TYPES OF V ISUALS

The medium is the message; the message is the medium.--Marshall McLuhan

We have many different types of visuals available to help us communicate effectively to the readers of our documents. Our task is to select the visuals that will best convey our intended message.

The chart below lists a number of visual types and the particular purpose or purposes each is best suited to accomplish.

The type of visual you use depends upon the message, the situation, and the technical level of your audience.

Effective visuals convey a specific overall message specifically designed to meet the needs of particular reader groups:

• Managers, supervisors, and decision-makers are
  mainly interested in the "bottom line." Visuals for
  these individuals should present the message
  quickly and emphatically.
  
• Engineers, scientists, and other technical readers
  are looking for scientific conclusions. Visuals for
  these individuals should present data to support a
  conclusion stated in the text.

In both cases, the visuals should quickly and easily convey the intended message.