Tools for Visual Learning

Visual language is associating words/ideas with diagrams and maps. We see this everyday from simple traffic signs to reading the safety card on an airline flight. But frankly, ‘visual language learning’ is being used to address different ways we process information. For example:

infographics
A way to illustrate complex processes. More importantly, you can show relationships between different pieces of information. In the infographic, each step could be hyperlinked to a wiki site with more detailed instructions. This would be perfect to integrate with help or tasked-based topics.

Infographics should be used in the same way that a screenshot is added to a user manual. Each visual should aid in the user’s understanding of a product or process. It should not deter from the objective of the task.

Mural.ly is an online mural, ‘Google Docs for visual people’ but it can be used to present information creatively while receiving real-time feedback. Great to instill communication within the organization on the development of a project.

Here is a minimalistic way Mural.ly uses their product for company branding.

As a technical writer one of my responsibilities is to make suggestions to streamline documentation in an organization. Infographics depending on audience and context could be advantageous in creating effective deliverables.