1. Visual Literacy for Teachers
Annette Marchioli
EDLS 618
Fall 2009

2. Definition of Visual Literacy
“The ability to understand, use, and create with images effectively” (Braden,1999).

3. Humankind has been doing this from the beginning of time… from cave paintings…
Chinese horse from the Caves of Lascaux, France

4. …to the development of modern alphabets…
..and so written language evolved…
Letters represent sounds…
sounds are put together to make words…
words are put together to make sentences…
Σ Δ Γ Α Β…

5. Fast forwarding to the 21st century…
“In the 21st century,
the ability to interpret and create
visual, digital and audio media
is a form of literacy as basic
as reading and writing text”
(Bleed, 2005).

6. How does this impact teachers?
Teachers must interpret visual messages.
Teachers must create visual messages.
Teachers thus have
two roles:
You are a user.
You are a designer.

7. The point of this presentation is…
…to help you become a more effective creator/designer by providing some design principles, techniques and examples.

8. Content is king… The content gives rise to the design.
Your job is to understand and respond to the content – to see patterns and organizational needs.
Within the content:
Develop the relationships within the material – what is most important? What should be together?

9. Design Principles Focal point Eye Flow Balance White Space Simplicity
Unity
Help the viewer develop a relationship to the content by effective use of:

10. Focal Point What does a focal point do? How to create a focal point:
Attracts attention, draws in reader
Element with the strongest visual interest
How to create a focal point:
One focal point per page
Use photos, graphics, letters
Emphasize by size, color, placement, isolation, movement

11. Eye Flow What does Eye Flow do? How to use Eye Flow:
Focal point attracts reader,
eye flow leads them in
Guides reader through content
How to use Eye Flow:
Use direction and placement of elements (text and graphics) to encourage reader
Graphics, color, bullets, rules, movement , create eye flow.

12. Balance How to create Balance? What does Balance do?
Visual elements which create an even distribution of weight.. Achieved by forces pulling in different directions whose strengths offset one another.
Symmetry creates order and stability, formal look Asymmetry creates tension and dynamism, informal look
How to create Balance?
Squint at the design
Look at it from a distance
Move elements around, resize as necessary to achieve balance

13. White Space How to use White Space? What does White Space do?
Blank areas (negative space) help define the design
Negative space is restful, keeps the reader from being overwhelmed
Negative space creates its own shape: it’s a design element to be used consciously
How to use White Space?
Use it to emphasize (ex. Focal 0oint) or to separate groups of info, to aid content
organization and create visual appeal
Consciously group and align information

14. Simplicity How do you incorporate Simplicity?
When in doubt, take it out!
If an element does not help the content or the reader, remove it.
What does Simplicity achieve?
KISS: Keep it simple sweetie!
Simplicity aids content and design

15. Unity What does Unity do? An effective design feels complete
All the elements are brought together into a cohesive whole
How does one create Unity?
All the design principles and techniques help create unity.
Assess your design while referring to the principles.

16. Design Techniques
CARP = C= Contrast A= Alignment R= Repetition P= Proximity
How to strengthen the design (CARP)

17. Contrast Purpose of Contrast: Helps organize Adds visual interest
How to achieve Contrast?
Large and small
Positive and negative
Color
Contrasting typefaces
Purpose of Contrast:
Helps organize
Adds visual interest

18. Alignment Create visual connections
Alignment Create visual connections. Creates visual ties between separate elements. It unifies & organizes.
Purpose
Helps organize
Aids readability
Unifies
Adds graphic strength
Avoid
Avoid using more than one alignment,
Avoid centering type

19. Repetition Avoid: Purpose – Repetition of visual elements:
Adds consistency
Helps organize
Adds visual interest
Unifies
Avoid:
Repeating the same element so much it becomes annoying or overwhelming

20. Proximity Creates visual connections
Purpose
Helps organize
Aids readability
Unifies
Adds graphic strength
Avoid
Too many separate elements,
equal white space between elements

21. Example
The next slides will show BEFORE and AFTER examples of an assignment (a handout) I used with my 11C American Literature students

22. Before Problems: Content -too many words No focal point
We’re all on a journey project…
SOLs: Read and analyze relationships among American literature, history and culture.
 Objective: students reflect on where each of us came from; are able to identify our ancestral origins, professions, talents…what effect do these have on us?
 Procedure: this project has 3 components:
Map
question: where did each of us come from…our ancestors
On a map you have created (World or US), show the countries, states, counties, towns… dates, reasons for immigrating to the US, and/or where your family is from
 Family Tree
Trace back at least as far as your grandparents. (If you only know 1 side of your family, just use what you know)…use creativity in producing the “tree” include as much information as possible on :the family member’s name and age or date of birth/death ethnicity amount of schooling/where they went to school/technical/college…trade/profession strengths and weaknesses illnesses talents, hobbies favorite stories or songs handed down, religion/ values/
2 paragraph written response. Please discuss the following: the effect your family has had on shaping you as a person at this time. How you would like your family ( future generations) to remember you.
Before
Problems:
Content -too many words
No focal point
Eye is confused as to what is important
Font too small
No use of graphics or sense of balance

23. After Improvements: Cut out extraneous content Added a focal point
Added graphics
Implemented alignment
Allowed for white space
Used fonts to highlight

25. References
Lohr, Linda. Creating Graphics for Learning and Performance. Lessons in Visual Literacy. 2nd Edition. Pearson. Merrill Prentice Hall McNally, Barbara. The Non-Designer’s Design Workshop. nondesigners.com