1.  Emphasize Ideas .Display abstract ideas in concrete, geometric shapes .Condense .Dramatize .Compare large amount of data .Indicate trend .Convey reality .Show internal parts .Depict relationships

2.  Analyze the context and choose appropriate type  Function of visual  Data  Reader and purpose  Medium  Facility

3.  Design the visual  Select appropriate scales.  Don’t clutter the visual.  Label parts neatly.  Make lettering readable.  Provide keys, legends.  Number visuals if there is more than one.  Title it.  Indicate sources.  Choose appropriate colors.  Consult an illustrator/graphic artist if there is one.

4.  Incorporate the visual in the text.  Placing it on a page  Close to the context  App. use of white space around  Not buried the visual in text  Aligned with text.  Referring to it  Interpreting it

5.  Vector programs  Illustrator  Corel Draw  Visio  Raster programs  Photoshop  Graphic utilities  Screen-capture programs

6.  Attracts attention and creates interest .Provides information clearly, quickly .Helps users comprehend information .Helps users retain information

7.  Create graphics to support readers’ mental task .Identify design principles that help create such graphics .Don’t decorate thin data or complicate complex data (avoid ”chartjunk”)

8.  The Cognitive Style of PowerPoint 2003 . Visual Explanations: Images and Quantities, Evidence and Narrative 1997 . Visual and Statistical Thinking: Displays of Evidence for Making Decisions 1997 . Envisioning Information 1990 .The Visual Display of Quantitative Information 1983