Embedded Files
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
When Designing a technical document, proper presentation is key to effective communication. A well-presented document should be easy to read and easy to navigate. However, words alone can only achieve so much in disclosing complex pieces of information. In many cases, visual components may serve as a much more effective form of rhetoric. Unlike written documents, a picture does not need to be translated or proofread. Universal symbols like the arrow and cross can instantly communicate certain ideas to just about anybody, simultaneously improving the effectiveness of communication and broadening the document's potential for use.
So Easy, a Child Could Do It
So Easy, a Child Could Do It
Visual rhetoric shines for its low barrier of entry. After all, one doesn't need to be literate in order to understand a picture. As such, visual aids like charts and diagrams are especially effective in communicating with demographics who are undereducated, like young children. In fact, a certain building toy company has been showing the world just how effective visual rhetoric can be for decades with its signature instruction manuals.
The average Lego set contains around 300 individual pieces, many of which can look the same at a glance. Yet despite the overwhelming parts list, the company has been able to construct a simple and effective method of designing instruction manuals so that anyone - even a child - could follow the steps with little to no assistance.
Figure 1
Segment of a Lego Instruction Manual
It is immediately evident in Figure 1 that pictures take precedence over words. Numbers are used to label steps and quantify pieces, but everything else is communicated exclusively using visuals. The pieces required for each step are clearly listed, and are rendered with a black outline around the edges so that their shape and features are clearly defined. Some steps are further divided into sub-steps, shown by a yellow bubble and arrow.
From the patterns that arise in these instructions, it is evident that the technical communicators over at Lego have devised a systematic approach to illustrating each step with consideration to context sensitive factors. Step 4, for example, requires the builder to flip their build over to access the underside - thus featuring a symbol that implies rotation.
Check out my Summary of Research on Visual Rhetoric to observe some strategies and concepts in-depth.
Page updated
Report abuse