Comments on: When Graphics Go Bad http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Thu, 17 May 2012 03:07:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Whitney http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-23486 Whitney Thu, 21 Jun 2007 03:43:31 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-23486 By day I work in the aerospace industry (it pays the rent). Sadly, I see a lot of phenomenally complex, Hydra-like graphics from my employer and from its customers...sadly, often in Powerpoint presentations. They haven't taken the time to learn how to take graphics and break them down into layers, layers that are then presented one slide or one figure at a time. I once completely missed 20 minutes of a presenter's narration because I was completely wrapped up in trying to understand the graphic he had displayed on screen. By day I work in the aerospace industry (it pays the rent). Sadly, I see a lot of phenomenally complex, Hydra-like graphics from my employer and from its customers…sadly, often in Powerpoint presentations. They haven’t taken the time to learn how to take graphics and break them down into layers, layers that are then presented one slide or one figure at a time.

I once completely missed 20 minutes of a presenter’s narration because I was completely wrapped up in trying to understand the graphic he had displayed on screen.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22815 Michael Stelzner Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:38:12 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22815 Thanks Brent Thanks Brent

]]> By: Brent Applegate http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22814 Brent Applegate Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:30:10 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22814 Definitely an intrigueing concept... Can you boil down something that takes up volumes... into a single poster? Might be possible if we all had 47 inch displays ... Ahh, the day... Cool post! Definitely an intrigueing concept… Can you boil down something that takes up volumes… into a single poster? Might be possible if we all had 47 inch displays … Ahh, the day… Cool post!

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22800 Michael Stelzner Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:50:34 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22800 Hi Michael; While it's true this is not a graphic you would see in a white paper, the problem with this graphic and many others is that no one will read it. Did you actually spend the time to examine this? I am guessing most people have not. I would classify this graphic with a group of writing that I often talk about: Boring. Mike Hi Michael;

While it’s true this is not a graphic you would see in a white paper, the problem with this graphic and many others is that no one will read it.

Did you actually spend the time to examine this?

I am guessing most people have not.

I would classify this graphic with a group of writing that I often talk about: Boring.

Mike

]]> By: Michael Scully http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22799 Michael Scully Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:45:36 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22799 The graphic itself is kinda cool, in a way... but I sure as heck wouldn't want to look at it every day. The graphic itself is kinda cool, in a way… but I sure as heck wouldn’t want to look at it every day.

]]> By: Michael Scully http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22798 Michael Scully Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:44:26 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22798 The graphic to which you linked is a wall poster. It's not intended to go in a white paper (or an article, or a book, or any other document). The fact that it's visually overwhelming and hard to make sense of reinforces its very point -- that the federal government is excessively complex, a bottomless pit for tax dollars. The graphic to which you linked is a wall poster. It’s not intended to go in a white paper (or an article, or a book, or any other document). The fact that it’s visually overwhelming and hard to make sense of reinforces its very point — that the federal government is excessively complex, a bottomless pit for tax dollars.

]]> By: Jonathan Kantor http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22797 Jonathan Kantor Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:36:12 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22797 I agree with Tom. Simplicity is the rule with graphics, something that this graphic is clearly lacking. If you look at a graphic, and your immediate response is "Huh?", then you know it is too complex. I have some perspectives on the issue of simplicity with concept graphics for those who might be interested: http://www.whitepapercompany.com/blog/?p=260 Jonathan I agree with Tom. Simplicity is the rule with graphics, something that this graphic is clearly lacking.

If you look at a graphic, and your immediate response is “Huh?”, then you know it is too complex.

I have some perspectives on the issue of simplicity with concept graphics for those who might be interested:

http://www.whitepapercompany.com/blog/?p=260

Jonathan

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22766 Michael Stelzner Wed, 13 Jun 2007 05:01:32 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22766 Hi Steve - I agree. I have a hard time understanding what the heck the illustration is about. - Mike Hi Steve - I agree. I have a hard time understanding what the heck the illustration is about. - Mike

]]> By: Steve Olson http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22757 Steve Olson Wed, 13 Jun 2007 03:17:32 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22757 Yes it can, That graphic is bi-polar... I saw it several times before Guy posted it. It said something, because of it's hydra like necks... and its complexity But it at the same time, its overwhelming and boring. At first glance you say - wow After 30 seconds you ask - what's next? Yes it can,
That graphic is bi-polar…
I saw it several times before Guy posted it.
It said something, because of it’s hydra like necks… and its complexity
But it at the same time, its overwhelming and boring.
At first glance you say - wow
After 30 seconds you ask - what’s next?

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22720 Michael Stelzner Tue, 12 Jun 2007 18:40:59 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/06/12/when-graphics-go-bad/#comment-22720 Tom - Can you link to a great example of an image used with content? - Mike Tom - Can you link to a great example of an image used with content? - Mike

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