visual communication

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Options for presenting your summary information

June 16, 2010 in Tips | No comments

In continuation from last week’s blog topic “What to include in an effective visual executive summary” this week I thought I’d explore the pros and cons of a few popular options for presenting your summary information. Hopefully, this will help you determine what format(s) will best achieve your objectives.

[Note: The previous post primarily focused on items to include within a print piece. In this post, I have decided to also include information about the pros and cons of presenting your information in a digital format to give you another option to consider.]

The 1-2-pager (standard paper sizes)

*Pros

  • Your audience may be more likely to engage with the information by not feeling intimidated to take notes directly on the summary
  • Save on printing costs by printing directly from your personal printer
  • Easily accessible for your audience to download and print a personal copy if you post a pdf version of the summary to your website or attach to email

*Cons

  • May not appear as professional if created as a standard Word doc or printed from a personal printer
  • Easier to update content for future use
  • Not as engaging for web use

Professionally printed brochure/booklet

*Pros

  • A professionally designed and printed piece will stand out from the crowd and capture your audience’s attention
  • Will provide you with the most design flexibility
  • Audiences can easily download and view materials if posted as a pdf online

*Cons

  • Higher printing costs and costs to making future edits
  • Not as engaging for web use

Animated video clip

*Pros

  • Engaging and interactive for audiences
  • Can easily insert into PowerPoint presentations and post on your website
  • Potentially more options for creatively communicating your information

*Cons

  • Has to be viewed on a computer or digital device
  • May be more difficult to make changes to the data or information as updates occur

—

In general, remember that your information summaries are a marketing piece for your organization as well. Therefore, make sure to include your logo, or stick to your standard color palette or fonts if you have them. This will provide you a consistent look across organizational materials.

-Elissa Schloesser

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Where to begin?

March 2, 2010 in Tips | No comments

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the information you’ve collected that you don’t know where to begin when it comes time to present it? Or maybe you are too close to a project that it makes it difficult to simplify the information so that other people will be able to understand it? If you have, (believe me) you are not alone. I have found this to be the case many times with clients.

This tends to be a good time to step back to basics. What are the key ideas, messages, or findings that you want to get across to your audience? If you feel like you are too close to the project, it might be a good idea to ask someone else to take a look at the information or ask them to listen to you explain it out loud. Once you determine the key ideas you want to present, it is much easier to fill in the supporting information.

Below is an example of a short summary presentation that I had compiled for Urban Land Institute Minnesota using this principle. Start by simplifying the information. You can always build in more complex and detailed information as necessary. I think you will find this to be a successful strategy. You may also find with a little extra attention your summary piece can serve as a unique project overview for audiences as well.

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Create a simple animated graphic

February 11, 2010 in Tips | No comments

Would you like to create simple animated graphics like the one above?

I have drafted an overview to how you can using Adobe Photoshop. You may find that is easier than you think. (Don’t be intimidated by the long list of directions. They basically repeat themselves.)

Creating Animated GIFs

  • Adding frames
    • Open the “animation” panel
    • Add frame (icon left of trash can icon)
  • Tweening (fading in and out)
    • Make a second frame
    • Select the first frame. In the layers panel uncheck “propagate Frame 1”
    • Change opacity to 0%
    • Select frames 1 and 2 in the animation’s panel
    • Click on circles icon to add tweening layers
    • Make sure all parameter boxes are checked in the tweening window
    • Adobe Photoshop will create new layers in between the two frames to create a fading effect
  • Tweening (position & layer effects)
    • Make a second frame
    • Select the first frame. In the layers panel uncheck “propagate frame 1”
    • Change the color overlay in frame 2 and move object outside the frame
    • Select frames 1 and 2 in the animation’s panel
    • Click on circles icon to add tweening layers
    • Make sure all parameter boxes are checked in the tweening window
  • Save your document
    • Save for web and devices (has to be GIF)
    • Save as images only
    • Post to your website or send as an email attachment

If you have any questions, please send me an email at elissa@myvisualvoice.com.

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Lost Generation

January 15, 2010 in Inspiration | No comments

This is a strong communication piece that literally represents how things can change by reversing your perspective. I think you’ll find it interesting.

What are your thoughts on this clip?

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Maps for Advocacy

January 12, 2010 in Resources | 1 comment

I wanted to pass along another great resource guide that the Tactical Technology Collective has produced. Lots of good information about how you can use mapping for advocacy. If you read nothing else, I would recommend checking out the list of resources on page 23.

Guide Overview: “This guide offers an introduction to how to use maps for advocacy. It reviews different tools and mapping techniques, explores certain types of data and their sources, offers an overview of different scenarios where mapping has been used for advocacy, and finally explains some useful terminology related to mapping.”

Click here to download.

Click here if you are interested in reading their other guide book, Visualizing Information for Advocacy.

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What do we do?

January 7, 2010 in Visual Voice...learn more | No comments

Click here to find out.

Interested in creating a short film to help explain your work?

Contact us to learn how. It may be easier than you think.

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Visualizing The U.S. Electric Grid

January 6, 2010 in Inspiration | No comments

Visualizing the US Electric Grid, source: NPR

This interactive visual has a lot of information on it. But unless I’m missing something (which could be very likely) it seems to be missing some key pieces of information for understanding.

The visual shows the U.S. electric grid, and is introduced with this statement. “The U.S. electric grid is a complex network of independently owned and operated power plants and transmission lines. Aging infrastructure, combined with a rise in domestic electricity consumption, has forced experts to critically examine the status and health of the nation’s electrical systems.”

By looking at this visual, I can see lots of cool information, but I couldn’t tell you if our electric grid is sitting pretty or is going to collapse tomorrow. It would have been nice to include additional context information to help the average viewer more easily determine the answer to this question.

For example, how does the current energy grid compare to population or population growth? Or it would also be interesting to see which grid lines are being used to maximum capacity or are in need of repair.

The answers to these questions may be obvious to an energy engineer, but since this visual is being published for NPR audiences, I would argue that these pieces of information are needed to make this visual more useful.

Many times it is easy to get lost in the details of your subject, but it is always important to step back and consider your audience when creating a visual aid. What information is needed to explain your message to them?

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A pie chart alternative

December 29, 2009 in Tips | No comments

Pie goes great with dinner, but does not always pair the best with information. If you are looking for an alternative to the overused pie chart to explain percentages, here’s a clever alternative.

It is particularly effective in this case because the percentage is so small and would not show up very well as a slice in a pie.

It may take a little longer to create, but will most likely be more engaging for your audience.

The content of the graph and discussion is also interesting. You can check it out on the Information is Beautiful blog.

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Tools and tactics for communicating for your cause

December 28, 2009 in Resources | No comments

messagebadge

“Message in-a-box gives you everything you need to make and distribute your own media. This website covers A Strategy for Making Media, Print, Images, Audio, Internet, Video, and Mobiles.

Each section includes information, references, links and inspiring case studies that show how the right tools and tactics can be used to make media with impact.

Message in-a-box also provides open source software tools to make our own media and video and text ‘how-to’ guides that tell you how to do this.”

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Why you might not want to hear…“great graphics in your presentation.”

December 18, 2009 in Tips | No comments

Yesterday I attended the Twin Cities Research Group Brown Bag. Don Feeney, Research and Planning Director at the Minnesota Lottery, presented on the topic “Graphic Revelations: Effective Communications through Statistical Graphics”.

The presentation contained lots of great information. Below are some items from my notes I thought you might find interesting.

Why is written and verbal communication different than graphical communication?

Written and verbal communication is a linear process. There is a beginning, middle and end. On the other hand, graphical communication requires the viewer to take a much more active role in interpreting the information. They can decide where they start viewing the information, how long they want to spend on a particular item, and if they want to revisit any portion.

How can I create visuals that connect with my audience?

Similar to written or verbal communication, knowing your audience is important. Here are some questions to consider when creating your next graph or visual.

  • How much does my audience know about the subject?
  • How much time is available for them to absorb the information?
  • Can the data be made meaningful using a visual?
  • Is my audience graphically literate?
  • How concerned will they be about methodology?
  • What’s my message (i.e. what’s my headline)?
  • Should I be using a graph?

Why is the statement “great graphics in your presentation” not necessarily a complement?

Although it is wonderful to be rewarded for your outstanding ability to make information aesthetically pleasing, a better compliment would be, “wow, there was some really great information in your presentation.”

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