuals are
Important
Why Visuals are
Important

5. "Every presentation, report, or
specification I create is heavily
dependent on visuals. Among my fellow
scientists, charts and graphs help
condense large sets of data into patterns
and trends that we can grasp quickly.
And even when I write a document for
lawyers or other non-scientists at the
company, I use visuals to make
complicated information easy for them
to understand."
Nanette Bauer,
Research Scientist at a large biotechnology company

6. Readers want more than just raw
information; they want the information
shaped and enhanced so they can
understand the information at a glance.

7. Visuals help the reader understand
which information is important, what
they should focus on and what things
look like.

8. The trend in this graph would be difficult to
visualize if it was just a set of numbers.

9. When to
Use Visuals
When to
Use Visuals

10. You should use visuals when
they can make your point more
clearly than written words.

11. Use visuals to clarify and
support your discussion and
direct your readers’ attention.

12. Types of
Visuals
Types of
Visuals

13. Tables
Display organized data across columns
and rows for easy comparison.

14. Translate numbers into shapes, shades
and patterns.
Charts and Graphs

15. Rely on pictures rather than data or words.
Graphics and Illustrations

16. How to Choose
Visuals
How to Choose
Visuals

17. to choose the right visuals, you
need to answer some
questions…

18. What is the purpose of using the
visual?

19. What is the purpose of using the
visual?
To convey facts and figures alone, you
should use a table but if you want the
audience to draw conclusions, a chart or
graph would be more effective. To show
parts of a mechanism, a diagram or
photo would be better.

20. Who is the audience for my
visuals?

21. Who is the audience for my
visuals?
Expert audiences tend to prefer
numerical tables or complex graphs they
can interpret for themselves.

22. Who is the audience for my
visuals?
Expert audiences tend to prefer
numerical tables or complex graphs they
can interpret for themselves.
General audiences tend to prefer basic
tables, graphs and diagrams.

23. What form of information will best
achieve my purpose?

24. What form of information will best
achieve my purpose?
Will the message be better conveyed by
numbers, words, shapes, diagrams or
symbols?

25. What form of information will best
achieve my purpose?
Will the message be better conveyed by
numbers, words, shapes, diagrams or
symbols?
Will the audience more easily understand
certain types of visuals?

26. Using Visuals
Professionally
Using Visuals
Professionally

27. Regardless of the type of graphic,
there are certain requirements
that always apply:

28. Regardless of the type of graphic,
there are certain requirements
that always apply:
Use a number and title for each
graphic and make sure you refer to it
by its number.

29. Regardless of the type of graphic,
there are certain requirements
that always apply:
Keep the design easy to read and
understand.

30. Regardless of the type of graphic,
there are certain requirements
that always apply:
Label all parts of the visual.

31. Regardless of the type of graphic,
there are certain requirements
that always apply:
Place the visual near the text it is
helping to describe.

32. Regardless of the type of graphic,
there are certain requirements
that always apply:
Cite your sources.

33. Describing
Visuals
Describing
Visuals

34. We use visuals to make the
information easy to process.

35. So when we write about the
information, we don’t have
to mention everything.

36. Start by referring to the
graphic by its number and
state what it shows.

37. Then explain what the
audience should take from
the graphic.

38. Follow that up with more
detailed information.

39. Finally, remind the audience of
the message you want them to
take away.

40. REVIEW