Perspectives Dallas Chapter of ASTD Membership Newsletter May 2008 Table of Contents
Golden Nuggets from Visual Communication Workshop
Compiled by Carol Glenn
There are three main steps to creating effective visuals:
1. Mental- content design
2. Verbal- visual language
3. Visual- projected slide design
Visual elements account for 55% of the message the audience receives
Mental
Mind mapping is an effective development tool to engage the whole brain in creating any project, program or presentation. Studies have shown it can activate the “deep brain” and stimulate untapped creativity. There are even online programs that can be used to help generate and organize visual mind maps.
Mind mapping can be done on individual or group projects and some of the online tools provide collaborative capabilities.
Verbal
Visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text. Visual language such as stories, metaphors, and aphorisms can help participants experience a topic with multiple senses. The more senses that are engaged, the easier it is to remember and access the information.
When articulating a thought, consider what senses the words are appealing to. The more sensatory responses that can be triggered through the written word, the more your overall message will resonate with your audience.
Visual
Print medium and presentation visuals should complement the message, not duplicate each other or distract the audience from the presenter.
Good printed handouts should provide good memory joggers and still encourage note taking. Asymmetrical layout is easier to read; good design leads the reader through the main points, allowing for appropriate white space, which enhances focus. Handout length is recommended to be no more than half as long as the number of presentation slides used. This may not be realistic for heavy technical material or training manuals.
The best practice for Power Point slides is the 4x4 rule: no more than 4 bullets and no more than 4 words per bullet. Font should be at least 24 point for clear visibility. Use complete sentences only in rare instances such as quotations, mission statements, legal documentation or performance goals and objectives.
When using artwork to appeal to your audience, it is better to use photographs instead of cartoons if possible. On printed materials, a Sans Serif font should be used (such as Arial). On longer training materials, Times Roman or other serif fonts are acceptable.