Visual literacy is defined as the ability to understand and use images, including the ability to think, learn and express oneself in terms of images.Robert BradenVisual Literacy

Technology drives the designTechnocentric ThinkingLearner-friendlyInstruction drives the designInformation drives the designInformation Design

Know the design rules

Break the design rules

Play around

Revise

Find inspiration

When designing

Not all pictures are worth a 1000 words

Numerous fonts

Beautiful design in fonts

When designing with text

AlignmentCentering is far from bestTo unify and organize textSets the mood (fun, serious, formal)Use one type of alignmentAlign all elements on a page

When laying out text

ProximityTo organize information Crump similar informationAvoid too many elementsAvoid corners and the middleVary white spaceWhen laying out text

RepetitionTo unify and add interest Be consistentNotice eye movementAvoid over repetitionEnhance existing repetitionsWhen laying out text

ContrastOne of the most effective ways to create visual interest If its not the same, make it very differentDont be a wimpUse typefaces, line thickness, colors, shapes, sizes, space, etc for contrastAvoid similar typefaces When selecting text

Summary:Contrast - RepetitionAlignmentProximity When working with text

What type shall I use?

The gods refuse to answer.

They refuse because they do not know.W. A. DwigginsMore about selecting text

Typeface families:Oldstyle i.e. Times - abcefgModern i.e. Baskerville - abcdeSlab serif i.e. Courier - abcdeSans serif i.e. Helvetica - abcdeScript i.e. Handwriting - abcdeDecorative i.e. Blackletter - abcdeMore about selecting text

Decide what message you want to conveyCarefully consider who will see your message and how you want them to respondDesign an informational document to convey your messageThe Assignment

Critique your informational documentDesign a second informational document with the same intent better than the firstThe Assignment

Write an explanation /rationale discussing the intent of your message, the intended audience and characteristics of that audience, how the different elements of your document fit the intent and the characteristics of the audience,why you chose the design in your document,what elements in the first attempt could use improvement and how you improved them in the second attempt The Assignment