Visual+Literacy



The image above is meant to convey some statistics on meat consumption in the U.S. The title "Overproteined" may be key in understanding that this graphic is to be used to discuss the negative impact of the displayed statistics. The information is organized in columns, and this helps to create "chunks" of information for the reader.

The PAT model discusses concepts of designing good visuals, and it stands for Perceptions, Actions, and Tools. Our Perceptions allow us to gather and process information. This graphic uses Figure/Ground as well as Similarity, keeping bits of information in line with another, smaller graphic illustrating each statistic. This graphic also uses Repetition and Alignment - repeating each column, and aligning an image with each column. The Proximity of the smaller images to the columns of information increases the impact of the message. The Tools used here are fairly simple, with easy-to-read Type, consistent Colors, and limited Shapes.

Overall, the graphic is simple, and conveys the message in an appropriate way. The positioning of the statistics in columns makes good use of Space and Depth. One thing that could be improved is the positioning of the smaller images - they seem off-balance, visually-speaking, so arranging them in a more symmetrical way may be more appealing. The simplicity of the visual makes the information easy to understand and process.