Three Visual Aid Principles

By now you can begin to see my ideas at work as I design visual aids for public presentation. Focus your attention on three principles, , ,

1. The white background. Why? Because readability tests say that text written on a white background is more readable than any other color. (There are two “close seconds”, , , very light yellow and very light blue.) (Deiss, 2009)

But to insure that you can print a Microsoft Word (or Publisher, etc.) version for a film transparency or for a handout, , , I will always stick to the white background.

2. The white background. (Part 2) For iPhones and other smart phones, etc. Plug this into your hard drive. In the future, every visual aid you use in any video media can ultimately wind up on YouTube.com or forty (or so) other video hosting services, , , whether you put it on there or not.

Then, here comes the ever-expanding handheld gang. (Twenty million iphones, alone and growing--fast.)

All of the original slides I am posting on this blog will look good and read well on a two and one half inch screen. And, they will show well even in a dark environment.

(I guarantee you, you’ve never heard any graphic production advice concerning the huge and exploding, handheld market.)

3. Highly readable text (or type). First, all the “must read” info is in a basic bold typeface. Second, there’s always high contrast with the background. And, third, , , the amount of text is held to the fewest possible elements.

These simple lessons give you some clues as to how I create and use visual aids in my speaking and writing. It’s all about your audience. Every graphic you use as an information merchant must be a very user friendly form.

Tell me what you think. More later.

Wayne