Speakers using visual aids: n Were twice as successful in getting their message across as those who used none. n Increased audience information retention five fold from 10% to 50%. n Were more successful at reaching a group consensus 79% of the time Vs. 58%.

Good design n Contributes to the effectiveness and usefulness of the visual aid/document. n Makes the visual aid/document more visually appealing and more readable. n Involves choosing the most appropriate design elements. n Produces lively and interesting documents. n Helps communicates the message.

Getting Started n Ask Questions n Establish Goals and Objectives n Establish the Audience n Purpose

Getting Started n Purpose –Persuade - press releases, business plans, posters, flyers –Inform - reports, lab work, newsletters, instruction –Identify - layout, certificates, labels –Reference - directories, lists, schedules, event calendars, lists of books

Getting Started n Ask Questions n Establish Goals and Objectives n Establish the Audience n Purpose n Information Categories

Getting Started n Information Categories –Concept What is it? –Procedures How do I do it? –Process How is it done? –Classification What kind / type is it? –Fact What are the specs? –Structure How does it look?

Getting Started n Ask Questions n Establish Goals and Objectives n Establish the Audience n Purpose n Information Categories n Organizing Information – Post-it notes

Establishing A Format n Image n Constraints n Appropriateness and Relevance n Proportion n Consistency / Variety n Restraint n Contrast and Color / White Space

Working with Words n Topography and Font should achieve for the reader what the voice does for the listener.

Working with Words n Typeface –Arial, Times, Times Roman n Font - variations in a typeface –Palatino, Palatino Italic, Palatino Bold, n Serif and sans serif n Point The size of letter

Working with Words Working with Words n Creating Emphasis with Type Styles –Italics Bold ALL CAPS n Alignment –Left justified has a ragged right edge –Justified text columns are uniform in spaces between the words. –Centering good for titles.

Punctuation n Slides don’t really require it. Less is more – reduce number of words n Enrollment records show an increase at all the ACC campuses for the fall. n ACC fall enrollment up

Procedures and Guidelines n Procedures: – 1) Plug in the toaster – 2) Place the bread slices in the slots – 3) Push down the spring button – 4) Wait for the toast to pop up – 5) Remove the toast

Procedures and Guidelines –Guidelines n The toast will be light brown when done n Toast can be eaten at breakfast n Try spreading toast with jam –Use some sort of bullet when listing items and not a hyphen.

Use of Images & Graphics n Helps convey the message. n Supports the message. n Use text to augment not dominate visual. n Don't crowd text in a box - let it breathe. n Line drawings - technical information.

Use of Images & Graphics n For complex visuals - show the entire illustration, - then isolate details. n Simplify visuals. n Rulers, borders, boxes initial caps, bullets, and arrows - create strong organization guide the eye from place to place. n Charts and graphs present data visually.

7 Basic Types Graphs and Charts 1. Bar graphs 2. Stack Bar 3. Pie charts 4. Line graphs 5. Area graphs. 6. Flow charts or diagrams 7. Scatter graphs

Color with Text Use from three to four different colors Use from three to four different colors Contrast between backgrounds and text Contrast between backgrounds and text Avoid certain color combinations red/green Avoid certain color combinations red/green Pay attention to the background color. Pay attention to the background color. Content also dictates how the color will be interpreted. Content also dictates how the color will be interpreted. Darker colors are perceived as being heavier than lighter colors. Darker colors are perceived as being heavier than lighter colors.

Production Notes Document Stand Materials & Power Point Slides n Words - think "Brevity” n Key phrases or important points. n Less is more and bigger is better. n As a general rule use a maximum of 6 words across, 6 lines deep. (+/- 2) n Lists at least 3 items no more than 7.

Layout n Use horizontal positioning. n Choose a Typestyle that is easy to read. n Highlight important points with a bullet. n Title/Headline use 24 pt. or 36 pt. n Text 18 pt. or 24 pt. n Titles need to appear in the same position. n Strive for balance, simplicity and diversity.

Handouts n Help augment classroom activities. n Can provide further in depth information. n Overheads provide structure to the lecture. n Provide detail that won't fit on an overhead. n Should not contain the entire lecture on a single page.

Proofreading Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, facts and figures. Check spelling, grammar, punctuation, facts and figures. Spell checker - typos and misspelled words. Spell checker - typos and misspelled words. Make sure it is “write” word. Make sure it is “write” word. Omitted, and transposed double words words. Omitted, and transposed double words words. Have someone else read the materials. Have someone else read the materials. Check the spelling of people's names. Check the spelling of people's names.