So from this chapter we get the following main points.
Graphics should
- Tell a simple story
- Reinforce, not replace text
- Be ethical
- Be labeled and placed properly
- I am intrigued by the use of the word "story." In a book, I was reading recently, one of the characters pointed out that human beings prefer the narrative structure. A story, unlike an argument, is seen as non-threatening. If we view our proposals as stories, perhaps we can persuade our readers in a subtle way.
- I completely agree that graphics should not replace written text. I am very much a verbal learner. That is I need words to help me understand information. But I understand that graphics can be helpful to visual learners. Having both the visual and the words in a proposal can ensure that the information is reaching all readers.
- The question of ethics in graphics is interesting. Over the weekend, I was talking to someone about ethical graphics and he brought up the point that graphics can never be objective. Statistics are always used to emphasize the writer's point. We always choose which information to display (that which supports our argument) and which information not to display (that which contradicts our argument). If this is the case, can a graphic ever be completely ethical?
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