Designing Visual Elements

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Chapter 14

• Designing Visual Elements

English 421 Technical Writing, Spring 2003
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Agree?

• As the world increases in complexity, as the
  speed at which we need to solve business and
  social problems increases, as it becomes
  increasingly critical to have the big picture
  as well as multiple levels of detail immediately
  accessible, visual language will become more and
  more prevalent in our lives
• Horn, quoted by Lannon p. 291

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How Visuals Work

• Enhance Comprehension
• Make meaningful comparisons possible
• Depict relationships
• Focus and organize information
• Serve as universal language
• Provide Emphasis

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When to use Visuals

• Instruct or Persuade
• Draw attention to something immediately
• When audience will be distracted
• When audience is less motivated, educated, or
  familiar with your topic
• If the document will not be read thoroughly or in
  its original sequence

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Gantt Chart
Figure 1. Gantt Chart
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Project Gantt Chart
Figure 2. Project schedule Gantt Chart
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CPM and CPA Shart
Figure 3. Critical Path Method or Critical Path
Analysis Chart
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Pert Chart
Figure 4. Pert Chart details activities that
need to be accomplished by a group in a set
amount of time. Places emphasis on activity and
the availability of team members.
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Audience Considerations

• What do I need my audience to know?
• Who is my audience?
• Technical background
• Level of interest in the topic
• Which type of visual will work best in the
  situation?

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Fitting Visuals with Text

• Make your visuals easy to locate
• Avoid crowding a visual into a cramped space
• Match the visual to your audience
• Introduce and interpret all visuals
• Use prose captions to explain the visual
• Be sure the visual can stand alone

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SmartDraw Software

• http//www.smartdraw.com

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