Other visuals
Other mediums
Visual elements are perhaps easiest to incorporate into web content, but they should also be used in other mediums such as in print, interactive features and any other visual format. Visuals can also include video content and simple structural elements like headings and tables.
The key to determining what type of visual element to include in whatever resource you are developing is to look at structure, text and visuals as part of one whole communication and to plan it from the beginning.
Visual elements are perhaps easiest to incorporate into web content, but they should also be used in other mediums such as in print, interactive features and any other visual format. Visuals can also include video content and simple structural elements like headings and tables.
The key to determining what type of visual element to include in whatever resource you are developing is to look at structure, text and visuals as part of one whole communication and to plan it from the beginning.
To see how effective visual elements can be, irrespective of medium, let's take a look at how to describe a spiral staircase. Here's an attempt from Wikipedia or read the full Wikipedia article here.
"Spiral stairs wind around a newel (also the central pole). They typically have a handrail on the outer side only, and on the inner side just the central pole. A squared spiral stair assumes a square stairwell and expands the steps and railing to a square, resulting in unequal steps (larger where they extend into a corner of the square). A pure spiral assumes a circular stairwell and the steps and handrail are equal and positioned screw-symmetrically."
If you've never seen a spiral staircase before I doubt whether this definition would give you a mental image of an actual spiral staircase. A spiral staircase is very difficult to describe without the use of a visual cue. So why try?
The easiest way to describe a spiral staircase is to show an image like the one to the left of screen or a basic diagram. By showing this image you are building on people's existing knowing and making the learning process easier. An image or sketch of a spiral staircase is an effective was to describe it, whether you're on a website or reading a printed publication.
"Spiral stairs wind around a newel (also the central pole). They typically have a handrail on the outer side only, and on the inner side just the central pole. A squared spiral stair assumes a square stairwell and expands the steps and railing to a square, resulting in unequal steps (larger where they extend into a corner of the square). A pure spiral assumes a circular stairwell and the steps and handrail are equal and positioned screw-symmetrically."
If you've never seen a spiral staircase before I doubt whether this definition would give you a mental image of an actual spiral staircase. A spiral staircase is very difficult to describe without the use of a visual cue. So why try?
The easiest way to describe a spiral staircase is to show an image like the one to the left of screen or a basic diagram. By showing this image you are building on people's existing knowing and making the learning process easier. An image or sketch of a spiral staircase is an effective was to describe it, whether you're on a website or reading a printed publication.