making information stand out michael heavener, abc [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
Get the message across
• When people read– They search for visual clues
• To help them rank information– For mental processing
When they can’t properly rank
• They lose interest– Teenagers will say “It’s boring”– Adults will skip to the next page or slide
• They stop reading and learning
Rank makes it happen
• How you display information, especially– How you set values– How you indicate priorities– How you emphasize the levels of importance
• Are under your control
Rarely indicates status because information loses interest and then readers move away.
• Rarely indicates status
• Information loses interest
• Readers move away
Information in a paragraph block
What’s most important?
Item A, Item B, Item C, Item D, Item E, Item F, Item G, Item H, Item I, Item J, Item K, Item L, Item M, Item N, Item O, Item P, Item Q, Item R, Item S, Item T, Item U, Item V, Item X, Item Y, and Item Z
Rank indicates status
• Was it easy identifying the most important item?– Maybe it was boldface– Maybe it was alphabetic order
• But the author didn’t try to help
What’s most important?
• Item A• Item B• Item C• Item D• Item E• Item F
Was that easier?
• Shows importance of Items A and D– But why were other items shown?– Reader’s eye wants to know
why they weren’t boldfaced.
What’s most important?
• Item A– Item B
• Item C
– Item D• Item E• Item F
Set the priority
• Indenting and size demonstrate priority– Item A is the “must know” line
• Items B and D are secondary– And Items C, E, and F add detail
What’s most important?
• Item A– Item B
• Item C
– Item D• Item E• Item F
Emphasize importance
• Setting items apart boosts comprehension– Item A, again, is very important
• Items B, and D are less important• But they still carry some significance
– Items C, E, and F are merely support
Lists demonstrate rank
• The best way to group information• The best way to rank data• The best way to improve comprehension
• Is with bulleted lists– That are properly indented
• So valuable information– Comes first
